> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://api.tandapay.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Payouts

> Send KES to M-PESA, Airtel Money, Kenyan banks, paybills and tills.

Payouts move money from your Tanda KES wallet to a recipient. One endpoint, [Create payout](https://api.tandapay.io/api-reference/endpoint/create-payout.md), covers every destination; the `destination` value and the `payoutMethod` fields change with where the money is going.

> **[Mobile money](https://api.tandapay.io/guides/payouts/sending-payouts.md#mobile-money)**
>
> M-PESA and Airtel Money wallets. Usually arrives in seconds.

> **[Bank account](https://api.tandapay.io/guides/payouts/sending-payouts.md#bank-account)**
>
> Kenyan bank accounts. Takes longer than mobile money.

> **[Paybill](https://api.tandapay.io/guides/payouts/sending-payouts.md#paybill)**
>
> Pay bills and businesses on M-PESA paybill numbers.

> **[Till](https://api.tandapay.io/guides/payouts/sending-payouts.md#till)**
>
> Pay merchants on M-PESA Buy Goods till numbers.

## The payout lifecycle

**1. Check the recipient**

Use [Account resolver](https://api.tandapay.io/api-reference/endpoint/account-resolver.md) to confirm the wallet or account exists and the name matches before you send.

**2. Send the payout**

Call [Create payout](https://api.tandapay.io/api-reference/endpoint/create-payout.md) with a unique `externalReference`. Tanda debits your wallet and returns a `transactionId`.

**3. Wait for the outcome**

You'll receive `payout_created`, then `payout_updated` with `successful` or `failed`. See [Webhooks](https://api.tandapay.io/guides/webhooks/events.md).

**4. Reconcile**

Match the webhook to your record by `externalReference`. Successful mobile money payouts include the M-PESA or Airtel receipt in `thirdPartyReference`.

## Before you send

* **Fund your wallet.** A payout larger than your balance fails with `422 INSUFFICIENT_FUNDS`. Check the balance with [Get user](https://api.tandapay.io/api-reference/endpoint/get-user.md).
* **Use a unique reference.** If a request times out, retry with the **same** `externalReference`. A `409 DUPLICATE_EXTERNAL_REFERENCE` means Tanda already has that payout: look it up with [Get transaction](https://api.tandapay.io/api-reference/endpoint/get-transaction.md) instead of sending again.
* **Save regular recipients.** For people you pay often, create a [beneficiary](https://api.tandapay.io/guides/payouts/beneficiaries.md) once and pay by `externalAccountId`.


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