Can transactions be split across multiple funds?
Short answer
Most corporate spend platforms do not support splitting a single transaction across multiple funds at the point of purchase. Card networks process each transaction as one authorization, so the charge must be settled against a single funding source.
On Ramp, each transaction is assigned to one fund and cannot be split between multiple funds. If you need to allocate spending across multiple funds, you'll need to pay out of pocket first, then submit separate reimbursements against each fund for the appropriate amounts.
Why transactions are limited to a single fund
Ramp funds work as spending limits tied to specific cards or cardholders. When a transaction occurs, it's authorized and settled against a single fund. The system routes the charge to one available fund based on the card used and your routing settings.
Splitting a transaction across multiple funds would require:
- Real-time decisions about which funds to draw from during authorization
- Partial settlements from multiple fund balances for one merchant charge
- Complex accounting reconciliation for a single card swipe
The card network processes each transaction as one authorization from one funding source, making mid-transaction splits technically incompatible with how funds operate.
How to handle multi-fund expenses
If you need to allocate spending across multiple funds, use this approach:
- Pay for the expense with a personal payment method. Use your own card or account for the full purchase amount.
- Submit separate reimbursements against each fund. Create individual reimbursement requests for the portion that should be allocated to each fund.
- Document the split in the reimbursement memos. Explain why the original expense was divided across multiple funds.
Example:
A company purchases an annual analytics platform for $2,400 that supports three teams:
- Marketing uses the tool for campaign performance analysis and should cover $1,200
- Product uses it for feature adoption insights and should cover $800
- Sales uses it for pipeline reporting and should cover $400
Each team has its own fund, and no single fund has enough remaining balance to cover the full $2,400 charge
Because a single Ramp transaction cannot be split across multiple funds, the expense is paid using a non-Ramp payment method. After the purchase:
- A $1,200 reimbursement is submitted against the Marketing fund
- An $800 reimbursement is submitted against the Product fund
- A $400 reimbursement is submitted against the Sales fund
Each reimbursement includes a memo explaining the allocation logic and references the same vendor invoice for documentation.
This approach ensures that:
- Each fund reflects only its portion of the expense
- Department-level reporting remains accurate
- The original transaction constraint is respected without manual fund adjustments
For users with ongoing multi-fund needs
If someone consistently needs to spend across multiple entities or cost centers, assign them separate funds—one for each spending purpose. This prevents the need for frequent workarounds and keeps spending properly categorized from the start.
What you can't do
- Reassign a transaction from one fund to another after it posts
- Split a posted transaction between two funds retroactively
- Move transactions to locked or at-limit funds
Best practices
- Plan ahead for shared expenses. If you know a purchase will serve multiple purposes, use a personal payment method and plan for separate reimbursements.
- Use memos to document intent. Note why a transaction was coded to a specific fund if questions arise later.
- Structure funds by purpose. Assign employees to multiple funds based on their spending needs rather than trying to split individual transactions.
- Track fund balances before purchases. Ensure the assigned fund has sufficient balance to cover the full transaction amount.