PayIt Automation: API Alternative for Digital Payments, Agency Accounting Sync, and Reconciliation Reports

Introduction

PayIt is a digital government payments platform used by federal, state, and local agencies to collect citizen payments for utilities, permits, fines, taxes, licenses, and other government services. While PayIt provides web-based admin and reporting tools, the platform has limited or restricted API access for many government users. Browser automation provides a reliable solution to automate digital payments for government services, sync transaction data with agency accounting systems, and export reconciliation reports directly through the PayIt web interface, enabling streamlined citizen payments and fiscal compliance.

Why Use Browser Automation for PayIt?

• Limited API Access: PayIt has restricted or no API access for many government users and jurisdictions
• Digital Payments: Automate payment workflows, batch processing, and payment status tracking for government services
• Transaction Sync: Sync transaction data (payments, refunds, fees) with agency accounting, ERP, or general ledger systems
• Reconciliation Reports: Export reconciliation reports by date range, service type, or payment method for audit and close
• Revenue Reporting: Generate revenue and collection reports by department, fund, or service
• Batch Export: Export transaction batches in formats compatible with accounting and bank reconciliation
• Compliance and Audit: Produce transaction and reconciliation documentation for auditors and oversight
• Dashboard-Only Features: Many admin and reporting views are only available through the web interface

Setting Up PayIt Automation

Here's how to automate PayIt workflows using browser automation:

import { chromium } from 'playwright';

const response = await fetch("https://api.anchorbrowser.io/api/sessions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "anchor-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    'headless': false,
    'proxy': { 'type': 'residential', 'country': 'US' }
  }),
});

const { id } = await response.json();
const connectionString = `wss://connect.anchorbrowser.io?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY&sessionId=${id}`;

const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(connectionString);
const context = browser.contexts()[0];
const ai = context.serviceWorkers()[0];
const page = context.pages()[0];

await page.goto("https://admin.payit.gov/");

await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
  prompt: 'Log in to PayIt admin using the provided credentials. Complete any MFA or security verification and wait for the dashboard to load.'
}));

Automating Digital Payments for Government Services

Automate payment processing and status tracking for government services (utilities, permits, fines, etc.):

const automateDigitalPayments = async (page, ai, paymentConfig) => {
  const { serviceType, batchId, dateRange } = paymentConfig;
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Payments, Transactions, or Payment Management section in PayIt admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Filter by service type ${serviceType || 'all'}, date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Include pending, completed, and failed transactions if needed.`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Export or list transactions including: transaction ID, date, amount, service type, payment method, status, citizen reference (if allowed), and fee breakdown. Export as CSV or Excel.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download', { timeout: 15000 }).catch(() => null);
  const path = download ? await download.path() : null;
  return { path };
};

const getPaymentStatus = async (page, ai, transactionId) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Search for transaction ${transactionId} in PayIt admin and open it`
  }));
  const status = await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Read the transaction status (Pending, Completed, Failed, Refunded) and amount. Return as JSON: { status, amount }.'
  })).catch(() => null);
  return status ? JSON.parse(status) : null;
};

Syncing Transaction Data with Agency Accounting

Export PayIt transaction data and sync with agency accounting, ERP, or general ledger:

const syncTransactionDataWithAccounting = async (page, ai, params) => {
  const { dateRange, serviceTypes, fundCode } = params;
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Transactions, Reports, or Export section in PayIt admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Set date range from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Filter by service types if specified. Export transaction data including: transaction ID, date, amount, service type, payment method, status, fee, net amount, and any fund or department code. Export as CSV or Excel.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  const exportPath = await download.path();
  
  const transactions = await parseCSV(exportPath);
  for (const txn of transactions) {
    await postTransactionToAgencyAccounting(txn, fundCode);
    await page.waitForTimeout(200);
  }
  return { exportPath, count: transactions.length };
};

Exporting Transaction Data for Accounting

Export transactions in a format ready for agency accounting or ERP:

const exportTransactionsForAccounting = async (page, ai, dateRange, format) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Transactions or Reports section in PayIt'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Export all completed transactions for date range ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Include: transaction ID, date, time, amount, fee, net, service type, payment method, status, and any GL or fund code. Export as ${format || 'CSV'} or Excel.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Exporting Reconciliation Reports

Generate and export reconciliation reports for daily, monthly, or period close:

const exportReconciliationReports = async (page, ai, reportParams) => {
  const { reportType, dateRange, groupBy } = reportParams;
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Reports, Reconciliation, or Settlement section in PayIt admin'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Select ${reportType} (Daily Reconciliation, Transaction Summary, Settlement Report, or Revenue by Service). Set date range from ${dateRange.start} to ${dateRange.end}. Group by ${groupBy || 'date'} if available.`
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Generate the report. Include: total transactions, total amount, fees, net settlement, breakdown by service type or payment method, and any variance or exception. Export as Excel or PDF.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Exporting Daily or Period Reconciliation

Export reconciliation data for a specific period:

const exportReconciliationByPeriod = async (page, ai, periodEnd) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Reconciliation or Settlement Reports section'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Generate reconciliation report for period ending ${periodEnd}. Include transaction count, gross amount, fees, net amount, and breakdown by service and payment method. Export as Excel or CSV.'
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Syncing with External Systems

Export payment and transaction data for accounting, banking, or reporting systems:

const syncToExternalSystem = async (page, ai, dataType) => {
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: 'Navigate to the Export or Reports section in PayIt'
  }));
  
  await ai.evaluate(JSON.stringify({
    prompt: `Export ${dataType} (transactions, reconciliation, or settlement) in the format required for our accounting, ERP, or bank reconciliation system. Include all necessary fields for posting and reconciliation.`
  }));
  
  const download = await page.waitForEvent('download');
  return await download.path();
};

Best Practices

• Security: Use secure credential storage and support MFA where required for PayIt admin; treat payment data as highly sensitive
• Rate Limiting: Add delays between requests (5–10 seconds) to avoid triggering rate limits or security flags
• Data Validation: Verify exported transaction and reconciliation data before posting to agency accounting
• Error Handling: Implement retry logic for transient failures and session timeouts
• PCI and Privacy: Do not export or store full card numbers; ensure automation follows PCI and agency data handling rules
• Reconciliation Timing: Align export and sync with agency close cycles and bank reconciliation schedules
• Audit Trail: Log all automation actions and keep exports for audit and dispute resolution
• Session Management: Handle session timeouts and re-authentication for scheduled sync and report jobs
• Idempotency: When syncing to accounting, avoid double-posting by tracking which transactions have already been synced

Resources

• Anchor Browser Documentation - Complete API reference and guides
• Anchor Browser Playground - Try browser automation in your browser

Conclusion

Browser automation provides a flexible and reliable alternative to API access for PayIt digital payments and fiscal workflows. By leveraging intelligent browser agents, you can automate digital payments for government services, sync transaction data with agency accounting systems, and export reconciliation reports—workflows that aren't easily achievable through manual processes or limited API access. Whether you need to track payments, post transactions to the general ledger, or run period reconciliation, browser automation enables efficient citizen payment operations for governments using PayIt.

Start automating your PayIt workflows today and streamline your digital payments and reconciliation!