Help center/Money and paperwork Works today

Keep my receipts

You send a photo of each receipt, and your assistant keeps a list with the date, the store and the amount.

Suggested tools

You can set these up yourself. Get the app, follow the steps, then copy the prompt.

• Notes document scanner (built into iPhone)

  Free

  It turns a paper page into a clear scan with your iPhone camera.

  Download for iPhone

  1. Cover any account number, card number or Social Security number with a sticky note.
  2. Open Notes and start a new note. Tap the Attachment button, then tap Scan Documents.
  3. Hold the phone over the page. It scans by itself. Tap Done.
  4. Tap the scan, tap the share button and send it to your assistant in Messages. Keep the note as your own copy.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I want to keep a receipt log with you using the scanner in the Notes app on my iPhone. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: I cover any card number, open a new note, tap the Attachment button, Scan Documents, tap Done, then share the scan to you in Messages. I will say what it was for. Then add it to my receipt log and tell me the date, the store and the total you read.

    Copy

  It only makes the scan. It does not hide numbers for you, so cover them before you scan.

• Adobe Scan

  Free. Optional paid upgrades inside the app start at $4.99

  A free scanner app that turns a pile of receipts into one clear PDF.

  Download for iPhoneDownload for Android

  1. Lay the receipts flat. If one shows a full card number, cover it.
  2. Open Adobe Scan and scan each receipt. Save them as one PDF.
  3. Share the PDF to your assistant, or upload it on your files page (text /home to your assistant).
  4. Keep the paper receipts or the PDF. That is your record.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I just got Adobe Scan and I want to send you this week's receipts. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: I cover any full card number, scan each receipt, save them as one PDF, and share it to you or upload it to my files page. Then add each one to my receipt log with the date, the store and the total, and show me the list so I can check it.

    Copy

  It only makes the PDF. It does not sort receipts, and it does not decide what counts as a business expense.

What to text

• Start a receipt log for my business.

  Copy

• Here is a receipt. Add it to my log. It was for supplies.

  Copy

• Show me my receipts for this month.

  Copy

• How much did I spend on supplies this month?

  Copy

• List my receipts for March by category, with totals.

  Copy

Steps

1. Text: "Start a receipt log for my business."
2. When you get a receipt, lay it flat and take a photo. If it shows a full card number, cover it.
3. Text the photo and say what it was for.
4. Read its reply. Check the date and the amount.
5. Keep the paper receipt or the photo. Your assistant's list is a helper, not your official record.
6. At the end of the month, ask for the list with totals.

Example conversation

Make it stick

• Take the photo before you leave the store. Receipts in a pocket get lost.
• Say what it was for in the same text. It saves sorting later.