Receipt Scanning

Quickly add transactions by scanning receipts with your camera

Receipt scanning is one of the most convenient ways to add transactions to your Personal Finance Tracker. Simply take a photo of your receipt, and our AI will automatically extract all the relevant information.

Scanning a Receipt

Access Receipt Scanner

There are multiple ways to access the receipt scanner:

Click "Scan Receipt" from the dashboard quick actions
Click the camera icon on the transaction form
Navigate to Transactions â†’ Add â†’ Scan Receipt

Choose Input Method

You have two options for providing your receipt:

Take Photo - Use your device's camera to capture the receipt in real-time
Upload Image - Select an existing photo from your device's gallery

Position Your Receipt

If taking a photo, position your camera so that:

The entire receipt is visible
The receipt is centered in the frame
There's good lighting (no shadows or glare)
The receipt is flat (not crumpled or folded)

💡 Tip

Hold your phone parallel to the receipt for the best results. The entire receipt should be visible within the frame.

Capture the Image

Once your receipt is properly positioned, tap the capture button to take the photo. You'll see a preview of the image you captured.

Confirm or Retake

Review the captured image. If it looks good, tap "Use This Photo". If not, tap "Retake" to capture a new image.

⚠️ Note

If the image is blurry, dark, or partially cut off, retake the photo for better results.

Wait for AI Processing

The AI will now analyze your receipt. This typically takes 3-5 seconds. During this time, it's extracting:

Total amount
Merchant/store name
Transaction date and time
Individual line items (if applicable)
Payment method (if shown)

Review Extracted Data

The transaction form will be automatically populated with the extracted information. Review each field:

Amount - Verify this matches the receipt total
Merchant - Check if the business name was detected correctly
Date - Confirm the transaction date is accurate
Category - The AI will suggest a category based on the merchant, but you can change it

💡 Tip

The AI is smart but not perfect. Always double-check the amount and merchant name before saving.

Add Missing Information

Fill in any fields that weren't automatically detected:

Select the account you used for this purchase
Adjust the category if the suggested one isn't right
Add a description if you want more details

Save Transaction

Once everything looks correct, click "Add Transaction". Your transaction will be saved and added to your transaction history.

Best Practices

âœ“Scan immediately: Capture receipts right after your purchase while they're still fresh
âœ“Good lighting: Natural daylight works best for clear images
âœ“Flat surface: Place receipts on a flat surface for easier scanning
âœ“Review before saving: Always verify extracted data before saving
âœ“Keep digital copies: You can discard physical receipts once scanned and saved

Scanning a Receipt

Access Receipt Scanner

There are multiple ways to access the receipt scanner:

Click "Scan Receipt" from the dashboard quick actions
Click the camera icon on the transaction form
Navigate to Transactions â†’ Add â†’ Scan Receipt

Choose Input Method

You have two options for providing your receipt:

Take Photo - Use your device's camera to capture the receipt in real-time
Upload Image - Select an existing photo from your device's gallery

Position Your Receipt

If taking a photo, position your camera so that:

The entire receipt is visible
The receipt is centered in the frame
There's good lighting (no shadows or glare)
The receipt is flat (not crumpled or folded)

💡 Tip

Hold your phone parallel to the receipt for the best results. The entire receipt should be visible within the frame.

Capture the Image

Once your receipt is properly positioned, tap the capture button to take the photo. You'll see a preview of the image you captured.

Confirm or Retake

Review the captured image. If it looks good, tap "Use This Photo". If not, tap "Retake" to capture a new image.

⚠️ Note

If the image is blurry, dark, or partially cut off, retake the photo for better results.

Wait for AI Processing

The AI will now analyze your receipt. This typically takes 3-5 seconds. During this time, it's extracting:

Total amount
Merchant/store name
Transaction date and time
Individual line items (if applicable)
Payment method (if shown)

Review Extracted Data

The transaction form will be automatically populated with the extracted information. Review each field:

Amount - Verify this matches the receipt total
Merchant - Check if the business name was detected correctly
Date - Confirm the transaction date is accurate
Category - The AI will suggest a category based on the merchant, but you can change it

💡 Tip

The AI is smart but not perfect. Always double-check the amount and merchant name before saving.

Add Missing Information

Fill in any fields that weren't automatically detected:

Select the account you used for this purchase
Adjust the category if the suggested one isn't right
Add a description if you want more details

Save Transaction

Once everything looks correct, click "Add Transaction". Your transaction will be saved and added to your transaction history.

Best Practices

âœ“Scan immediately: Capture receipts right after your purchase while they're still fresh
âœ“Good lighting: Natural daylight works best for clear images
âœ“Flat surface: Place receipts on a flat surface for easier scanning
âœ“Review before saving: Always verify extracted data before saving
âœ“Keep digital copies: You can discard physical receipts once scanned and saved