Glossary/Banking

What is Overdraft?

An overdraft is a credit facility that allows you to withdraw more money from your bank account than you have available, up to an approved limit.

An overdraft is a flexible borrowing facility attached to your business bank account. When your account balance drops below zero, the overdraft provides funds up to an agreed limit, preventing transactions from being declined. Interest is charged only on the amount used and the days it is outstanding, making overdrafts cost-effective for short-term cash flow gaps. Overdrafts are useful for managing timing differences between payments and receipts, covering seasonal cash flow dips and handling unexpected expenses. However, they should not be used as long-term financing - if you are permanently in overdraft, a term loan may be more appropriate and less expensive. From a bookkeeping perspective, a negative bank balance indicates overdraft usage and appears as a current liability rather than a negative asset. SortBooks correctly handles overdraft transactions in Xero and tracks your overdraft usage for cash flow management.

How SortBooks Handles Overdraft

SortBooks automates the bookkeeping processes related to overdraft by connecting to your Xero account and using AI to categorise transactions, reconcile bank feeds and generate accurate reports. Instead of manually managing overdraft, SortBooks handles it automatically with 97%+ accuracy - saving you hours every week and ensuring your books are always up to date and compliant.

Related Terms

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