What is Deductions & Reconciliation?

Also known as: Revenue clawbacks, Discrepancy

Quick definition

Reconciliation is the month-end process where ad partners compare impression and revenue counts and agree what will be paid; deductions are amounts removed for discrepancies, invalid traffic or brand-safety violations, often months after delivery.

Key points

Typical causes
Counting method differences, timeouts, IVT flags, unviewable or policy-violating impressions.
Practice
Contracts usually set discrepancy tolerances (e.g. 10%) and evidence requirements.

Benefits

  • Protects buyers from paying for invalid delivery

Trade-offs

  • Late, unexplained deductions strain publisher cash flow

FAQ

Can I see how partners handle settlements?

AdTech Directory profiles collect anonymous ratings on settlement and deduction experience.

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Official sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-27. Explanations are written by AdTech Radar; consult the official specification for implementation.