Receipt scanning & expense management

Receipt scanning means a person photographs a receipt with their phone, or forwards an emailed invoice, and the tool reads the amount, date and supplier and attaches the document to the matching payment. Expense management adds approval, categories and reports on top. GoDutch and Revolut Pro are listed as having it.

Missing receipts are a common problem at the end of the quarter or year, and they cost the finance team and your accountant hours of chasing. Attaching documents at the time of purchase solves it, and also supports the evidence needed for VAT deduction. It matters most when several people spend company money. A sole trader with few purchases may be fine with a folder of photos.

• Test it with a real receipt and see whether the amount, date and VAT are read correctly.
• Ask whether receipts are matched automatically to the payment, or only attached by hand.
• Check whether the stored documents meet the retention rules that apply to your business.
• Ask whether receipts and categories can be sent to your accounting package.