<p>For certain transactions, particularly transactions that have a large number of inputs, or relatively new inputs, the Satoshi client will not let you initiate a transaction without a 0.5mBTC fee. Essentially it tries to prevent you from initiating transactions that will have problems getting forwarded/approved. If you have less than 0.5mBTC is should warn you about this after clicking send.</p>

<p>Note: this is just the way things are. I don't particularly like it that way, I wish there was an advanced option that let you override it, but as far as I know there isn't one. And I do understand the rationale, as we get enough posts as it is on this forum regarding people frustrated with their no fee transactions not getting confirmed.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-13T00:59:10.563Z
2013-04-13T00:59:10.563Z
David Ogren
<p>Bitcoin-Qt enforces the reference implementation:</p>

<p>A transaction will be sent without fees if these conditions are met</p>

<ul>
<li>It is smaller than 10 thousand bytes.</li>
<li>All outputs are 0.01 BTC or larger.</li>
<li>Its priority is large enough</li>
</ul>

<p>Otherwise, the reference implementation will round up the transaction size to the nearest thousand bytes and then add a fee of 0.0005 BTC per thousand bytes. Users may override the default 0.0005 BTC/kb fee setting, but cannot control transaction fees for each transaction. Bitcoin-Qt does prompt the user to accept the fee before the transaction is sent (they may cancel the transaction if they are not willing to pay the fee).   </p>

<p><a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Transaction_fees#Reference_Implementation">Source</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-13T01:05:48.333Z
2013-04-13T01:05:48.333Z
nivs
<p>I'm attempting a test transaction of an amount less than 0.0015 BTC with my transaction fee set to 0 BTC, yet I'm getting this message: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The total exceeds your balance when the 0.0015 BTC transaction fee is
  included.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The transaction fee should be free, right? Why would this happen?</p>

<bitcoin-core>
Why would Bitcoin-QT attempt to charge a processing fee, when I have my transaction fees set to zero?
Ben Mordecai
# Why would Bitcoin-QT attempt to charge a processing fee, when I have my transaction fees set to zero?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-13)

I'm attempting a test transaction of an amount less than 0.0015 BTC with my transaction fee set to 0 BTC, yet I'm getting this message:

> The total exceeds your balance when the 0.0015 BTC transaction fee is
> included.

The transaction fee should be free, right? Why would this happen?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-04-13. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Bitcoin-Qt enforces the reference implementation:

A transaction will be sent without fees if these conditions are met

* It is smaller than 10 thousand bytes.
* All outputs are 0.01 BTC or larger.
* Its priority is large enough

Otherwise, the reference implementation will round up the transaction size to the nearest thousand bytes and then add a fee of 0.0005 BTC per thousand bytes. Users may override the default 0.0005 BTC/kb fee setting, but cannot control transaction fees for each transaction. Bitcoin-Qt does prompt the user to accept the fee before the transaction is sent (they may cancel the transaction if they are not willing to pay the fee).

[Source](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Transaction_fees#Reference_Implementation)


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### Answer by username_1 on 2013-04-13. Score: 2

For certain transactions, particularly transactions that have a large number of inputs, or relatively new inputs, the Satoshi client will not let you initiate a transaction without a 0.5mBTC fee. Essentially it tries to prevent you from initiating transactions that will have problems getting forwarded/approved. If you have less than 0.5mBTC is should warn you about this after clicking send.

Note: this is just the way things are. I don't particularly like it that way, I wish there was an advanced option that let you override it, but as far as I know there isn't one. And I do understand the rationale, as we get enough posts as it is on this forum regarding people frustrated with their no fee transactions not getting confirmed.


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