How to Issue Partial Refunds in LaunchPass: Complete Guide

A partial refund allows you to return only a portion of a member's payment rather than the full amount. This is useful when you want to:

LaunchPass integrates with Stripe as your payment processor, and partial refund functionality is available exclusively through the Stripe dashboard rather than the LaunchPass Activity menu. This gives you granular control over the exact refund amount.

Important: LaunchPass provides full refund capabilities in the dashboard, but partial refunds require direct Stripe access for precision amount control.

Before issuing a partial refund, ensure you have:

Navigate to the Stripe login page at https://dashboard.stripe.com/login and sign in with your Stripe credentials.

Note: This is the same Stripe account you connected when setting up your LaunchPass community to receive member payments.

In your Stripe dashboard:

Tip: You can also search by transaction ID, customer name, or invoice number if you have that information.

Once you're viewing the member's profile:

With the payment details open:

In the refund amount field:

Critical: The partial refund amount must be less than the original charge amount and cannot exceed the remaining refundable balance.

Stripe allows you to add internal notes:

Best Practice: Always document why you're issuing a partial refund for accounting and customer service records.

Final steps to complete the partial refund:

Note: Once processed, partial refunds cannot be reversed. You would need to request a new payment from the member if needed.

The partial refund will follow the same timeline as full refunds:

Standard Processing Time: 5-10 business days from the time you process the refund

Faster Processing (Reversals): If the partial refund is issued very shortly after the original charge (typically within 24-48 hours), it may appear as a charge reversal instead, which processes more quickly.

What This Means for Members:

Important Consideration: Issuing a partial refund in Stripe does NOT automatically adjust member access in LaunchPass.

After processing a partial refund, you should:

Note: For full refunds processed through LaunchPass's Activity menu, member access is automatically removed. Partial refunds require manual access management.

After processing a partial refund, send your member a clear communication:

Subject: Partial Refund Processed for [Community Name]

Hi [Member Name],

I've processed a partial refund of $[amount] to your original payment method. Here are the details:

When to expect it: The refund will appear in your account within 5-10 business days. Depending on your bank, you may see it as a separate credit or as a reduction to the original charge.

Your access status: [Explain whether their community access continues, is prorated, or changes]

If you have any questions about this partial refund, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Community Name]

When communicating partial refunds, always include:

Related Guide: For complete refund instructions, see How to Process Refunds for Members

Situation: Member cancels halfway through their monthly subscription

Solution:

Situation: Your Discord server was down for 2 days

Solution:

Situation: Member was accidentally charged $75 instead of $50

Solution:

Situation: Member wants to downgrade from Premium ($100) to Basic ($50) mid-month

Solution:

Situation: Technical issues prevented full trial experience

Solution:

Cause: Payment may be too old or already partially refunded

Solutions:

Cause: Previous partial refunds already issued or insufficient balance

Solutions:

Causes: Banking delays, wrong payment method, processing errors

Solutions:

Cause: LaunchPass doesn't automatically adjust access for partial refunds

Solutions:

Cause: Human error in amount entry

Solutions:

1. Establish Clear Policies Document your partial refund policies including:

2. Calculate Accurately

3. Get Approval if Needed

1. Verify All Details

2. Document Everything

3. Communicate Proactively

1. Follow Up

2. Analyze Patterns

3. Maintain Records

When you issue a partial refund:

Stripe Transaction Fees: Not automatically refunded with partial refunds

LaunchPass Transaction Fee: Based on original transaction

Example Calculation:

Learn More: See How Much Does It Cost? and What's the 3.5% Transaction Fee?

Instead of refunding money, offer credits:

Advantages:

For pricing-related issues:

For service disruptions:

For pricing disputes:

Tip: Many members prefer non-cash compensation if the value is equal or greater.

Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible and cannot be refunded through either LaunchPass or Stripe dashboards, including partial refunds.

Option 1: Direct Crypto Return

Option 2: Fiat Currency Partial Refund

Option 3: Account Credits

Learn More: See How Are Refund Requests Handled?

Partial refunds have tax implications:

For tax purposes, maintain:

Note: Tax treatment varies by location. Consult with a tax professional familiar with your jurisdiction.

Yes, you can issue multiple partial refunds to the same transaction as long as the total doesn't exceed the original charge amount. Each partial refund will appear separately in Stripe and on the member's statement.

No, partial refunds processed through Stripe don't automatically change member access in LaunchPass. You must manually manage access if needed based on your refund policy.

No, once a full refund is issued, there's no remaining balance to refund. You cannot partially refund and fully refund the same transaction.

You cannot reverse a partial refund once processed. If you refunded too little, issue an additional partial refund for the difference. If you refunded too much, you'll need to request the member pay back the difference or absorb the loss.

Stripe generally allows refunds for up to 180 days from the original charge. Check your Stripe dashboard for specific limitations on individual transactions.

Members can request partial refunds, but the final decision and amount are at your discretion based on your refund policy. You're not obligated to honor partial refund requests.

Members receive an email from Stripe confirming the partial refund, but you should also communicate directly to explain the reason and timeline.

Yes, but partial refunds don't change the subscription billing cycle. The next payment will still process at the full amount unless you cancel or modify the subscription separately.

If you're experiencing issues processing partial refunds or have questions:

Email: [email protected]

Include in Your Message:

For Stripe-specific technical issues:

Browse our complete help documentation at help.launchpass.com for guides on:

Partial refunds give you flexible control over member refunds through your Stripe dashboard. While LaunchPass handles full refunds directly in the Activity menu, partial refunds require logging into Stripe, searching for the member, and entering the specific amount to refund. Remember that partial refunds take 5-10 business days to process, don't automatically adjust member access, and the transaction fees from the original payment aren't refunded. Always communicate clearly with members about partial refunds, document your decisions, and maintain consistent policies.

Key Takeaway: Partial refunds are a powerful tool for handling prorated cancellations, service credits, and pricing adjustments while maintaining positive member relationships and preserving some revenue.