The verdict in three sentences
In Accra in 2026, a merchant collecting through MTN MoMo, Moov and card receives an aggregated net payout where operator fees (1.2 to 1.5 %) are already deducted, creating a 2 to 4 % gap between gross and net. Manual reconciliation costs 6 to 10 hours a month for 400 transactions and produces VAT errors. The right answer is automated export (native CSV or accounting webhook) that brings the task under 30 minutes.
The real problem: aggregated net hides the fees
When you collect 1,000,000 FCFA across 400 payments, the operator does not settle 1,000,000 FCFA. It aggregates, deducts per-channel commissions, then credits a net amount at T+1 to T+3. Without a transaction-by-transaction breakdown, your accountant can neither justify the VAT base nor detect a missing payment.
| Channel | Merchant fee 2026 | Settlement delay | Observed gross/net gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN MoMo | ~1.5 % | T+1 | 1.5-2 % |
| Moov Money | ~1.2 % | T+1 to T+2 | 1.2-1.8 % |
| Card (Visa/MC) | ~2.5 % + fixed | T+2 to T+3 | 2.5-3.5 % |
| Multi-channel aggregator | ~1.8 % blended | T+1 | 2-4 % average |
The weighted average gap runs around 2 to 4 %. On monthly revenue of 5,000,000 FCFA, that is 100,000 to 200,000 FCFA of fees to allocate correctly every month.
Three ways to reconcile: CSV, webhook, aggregator
| Method | Cost | Time/month (400 tx) | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native CSV export + spreadsheet | 0 FCFA | 4-6 h | Medium (manual errors) |
| Webhook to accounting software | ~50,000-150,000 FCFA setup | <1 h | High |
| Auto-reconciling aggregator | ~1.8 % per transaction | <30 min | Very high |
Native CSV is free but manual: you download, clean, paste. The accounting webhook pushes each confirmed transaction (gross, fee, net, reference) straight into your tool. The aggregator unifies all three channels and presents a reconciled journal, ready for a FEC or SYSCOHADA export.
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Mini case study
Blanche runs a cosmetics shop in Accra. She collects 400 transactions/month for 4,200,000 FCFA gross. Manually she spends 8 h/month reconciling, roughly 20,000 FCFA of her valued time. With a one-time accounting webhook (100,000 FCFA), she drops to 25 minutes/month. Over twelve months she recovers nearly 90 hours and secures her VAT base, avoiding a reassessment estimated in the hundreds of thousands of FCFA.
FAQ
Why is my payout lower than what I collected? Because the operator deducts its merchant commission (1.2 to 1.5 % on mobile money, up to 2.5 % on card) before crediting. The 2 to 4 % gross/net gap is normal but must be booked as an expense.
Is native CSV enough for a small shop? Under ~150 transactions/month, yes. Beyond that, manual time (4-6 h) quickly exceeds the cost of a webhook, which brings reconciliation under 1 hour.
How do I justify VAT on gross, not net? The VAT base is computed on gross collected, not net settled. A detailed transaction-by-transaction export is essential to separate revenue from payment fees.
Does T+1 to T+3 settlement create a cash-flow problem? Yes if your supplier terms are short. Plan for a 1-3 day gap between customer collection and bank credit, especially on card payments.
Can I automate everything without switching operators? Yes. A connector or aggregator plugs into MTN, Moov and card simultaneously and unifies the export without forcing any migration.
Let's talk about your project. We connect your MTN MoMo, Moov and card collections to a reconciled accounting export in under 30 minutes a month. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
