# Receiving a Real-Time Payment

A Real-Time Payment sent to your Account creates an [Inbound Real-Time Payments Transfer](/documentation/api/inbound-real-time-payments-transfers). As long as the Account is `open`, and the Account Number is `active` and can receive deposits, Increase will immediately create a Transaction crediting your Account.

Details about creating a Real-Time Payments Transfer are described [here](/documentation/sending-real-time-payments).

## Lifecycle

Inbound Real-Time Payments Transfer status lifecycle

|                      |                                                                                              |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `pending_confirming` | The transfer is pending confirmation.                                                        |
| `confirmed`          | The transfer has been received successfully and is confirmed.                                |
| `declined`           | The transfer has been declined.                                                              |
| `timed_out`          | The transfer was not responded to in time. This is rare and represents an error at Increase. |

## Receiving a Real-Time Payment with Increase

When a Real-Time Payment arrives, Increase creates an Inbound Real-Time Payments Transfer with a status of `pending_confirming`.
Increase confirms receipt with The Clearing House, the status updates to `confirmed`, and a Transaction crediting your Account is immediately created.
This usually happens within a matter of seconds.

If the transfer can’t be accepted, Increase declines it.
The Inbound Real-Time Payments Transfer is created with a status of `declined`, a Declined Transaction is recorded, a rejection is returned to The Clearing House, and no Transaction is created on your Account.
This can happen, for example, because the Account is closed or the Account Number is not `active`.

In very rare cases a transfer is not responded to in time and its status is set to `timed_out`. This represents an error at Increase. We'd reach out to you if this happens, too.

## Actioning inbound Real-Time Payments

Increase provides the ability to programmatically approve or decline inbound Real-Time Payments.
When an Inbound Real-Time Payments Transfer is created or updated, your application can receive a [webhook Event](/documentation/webhooks#consuming-events).
You can action on these Events to approve or decline the transfer as needed.

This feature is currently gated. Please contact support@increase.com if you’re interested in enabling it for your team!