# Add Payee

> Add a new payee (merchant, person, organization, or UUID) to the correct preludes journal file, maintaining strict lexicographical order.

- Skill: `polyipseity/add-payee` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add polyipseity/add-payee`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/polyipseity/add-payee/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: polyipseity (https://skillmd.com/u/polyipseity)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/polyipseity/add-payee

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# Skill: Add Payee

**Payee directives must always be added to a `preludes/` journal file, never to monthly or yearly journals. If you encounter a strict payee error (e.g., 'payee ... has not been declared'), resolve it by adding the payee to the appropriate `preludes/` file as described below.**

This skill describes how to add a new payee to the ledger system.

## When to Use

- When a new merchant, person, organization, or UUID payee is encountered in a transaction or needs to be registered for future use.

**Example & guidance:** See `./examples.md` for a short example of adding a payee to `preludes/self.journal`. Validate with `bun run format` and `bun run check` after adding.

## Steps

1. **Determine the correct preludes file**
   - All payee directives must be placed in a `preludes/` journal file, never in a monthly or yearly journal.
   - Most payees go in `preludes/self.journal`.
   - If the payee is specific to an alternative or other scenario, use the appropriate `preludes/*.journal` file.

2. **Locate the payee section**
   - Find the block of lines starting with `payee` in the chosen preludes file.

3. **Insert the new payee**
   - Add a line: `payee <payee-name-or-UUID>`
   - Place the new payee in strict lexicographical (ASCII/Unicode) order within the payee section.
   - When adding, check the entire payee section for correct placement and move any out-of-order entries if found.

4. **Validation**

      **Note:** Use the canonical formatting and validation workflow: see `.agents/instructions/developer-workflows.instructions.md` and `.agents/instructions/common-workflows.instructions.md` for steps and examples (prefer `bun run format` and `bun run check`).

## Anti-Patterns

- **Never add payees to monthly or yearly journals.** Always use a `preludes/` file.
- Inserting payees out of order, or failing to correct existing order mistakes.
- Payees must be in strict lexicographical (ASCII/Unicode) order. When adding, scan the entire payee section and correct any out-of-order entries proactively.