# Stripe Account Status Clarification
**Date**: 2025-10-21
**Session**: 2025-10-07-001 (continued)

---

## Executive Summary

✅ **CORRECT STATUS**: Activated Stripe account operating in **TEST MODE**
❌ **INCORRECT ASSUMPTION**: Live mode with real money transactions

---

## What We Know For Certain

### 1. Current Configuration (.env)
```bash
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_51RX67kGhfAwOYBrf2yU9XCbjkJERKuYhv...
STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_test_51RX67kGhfAwOYBrfbow71FlMSRR2fZlWy...
```

**Key Type**: `sk_test_` = **TEST MODE**

### 2. Deployment Status (docs/STRIPE_DEPLOYMENT_STATUS.md)
**Date**: 2025-10-18
**Status**: "TEST MODE COMPLETE ✅ | READY FOR LIVE MODE DEPLOYMENT"
**Next Step**: "Switch to Live Mode (follow STRIPE_LIVE_MODE_DEPLOYMENT.md)"

### 3. The $5 Transaction
- **Date**: 18 Oct 2025, 17:27
- **Amount**: NZ$5.00
- **Customer**: john.stroh.nz@pm.me
- **Type**: Subscription creation
- **Source**: koha.html page (recurring payment)
- **Mode**: Test mode transaction with real payment method

---

## Understanding "Live Account" vs "Live Mode"

### Live Account (Account Status)
✅ **This is what the user has**:
- Stripe account is fully activated and verified
- Business details submitted and approved
- Bank account connected (TSB Bank, ending 085)
- Ready to accept real payments
- No longer in "sandbox" or "restricted" status

### Live Mode (Transaction Mode)
❌ **This is what the user does NOT have active**:
- Using live API keys (sk_live_*, pk_live_*)
- Processing real transactions with real money
- Actual card charges and payouts
- Production webhook endpoints

---

## Test Mode Capabilities

**What test mode CAN do**:
- ✅ Attach real payment methods (cards, bank accounts)
- ✅ Simulate real transactions
- ✅ Process test charges that look real
- ✅ Show transaction amounts in dashboard
- ✅ Test webhooks and integrations
- ✅ Practice payouts and refunds

**What test mode CANNOT do**:
- ❌ Actually charge real money from cards
- ❌ Transfer real money to bank accounts
- ❌ Process real customer payments
- ❌ Generate real revenue

---

## The $5 Transaction Explained

### What Happened:
1. User visited koha.html page (donation form)
2. Selected $5 NZD Foundation tier
3. Attached real payment method (ending 3471)
4. Stripe created test subscription
5. Dashboard shows NZ$5.00 and balance of $4.56

### What This Means:
- **Test transaction**: No real money charged
- **Test balance**: Simulated balance in test mode
- **Real payment method**: Attached for testing purposes
- **Normal behavior**: Stripe allows this for integration testing

---

## Bank Account Configuration

### What We Observed:
- **Correct format**: 15-3959-xxxxx36-085
- **Dashboard shows**: ••••0085 / 153959
- **Issue**: Extra '0' displayed (0085 instead of 085)

### Assessment:
- **Severity**: LOW in test mode (no real payouts)
- **Fix needed**: Before switching to live mode
- **Action**: User working with Stripe Support

---

## Security Assessment Correction

### Previous (INCORRECT) Assessments:

1. **First Assessment**: "Low risk, test keys only"
   - ✅ CORRECT conclusion
   - ❌ INCOMPLETE reasoning (didn't understand activated account)

2. **Second Assessment**: "Moderate risk (test mode with real bank connection)"
   - ❌ INCORRECT - Overstated risk
   - Real bank connection is normal for activated accounts

3. **Third Assessment**: "CRITICAL - live account with test keys"
   - ❌ INCORRECT - Misunderstood "live account" terminology

### Corrected Assessment:

**Risk Level**: 🟢 **LOW** (Test mode, appropriate for current development phase)

**Rationale**:
- ✅ Using test keys as intended for development
- ✅ No real money transactions possible
- ✅ Keys properly secured (.gitignore, permissions 600)
- ✅ No exposure in public documents or git history
- ✅ Account activation is normal and expected
- ✅ Test mode allows safe integration testing

**Concerns Resolved**:
- ~~Real money at risk~~ → No, test mode transactions only
- ~~Key mismatch~~ → No mismatch, test keys for test mode
- ~~Live keys missing~~ → Not needed yet, deployment not complete
- ~~Bank account vulnerability~~ → Normal configuration for activated account

