> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usezentra.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Charge

> Create a customer-present or merchant-initiated charge

`POST /api/v1/payments/charges`

Use this endpoint to create:

* customer-present setup charges with `capture_mode: customer_action_required`
* follow-on recurring charges with `capture_mode: merchant_initiated`

Core request fields:

* `amount_minor`
* `currency`
* `reference`
* `customer_id`
* `payment_token_id` for saved-method charges
* `capture_mode`
* `idempotency_key`

<Info>
  For recurring billing, do not jump straight to `merchant_initiated`. First create and verify a customer-present setup charge so the reusable authorization is bound to the token.
</Info>

See [Payments Overview](/api-reference/payments/overview) and [Accepting Payments](/guides/accepting-payments) for the full reviewed flow.