---
title: "Guide: Paying third parties"
slug: "guide-paying-third-parties"
description: "Set up accounting periods and third-party definitions in Cintra iQ, then pay third parties such as unions and submit the payment files to Cintra."
updated: 2026-06-10T11:18:59Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:18:59Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/guide-paying-third-parties"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Guide: Paying third parties

Third party payments can be made to external bodies such as unions or private healthcare providers. The steps below explain the process involved with paying them.

- [Create accounting periods within an accounting year](/iq/docs/how-do-i-create-accounting-periods-within-an-accounting-year)
- [Rename an accounting period](/iq/docs/how-do-i-rename-an-accounting-period)
- [Create third party definitions for AOE orders](/iq/docs/how-do-i-create-third-party-definitions-for-aoe-orders)
- [Pay third parties](/iq/docs/how-do-i-pay-third-parties)
- [Submit third party payment files to Cintra for processing](/iq/docs/how-do-i-submit-third-party-payment-files-to-cintra-for-processing)