> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vis42.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Counterparts

> Your unified directory of customers and suppliers — the foundation of every transaction in VIS42.

## How Pluto Handles This

Pluto, VIS42's Internal Auditor, continuously monitors your counterpart data:

* Detects duplicate counterpart records before they corrupt your financial history
* Verifies completeness of tax IDs, email addresses, and payment details
* Flags data inconsistencies that could affect invoicing or compliance

<Card href="/agents/pluto" title="Pluto — The Internal Auditor">
  Run a counterpart data quality audit anytime
</Card>

## Key Concepts

In VIS42, a **counterpart** is a single record that can act as both a customer (you invoice them) and a supplier (they invoice you). This means:

* One record for a company that is both a client and a vendor
* Shared contact details, payment terms, and transaction history
* Net balance view across both receivables and payables

| Term              | Meaning                                                |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Counterpart**   | A company or individual you transact with              |
| **Contact**       | A person at the counterpart (multiple per counterpart) |
| **Net Balance**   | Total owed to you minus total you owe them             |
| **Payment Terms** | Default due date rules for this counterpart            |

## Creating a Counterpart

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Counterparts and click New Counterpart">
    Enter the company name and type (Individual or Company).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add identification details">
    Tax ID / VAT number, registration number, and country. These are required for compliant invoicing in most jurisdictions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add at least one contact">
    Name, email, and phone. Invoices and reminders are sent to the contact's email address.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set default payment terms">
    Choose Net 15, Net 30, or a custom number of days. This pre-fills on every invoice or bill linked to this counterpart.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add bank account (optional)">
    Required if you plan to record outgoing payments to this supplier via VIS42.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Missing VAT numbers on counterparts will cause validation errors when creating compliant invoices in EU/Swiss jurisdictions. Fill them in before you start invoicing.
</Warning>

## Managing Contacts

A counterpart can have multiple contacts — billing, accounts receivable, legal, etc.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a counterpart and go to the Contacts tab">
    Click Add Contact.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter contact details">
    First name, last name, email, phone, and role. Mark one contact as Primary — this is the default recipient for invoices and reminders.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Viewing Transaction History

Open any counterpart and click the **Transactions** tab to see:

* All invoices issued to this counterpart (receivables)
* All bills received from this counterpart (payables)
* Net balance (what they owe you minus what you owe them)
* Payment history and average payment time

<Tip>
  Use the net balance view before negotiating payment terms with a counterpart that is both a customer and supplier — you may be able to offset balances directly.
</Tip>

## Merging Duplicate Counterparts

If Pluto flags a duplicate, or you find one manually:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open one of the duplicates and click Merge">
    Select the counterpart to merge into (the one with more complete data).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the merge preview">
    VIS42 shows which fields will be kept and which transactions will be reassigned.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    All transactions from the source counterpart move to the target. The source record is archived.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="shield-check" title="Run Pluto's duplicate check after imports">
    If you import counterparts from a spreadsheet or another system, ask Pluto to run a duplicate detection pass immediately.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="id-card" title="Complete VAT IDs before invoicing">
    Incomplete tax data causes downstream issues with compliance and e-invoicing. Fill in VAT IDs at creation time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="address-book" title="Keep the Primary Contact current">
    Mercury sends reminders to the Primary Contact. An outdated email means your collections automation silently fails.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>