# RA Bill Meaning in Construction

> A running account bill, or RA bill, is a contractor's interim payment claim for measured work. This page gives the RA bill meaning with a worked example.

Canonical: https://superwise.site/glossary/running-account-bill/
Last updated: 2026-11-01

An interim invoice a contractor raises each period for the cumulative value of work done, minus what earlier RA bills already paid.

## What is Running Account bill (RA bill)?

A Running Account bill (RA bill) is an interim invoice that a contractor raises at regular intervals, usually monthly, on a project that runs for years. It claims the cumulative value of all work done to date, minus what earlier RA bills have paid, so the client releases only the balance.

## Practical example

At the end of month 3, a contractor submits RA bill no. 3. It shows that 30% of the building's foundation is complete, worth ₹30,00,000 cumulatively. RA bills 1 and 2 already paid ₹20,00,000, so the new bill asks the client to release the remaining ₹10,00,000. The client's [quantity surveyor](https://superwise.site/glossary/quantity-surveyor/) verifies the 30% progress on site before approving it.

## In SuperWise

In SuperWise an RA bill is raised against a [work order](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-order/) and takes its quantities from approved measurement sheets. Each bill deducts the retention percentage and the [mobilisation advance](https://superwise.site/glossary/advance-payment/) recovery set on the work order and applies the default tax of the work order. The cumulative quantity of a line cannot pass the quantity on the work order. A bill moves from draft to submitted, approved and paid.

[RA bill software](https://superwise.site/features/ra-bill-certification/)

## Related terms

- [Quantity Surveyor (QS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quantity-surveyor/)
- [Work Order (WO)](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-order/)
- [Advance Payment](https://superwise.site/glossary/advance-payment/)
- [Measurement Book (MB)](https://superwise.site/glossary/measurement-book/)

## Related
- [Quantity Surveyor (QS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quantity-surveyor/)
- [Work Order (WO)](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-order/)
- [Advance Payment](https://superwise.site/glossary/advance-payment/)
- [Measurement Book (MB)](https://superwise.site/glossary/measurement-book/)
- [RA bill software](https://superwise.site/features/ra-bill-certification/)