# Transfer Attempts

When a user attempts to make a payment using a Checkout Form or [Payment Link](https://docs.finix.com/low-code-no-code/payment-links), or a recipient submitting details with a [Payout Link](https://docs.finix.com/guides/payouts/payout-links)—a Transfer Attempt is created.

Using transfer attempts, you can track the lifecycle of a payment or a series of payments if you are using a multi-use Payment Link.

A Transfer Attempt records the original `entity_id` and the resulting `transfer_id` (or `authorization_id` for payment links that authorize a payment).

You cannot create transfer attempts directly. They are created automatically when a user submits a form using one of these methods.

## Key Details

- **Relationship to Transfers**: Each payment using a `Checkout Form` or `Payment Link` creates a `Transfer` with a corresponding `Transfer Attempt` to track it. Multiple transfers can occur when buyers retry failed payments or when multiple buyers use a multi-use payment link. Payout links create a `Transfer` for each payout, with a corresponding `Transfer Attempt` to track it.
- **Relationship to Authorizations**: Payment links configured to authorize a payment reference the resulting `Authorization` instead of a `Transfer`.
- **Every Transfer Attempt contains two main identifiers**: `transfer_id` (points to the `Transfer`) and `entity_id` that references the entity that initiated the payment. An `authorization_id` is present for payment links that authorize a payment.

## How Checkout Form, Payment Link, or Payout Links Relate to Transfer Attempts and Transfers

Here's how checkout forms, payment Links, and payout links relate to transfer attempts and transfers:

1. **Checkout Form, Payment Link, or Payout Link:** These entities allow users enter payment details. Multi-use payment links allow multiple submissions, each creating a new `Transfer Attempt` and `Transfer`. Checkout forms and payout links are single-use, creating only one `Transfer Attempt` and `Transfer`.

2. **Transfer Attempt:** Each payment attempt creates a `Transfer Attempt` resource that contains:
   
   - The originating entity (via the `entity_id` field)
   - The resulting `Transfer` (via the `transfer_id` field)

This structure lets you trace each `Transfer` back to its originating entity. You can see every attempt, whether it succeeded or not, for that entity.

3. **Transfer:** This is the final payment resource created if a transfer attempt is successful.

## Transfer Attempt States

When a user submits a form, the system creates a `Transfer Attempt` in `PENDING` state. If the payment is accepted, the state changes to `SUCCEEDED`. If it fails, it changes to `FAILED`.

## Transfer Attempt Webhooks

Users often want to track the relationships between entities and the resulting transfers. The best approach is to subscribe to the [Transfer Attempt - Created](https://docs.finix.com/additional-resources/developers/webhooks/webhook-events#transfer-attempt-created) and [Transfer Attempt - Updated](https://docs.finix.com/additional-resources/developers/webhooks/webhook-events#transfer-attempt-updated) webhooks. These webhooks provide both `entity_id` and `transfer_id`, allowing you to associate a `Transfer` with the original entity.

For example, when listening to the `Transfer Attempt - Created` webhook, the payload will show the `transfer_id` and `entity_id`. The `entity_type` field indicates whether the entity is a `Checkout Form`, `Payment Link`, or `Payout Link`.

```
    {
      "type": "created",
      "entity": "transfer_attempt",
      "occurred_at": "2020-04-29T20:31:32.348",
      "_embedded": {
        "transfer_attempts": [
          {
            "id": "transfer_attempt_ciACBK59kDhfx2Mi4Vy81",
            "created_at": "2024-12-27T05:52:07.44Z",
            "updated_at": "2024-12-27T05:52:07.44Z",
            "merchant_id": "MUmfEGv5bMpSJ9k5TFRUjkmm",
            "application_id": "APc9vhYcPsRuTSpKD9KpMtPe",
            "amount": 200,
            "currency": "USD",
            "state": "SUCCEEDED",
            "payment_frequency": "ONE_TIME",
            "transfer_id": "TRodANv8j3CVRUQz4sgZa8sK",
            "payment_instrument_id": "PI7AS61AmsnJQ5Y7sL7dM1Ux",
            "entity_id": "checkout_form_ciADaDNMFAHdyNbDPuByS",
            "entity_type": "CHECKOUT_FORM",
            "buyer_details": {
              "first_name": "",
              "last_name": "",
              "email": "test@gmail.com",
              "identity_id": "IDew6Bkcj1AwEP2aWhjjfdqS",
              "phone": null,
              "billing_address": null,
              "shipping_address": {
                "city": null,
                "country": "USA",
                "line1": null,
                "line2": null,
                "postal_code": null,
                "region": null
              }
            },
            "failure_code": null,
            "failure_message": null,
            "tags": {},
            "recipient_details": null,
            "operation_key": "SALE",
            "type": "DEBIT",
            "recipient_merchant_id": null,
            "receipt_requested_delivery_methods": [
              {
                "type": "EMAIL",
                "destinations": ["test@gmail.com"]
              }
            ],
            "additional_buyer_charges": null,
            "amount_requested": 200
          }
        ]
      }
    }
    ```