More transaction detail
Transmit invoice, tax and line-item information beyond the basic card amount and authorization data.
Level 3 Processing
Enhanced transaction data for commercial card payments
Level 3 processing adds detailed tax, invoice and line-item information to qualifying commercial card transactions. Crimson helps retailers capture, validate and transmit that data as part of the payment workflow.
Designed for commercial cards
Support business, corporate, purchasing and government card programs where enhanced data is accepted.
Potential cost optimization
Qualifying transactions may be eligible for more favorable interchange treatment when required data is complete and valid.
What Level 3 Means
From a single payment amount to a detailed commercial transaction record
A standard card payment typically includes the account, amount and authorization information needed to complete a transaction. Level 3 adds detailed purchase information that helps issuers and commercial cardholders understand what was purchased.
The enhanced data can also help qualifying merchants meet processor and card-brand requirements for optimized commercial-card interchange categories. Eligibility varies by card type, processor, merchant category and data quality.
Crimson connects the sale and payment data.
Because Level 3 information originates in the point-of-sale or order-management system, the strongest implementation captures it during the transaction rather than rebuilding it afterward.
Data Included
Typical Level 3 transaction information
Exact requirements vary by processor and card program, but a complete Level 3 record commonly includes transaction-level and line-item details.
Invoice and order references
Invoice number, customer reference, purchase order number and order date.
Tax information
Tax amount, tax indicator, tax-exempt status and related jurisdictional data where required.
Item description and code
Product description, SKU, commodity code, UPC or other item identifier.
Quantity and unit of measure
Quantity purchased, unit of measure and any applicable conversion values.
Unit cost and line total
Unit price, discount amount, extended line amount and net line total.
Freight and duty
Shipping, freight, duty and destination information when supported by the processor.
How It Works
Level 3 data follows the payment transaction
The line items belong to the sale, while the enhanced payment record is associated with the applicable tender. Crimson brings those pieces together before submitting the transaction to the processor.
1
The sale is created
The POS or order system records products, quantities, prices, discounts, tax, freight and customer references.
2
The payment is authorized
The commercial card transaction is processed through the selected payment device, gateway or processor integration.
3
Enhanced data is validated
Crimson checks required transaction and item fields, data lengths, amounts and totals before submission.
4
The processor receives the detail
Level 3 information is transmitted with or after the tender according to the processor's certified interface.
5
Qualification is determined
The processor and card network determine whether the transaction meets the applicable commercial-card data and interchange rules.
Processing Levels
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 at a glance
| Processing level | Typical information | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Card account, transaction amount, merchant and authorization information. | General consumer card transactions. |
| Level 2 | Level 1 information plus tax and selected customer or invoice references. | Business and commercial card transactions requiring summary purchase data. |
| Level 3 | Level 2 information plus detailed product, quantity, unit-cost, discount, tax, freight and line-total data. | Corporate, purchasing and government card transactions where detailed purchase information is supported. |
Business Benefits
Why organizations implement Level 3 processing
- Potential interchange savings: qualifying commercial transactions may receive more favorable treatment when all required data is present.
- Improved purchasing visibility: cardholders and finance teams receive more meaningful detail about each purchase.
- Stronger reconciliation: invoice, order and product references can simplify matching payments to internal records.
- Better transaction quality: validation helps detect missing or inconsistent data before submission.
- Enterprise consistency: centralized rules can standardize enhanced data across stores, registers and channels.
Qualification is not automatic
Sending extra fields does not guarantee lower interchange. The transaction must use an eligible card, meet the processor's requirements and include complete, accurate data within the required timeframes.
Important considerations
- Processor certification and supported message formats
- Commercial card eligibility
- Merchant category and transaction type
- Required field lengths and formats
- Settlement timing and submission rules
- Validation, monitoring and exception reporting
Crimson Approach
Level 3 processing built into retail operations
Crimson can connect transaction details from the point of sale with the payment tender, helping organizations submit consistent enhanced data across their enterprise.
POS data capture
Capture item, tax, discount and reference data at the source.
Field validation
Check required values, formats and mathematical totals before submission.
Processor integration
Map enhanced data to supported processor and gateway interfaces.
Monitoring and reporting
Identify missing data, rejected records and qualification exceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Level 3 processing questions
The product lines belong to the underlying sale or order. For payment processing, the required enhanced data is associated with the qualifying tender transaction so the processor can evaluate that payment.
No. Qualification depends on the card program, processor, transaction type, merchant category, submitted fields and applicable network rules.
Some processor workflows transmit enhanced data during settlement or through a related detail message. The permitted timing and message sequence are processor-specific.
The terminal handles card interaction, but Level 3 detail generally comes from the POS, ERP or order system. The complete solution must use a certified processor interface that supports enhanced data.
Savings depend on the merchant's card mix, commercial-card volume, current qualification rates, processor pricing and the percentage of transactions that successfully meet enhanced-data requirements.
Talk With Crimson
Evaluate Level 3 processing for your organization
Review your processor, commercial-card volume, available transaction data and integration requirements with our team.