March 18, 2025
New Expire Authorization Endpoint
Release date: March 18, 2025 (production)
Impact: New API endpoint to expire an authorization
Audience: Processor-only customers
Action required: None
Products affected: Card Transactions
Overview
Today, we are introducing a new API endpoint that allows processor-only customers (i.e. those who act as their own program managers) to manually expire a pending authorization, signifying that funds held can be released for use elsewhere. While Lithic automatically expires authorizations based on careful consideration of network guidelines and customer needs, certain use cases may warrant more fine-grained control. This endpoint gives processor-only customers the ability to expedite the lifecycles of pending authorizations according to their risk appetites.
Details
For detailed endpoint specifications and usage examples, visit our API Reference.
Endpoint
| Method | Description | Path |
|---|---|---|
| POST | Expire an authorization | /v1/transactions/{transaction_token}/expire_authorization |
Path Variables
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| transaction_token | string | ✓ | The unique token identifying the transaction to expire |
Response
This endpoint returns an empty response body with an HTTP 202 status code if Lithic has accepted the expiration request and has begun processing it. Customers should expect a subsequent card_transaction.updated webhook once Lithic has completed the expiration process on this transaction.
Important Considerations
- Only transactions with a nonzero pending amount (
amounts.hold.amount) can be specified. Refer to this guide for more details about transaction amounts. - Expiration is irreversible.
- Lithic will continue to apply its default expiration logic to pending authorizations that customers do not expire through this endpoint.
- Even after an authorization has expired, merchants may still submit a clearing against it. Customers using this endpoint assume all settlement risk and liability for potential losses resulting from merchants clearing manually expired authorizations.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via the HELP link in your Lithic Dashboard.
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