Maksupohja

Maksupohja is a Finnish term that translates roughly to a payment template or payment form. It refers to a preformatted document or digital template used to initiate payments in bookkeeping, accounting, and banking. A maksupohja defines the data that must accompany a payment order, such as the payee’s name and bank account, the payer’s identification, the payment amount and currency, the due date, reference or invoice numbers, and the chosen payment method.

In practice, a maksupohja is often stored in accounting or ERP software and can be reused to process similar payments or to generate batch payment instructions for multiple transfers. By standardizing the required fields, it helps reduce manual data entry, minimizes errors, and simplifies reconciliation in the general ledger. The exact fields and the file formats produced depend on the financial system and the bank requirements; common outputs include electronic payment files that the bank can process, such as CSV or XML formats, or bank-specific formats.

The concept is commonly used within accounts payable workflows in Finnish businesses. Maksupohja enables finance teams to approve and trigger payments efficiently, ensuring consistent data for payment processing, auditing, and supplier or customer reconciliation. It also supports both domestic payments and, where applicable, cross-border transactions when combined with compatible banking formats and standards.

See also: invoicing, accounts payable, payment order, SEPA.