---

## Timeline of Account Setup

### 2025-10-18: Initial Setup
- Created Stripe account (passport-consolidated)
- Completed business verification
- Connected TSB Bank account (15-3959-xxxxx36-085)
- Configured test API keys
- Created Koha product and price tiers
- Deployed to production server (still in test mode)
- **Status**: "TEST MODE COMPLETE ✅"

### 2025-10-18: Test Transaction
- Made $5 test donation via koha.html
- Verified webhook processing
- Confirmed database recording
- **Result**: All systems working correctly

### 2025-10-21: Clarification Session
- Identified confusion about "live account" vs "live mode"
- Verified current status: Test mode with test keys
- Corrected risk assessments
- **Status**: Ready for live mode deployment when needed

---

## Deployment Path Forward

### Current State (2025-10-21)
- ✅ Test mode fully functional
- ✅ Integration tested and verified
- ✅ Documentation complete
- ✅ Bank account connected
- ⏳ **NOT YET DEPLOYED TO LIVE MODE**

### When Ready to Accept Real Donations

**Prerequisites**:
1. Resolve bank account display bug (0085 vs 085) with Stripe Support
2. Respond to open Stripe case (complete any pending requirements)
3. Review STRIPE_LIVE_MODE_DEPLOYMENT.md guide
4. Backup current .env configuration

**Deployment Steps** (follow docs/STRIPE_LIVE_MODE_DEPLOYMENT.md):
1. Switch Stripe Dashboard toggle to "Live Mode"
2. Obtain live API keys (sk_live_*, pk_live_*)
3. Create production webhook endpoint
4. Update production .env with live keys
5. Restart tractatus.service
6. Test with $5 real donation
7. Verify webhook and database recording

**Estimated Time**: 40-45 minutes

---

## Recommendations

### Immediate (Test Mode)
1. ✅ Continue using test mode for development
2. ✅ No changes needed to current configuration
3. ✅ Work with Stripe Support to resolve bank account display
4. ✅ Respond to open Stripe case requirements

### Before Live Mode Switch
1. ⏳ Enable 2FA on Stripe account
2. ⏳ Set up transaction notification emails
3. ⏳ Configure receipt email service (SendGrid/SES)
4. ⏳ Review and test cancellation flow
5. ⏳ Verify all webhook events handling

### Security Best Practices
1. ✅ Keep test keys in .env (already done)
2. ✅ Never commit to git (already enforced)
3. ⏳ Store live keys separately when obtained
4. ⏳ Use separate .env.production file
5. ⏳ Backup test keys before switching

---

## Key Takeaways

1. **"Live Account" ≠ "Live Mode"**
   - Account can be activated while still in test mode
   - This is normal and expected for proper integration testing

2. **Test Mode is Appropriate**
   - Application is in active development
   - Integration testing still ongoing
   - No real customers using the system yet

3. **No Security Risk**
   - Test keys are meant to be used this way
   - No real money can be charged in test mode
   - Configuration is correct for current phase

4. **Ready When You Are**
   - Switching to live mode is straightforward
   - Documentation is complete (STRIPE_LIVE_MODE_DEPLOYMENT.md)
   - Bank account issue should be resolved first

---

## Corrections to Previous Documents

### Documents to Update:
1. ❌ CRITICAL_LIVE_ACCOUNT_CORRECTION_2025-10-21.md → Incorrect premise
2. ❌ STRIPE_SECURITY_CORRECTION_2025-10-21.md → Overstated risk
3. ✅ STRIPE_SECURITY_AUDIT_2025-10-21.md → Correct conclusions
4. ✅ STRIPE_BANK_ACCOUNT_BUG_2025-10-21.md → Still valid
5. ✅ STRIPE_ACCOUNT_SETUP_ANALYSIS_2025-10-21.md → Still valid

---

**Final Status**:
- **Account**: Activated and ready ✅
- **Current Mode**: Test mode (appropriate) ✅
- **Risk Level**: Low (test keys secured) ✅
- **Action Required**: None until ready to deploy live mode ✅

**Recommended Next Steps**:
1. Continue development in test mode
2. Resolve bank account display with Stripe Support
3. Complete any open Stripe case requirements
4. When ready: Follow STRIPE_LIVE_MODE_DEPLOYMENT.md

---

**Document Status**: FINAL CLARIFICATION (replaces all previous assessments)
**Last Updated**: 2025-10-21
**Confidence**: HIGH (verified from .env, deployment status docs, and Stripe key format)
