Commission Adjustments After a Transaction Is Paid

What happens when a split, fee, or commission amount needs to change after funds have been paid, how long corrections take, and how overpayments are recovered.

Overview

Sometimes a commission amount changes after Side has already paid out — a concession is applied late, a TC fee or split was entered wrong, a fee needs to move from one side of a deal to the other, or a payment went out before the closing date was confirmed. When that happens, Payment Operations submits an adjustment request to correct what each person received.

This article explains when an adjustment is needed, what to send Side so it can be processed, and what to expect for underpaid and overpaid parties.

Before the transaction is paidIf the transaction has not been paid yet, you usually don't need an adjustment. Ask your Partner or the person who submits your commission form to update the commission form instead (see How can I correct the commission form if my split or commission is not accurate?).

When an Adjustment Is Needed

Situation	Example
Split or commission amount was wrong on the paid statement	The commission percentage, split, or a concession was entered incorrectly and the money has already gone out.
A fee was assigned to the wrong party	A TC fee, brand portion, or other deduction should have been taken from one agent's share, not split.
Payment was issued before the transaction closed	Funds were sent early and the closing date or commission then changed.
An amount is missing or short	One party received less than the commission statement showed.
A fee has to be covered on a different side of the deal	The listing agent agrees to cover a fee on a dual-sided transaction, but the form can't be closed out because an amount is due.

How to Request an Adjustment

Reply on the existing support conversation or email Side Support at help@side.com. Include the property address (or transaction link) so the right file is found quickly.
State exactly what needs to change: the corrected figure for each party, who should bear any fee, and the reason (for example, a concession or fee change).
Make sure everyone affected agrees. If more than one agent or the escrow officer is involved, ask each party to confirm the corrected amounts in the same thread.
Payment Operations submits the adjustment request and confirms back to you. If the transaction hasn't closed yet, revised commission demands are sent to escrow.

Include what escrow collectedIf the issue came from a final commission statement, mention what escrow actually collected or paid. It speeds up the reconciliation.

What to Expect: Timing and Recovery

Who	What happens	Timing
Underpaid party	Receives the missing amount once the adjustment is processed through all systems.	Allow 5–7 business days after the adjustment request is submitted.
Overpaid party	Funds are recovered from a future transaction. Alternatively, the overpaid party can give Side written authorization for a one-time debit of the overage from the account where the funds were originally paid.	Recovery happens when the next payment is processed, or when the one-time debit is authorized.
Payment issued early	Side notes the transaction. If the commission changes between the early payment and closing, an adjustment is processed.	Reach out as soon as the commission changes.

Reconciliation questionsAsking "where is my adjustment?" is best answered on the same conversation. Reply there with the property address and Payment Operations can confirm whether the balance has been disbursed and share a payout summary.

Moving a Fee to the Other Side of a Dual-Sided Deal

On a dual-sided transaction where all of the commission is on the list side, the buy-side commission form may not close out because a fee is due. Instead of asking Side to waive the fee:

On the buy-side commission request form, add a fee line for Additional Commission for the amount of the fee, paid to the agent.
Add a short note in the memo field explaining that the amount offsets the fee covered by the list side.
Ask Side Support to submit the matching adjustment for the list side so the totals balance.

Common Questions

How long does an adjustment take?

Underpaid parties are typically paid within 5–7 business days after the adjustment request is submitted.

I was overpaid. Will Side take the money back right away?

Not necessarily. Overpaid funds are recovered from a future transaction. If you'd rather settle it now, you can give Side written authorization for a one-time debit of the overage from the account where the funds were originally paid.

The payment already went out. Can I still change the split?

Yes — send Side the corrected figures and confirmation from everyone affected, and Payment Operations will submit an adjustment request.

What if the closing date changes after Side already paid?

Let Side know as soon as possible. If the commission changes between the early payment and closing, an adjustment will be needed.

Who do I contact to change a commission form that hasn't been paid yet?

Your Partner or the person responsible for submitting the commission form for your team. See How can I correct the commission form if my split or commission is not accurate?

I want to confirm the final numbers before escrow disburses. Who should I ask?

Reply to the final commission statement email or contact Side Support with the property address.