Auto-credit an account and see how I am reimboursed?

General
1

How can I record a transaction in hledger where a specific account should be credited a fixed amount, regardless of the actual expense? For example, my employer reimburses a fixed €16 for certain meals, no matter how much I spend. I want to track my business expenses and ensure I’m correctly reimbursed. What’s the best way to model this in hledger?

Can this be a solution ?

2026-02-23 * Restaurant Le Petit Bistro
    Expenses:Business:Meals    25.00 EUR  ; Montant réel dépensé
    Liabilities:EmployerReimbursement  -16.00 EUR  ; Remboursement fixe
    Assets:CheckingAccount      -9.00 EUR  ; Solde après remboursement

What if I forget to do my reimboursment declaration ?

2

Sorry to be jumping on every thread, but I happened to be passing... :sweat_smile:

If I understand the event, is it not more like this ?

2026-02-23 * Restaurant Le Petit Bistro
    Assets:CheckingAccount              -25.00 EUR  ; Montant réel dépensé
    Assets:EmployerReimbursement         16.00 EUR  ; Remboursement fixe
    Expenses:Business:Meals               9.00 EUR  ; Solde après remboursement

Assets:EmployerReimbursement is a "receivable". Later you'll be reimbursed:

2026-02-25 * Employer
    Assets:EmployerReimbursement        -16.00 EUR = 0 EUR
    Assets:CheckingAccount               16.00 EUR

If I misunderstood, disregard.

3 Likes
3

If you never file for reimbursement, it will sit there as an asset (reimbursement due) forever.

Eventually, it may be uncollectable and you write it off as a loss.

3 Likes
4

Hum, what does the “= 0 EUR” do?

5

https://hledger.org/1.51/hledger.html#balance-assertions

It's optional, just for clarity/error checking.