Quick Answer: A payment is the tender of something of value, such as money or its equivalent, by one party to another in exchange for goods or services provided by them, or to fulfill a legal obligation or philanthropy desire. The party making the payment is commonly called the payer, while the payee is the party receiving the payment. Whilst payments are often made voluntarily, some payments are compulsory, such as payment of a fine. Payments can be effected in a number of ways, for example: • the use of money, whether through cash, cheque, mobile payment or bank transfers. • the transfer of anything of value, such as stock, or using barter, the exchange of one good or service for another.__###newline###__ In general, payees are at liberty to determine what method of payment they will accept; though normally laws require the payer to accept the country's legal tender up to a prescribed limit. Payment is most commonly affected in the local currency of the payee unless the parties agree otherwise.