---
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.developer.plastiq.com/llms.txt
---

# Overview

What is the Payment for?

[block:api-header]
{
  "title": "What is a Category?"
}
[/block]

A Category is often referred to as an industry, vertical, or business segment. It is used to define the services or goods rendered by a business.

In Plastiq Connect, a `categoryId` is a Recipient Category identifier utilized to classify the goods or services provided by a Recipient.

Using Plastiq Connect APIs, Recipient Categories are utilized to help integrating platforms synchronously determine and advise their customers if a Payment to a Recipient in a selected Category is allowed for processing against the selected Payment Method option.

[block:callout]
{
  "type": "warning",
  "body": "Card issuers and card networks have a broad range of policies outlining supported and unsupported Payments across a vast network of Recipient industries. \n\nA Recipient's classification of the type of rendered goods or services is used to track and restrict transactions.",
  "title": "The Payments Ecosystem and Recipient Category Classification"
}
[/block]

[block:api-header]
{
  "title": "Merchant Category Codes"
}
[/block]

Categories are Plastiq Connect's proxy and abridged name for merchant category codes, a government-mandated four-digit number used by card companies and card networks to classify businesses into market segments.

[block:callout]
{
  "type": "info",
  "title": "The Special Role of Merchant Category Codes",
  "body": "Merchant category codes have several purposes. \n\nThey often determine the rewards that customers receive for using their card products, and determine whether a business transaction needs to be reported to the IRS. \n\nMoreover, they determine the percentage of each transaction a business needs to pay for accepting a card Payment."
}
[/block]

[block:api-header]
{
  "title": "Managing Categories"
}
[/block]

Plastiq Connect has a vast range of Categories it can support, and although that translates into more options for your customer, it also means more decisions.

We recommend you evaluate the list of Categories supported in Plastiq Connect and present those Categories that provide the most value for your customers.

\###Relevant Recipient Categories

For example, if you're operating in the Healthcare space and most of your customers are healthcare patients, displaying a list dropdown with an option to select a Recipient Category as 'Lumber & Building Materials' may not be the most sensical option for your customer.

\###Nested Recipient Category Options

Alternatively, if your platform serves a wide-range set of customers across various industries and you would like to give your customers as many options as possible, you may be able to the Category list and mitigate decision fatigue by offering parent and child Category dropdown lists.

Plastiq Connect's implementation team can help and co-design this experience with you to cater to your specific need.

You know your customer best.

[block:api-header]
{
  "title": "Category List"
}
[/block]

Below, you can find the full universe of Recipient Categories enabled via Plastiq Connect:

[block:code]
{
  "codes": [
    {
      "code": "Accounting & Tax Services\nAdvertising\nArchitecture & Engineering\nBooks & Newspapers\nBusiness & Secretarial Schools\nCarpentry\nCharities\nChemicals\nChildcare Services & Daycare\nCleaning Products\nCleaning & Janitorial\nClubs (Athletic Golf Yacht)\nColleges Universities Professional Schools\nCommercial Footwear\nCommercial Rent\nComputer Programming & Data Processing\nConcrete Work\nConsumer & Packaged Goods\nCopy & Reproduction\nCorrespondence Schools\nCourt Costs\nCredit Card Payments\nDance Hall Studios Schools\nElectrical Contractor\nElectrical Parts & Equipment\nElementary & Secondary Schools\nEmployment Agency\nExterminating\nFlorists' Supplies\nFood & Beverage\nFranchise Fees & Purchase of a Business\nGeneral Contractors & Builders\nGlass Paint Wallpaper\nGovernment Fines\nGovernment Service\nGraphics Art Photography\nHardware\nHeating Plumbing Air Conditioning Irrigation\nHOA & Condo Fees\nIndustrial\nInformational Retrieval\nInsurance\nInvestments & Financial Services\nLabor & Payroll\nLandscaping & Gardening\nLegal Services\nLumber & Building Materials - Wholesale\nMedical\nMasonry Stonework Tile Setting Plastering Insulation\nMembership Organizations\nMetal Products & Service\nMortgage & HELOC\nOffice Equipment\nOffice Furniture\nOther Business Services\nOther Contracting Services incl Painting\nOther Inventory\nOther Personal Services\nOther Professional Services\nOther Schools & Educational Services\nPaint - Wholesale\nPersonal Loans\nPetroleum Products - Wholesale\nResidential Rent\nRoofing Siding Sheet Metal\nSecurity & Investigative Services\nShipping\nStenography & Secretarial Support\nStudent Loans\nTaxes\nTelecom Equipment Phones\nTelecom Internet Cable\nTesting Laboratories\nTrade & Vocational Schools\nUniforms & Commercial Clothing\nUtilities\nVehicle Lease Payments\nVehicle Loan Payments\nVehicle Purchase\nWelding",
      "language": "text",
      "name": "Category List"
    }
  ]
}
[/block]

[block:callout]
{
  "type": "warning",
  "title": "Unsupported Payments",
  "body": "We will let you know when a Payment cannot be supported with a select Payment Method via Plastiq Connect by rendering the Payment Intent `status` as 'NOT_CAPTURABLE'. \n\n`statusCodes` associated with unsupported Payments to select Recipient Categories will likely include: 'CARD_BRAND_BLOCK' and 'CARD_ISSUER_BLOCK'."
}
[/block]