The title compound, C(8)H(14)N(2) (2+)·C(12)H(8)N(2)O(8)P(-)·ClO(4) (-), was formed by the reaction of α,α-bis-m-xylenediamine and sodium bis-p-nitro-phenyl-phosphate in the presence of Zn(ClO(4))·6H(2)O in methanol solution. The two amine groups of the m-xylenediammonium ion are each protonated and each hydrogen-bonded to two O atoms of the phosphate anion, which acts as a 1,3-bridge. The ammonium groups are arranged matched face to face and each pair is doubly bridged by two perchlorate ions through hydrogen bonding. In addition, there are also weak C-H⋯O inter-actions. Both the N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O inter-actions are contained in a channel down the a axis. The perchlorate oxygen atoms are disordered over two positions with site occupancy factors of ca 0.7 and 0.3.