# Bill routes: approve, pay

URL: /code/api/bill/verbs · Id: `page:code/api/bill/verbs`

> The Bill Verbs approve, pay as api.sb routes, with inputs, result, refusals and an example.

Reference for [Bill](/business/nouns/bill), one group of [Bill routes](/code/api/bill).

### Bill.approve
Approve accepts a coded Bill for payment within the approver’s Mandate and schedules it for its due date. [Verb page](/business/nouns/bill/approve?interface=api).

```text
POST /{namespace}/bills/{bill}/approve
```

Path: `bill`. Emits [`Bill.approved`](/business/events/Bill.approved).

**Inputs**

| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `bill` | [Bill](/business/nouns/bill) | Yes | The coded Bill. |

**Returns**

| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `bill` | [Bill](/business/nouns/bill) | Yes | The approved Bill, scheduled for its due date. |

**Refuses when**

| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | None. |

**Example**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/leaseline.app/bills/bill_Zorj7Zkbtc/approve \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY"
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app",
  "bill": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/bills/bill_Zorj7Zkbtc",
    "$type": "Bill",
    "organization": "organization_v0SkRLrXCN",
    "amount": {
      "amount": 29,
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "dueOn": "2026-10-22",
    "status": "received"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG",
    "operation": "Bill.approve",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG"
  }
}
```

### Bill.pay
Pay sends an approved Bill’s amount to its Organization on the due date and reconciles the payment to Entries. [Verb page](/business/nouns/bill/pay?interface=api).

```text
POST /{namespace}/bills/{bill}/pay
```

Path: `bill`. Emits [`Bill.paid`](/business/events/Bill.paid).

**Inputs**

| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `bill` | [Bill](/business/nouns/bill) | Yes | The approved Bill. |

**Returns**

| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `transaction` | [Transaction](/business/nouns/transaction) | Yes | The payment Transaction. |
| `bill` | [Bill](/business/nouns/bill) | Yes | The Bill, now paid. |

**Refuses when**

| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | None. |

**Example**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/leaseline.app/bills/bill_Zorj7Zkbtc/pay \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY"
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app",
  "transaction": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/transactions/txn_XoxtZe3CQI",
    "$type": "Transaction",
    "kind": "charge",
    "amount": {
      "amount": 29,
      "currency": "USD"
    }
  },
  "bill": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/bills/bill_Zorj7Zkbtc",
    "$type": "Bill",
    "organization": "organization_v0SkRLrXCN",
    "amount": {
      "amount": 29,
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "dueOn": "2026-10-22",
    "status": "received"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG",
    "operation": "Bill.pay",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/leaseline.app/actions/act_br07HsG8MG"
  }
}
```