WAVE* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

Wave Accounting uses the shortened "WAVE*" descriptor on bank statements primarily because payment processors truncate merchant names to fit within the standard 25-character limit imposed by card networks like Visa and Mastercard, combined with Wave's own choice to register a condensed billing identifier. The asterisk following "WAVE" is a common separator used by payment processors to distinguish the merchant name from an additional descriptor field, such as a transaction ID or product type. If you see "WAVE*" on your statement, it is almost certainly a charge from Wave Accounting, the Canadian-based small business financial software platform offering invoicing, accounting, and payroll tools.

No, this is a legitimate charge from Wave Accounting. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions