How to Capture Receipts: Email, Photos, and More

December 27, 2025 · 5 min read · How-To Guides

Receipts come from all over. Here's how to capture them whether they arrive by email, exist as photos on your phone, or need manual entry.

Purchase receipts come in many forms: email confirmations from online stores, photos of paper receipts, text messages, etc. Synceipt captures all of them and turns them into a searchable library.

Method 1: Automatic Email Extraction (Easiest)

Once you've connected your email account (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo), Synceipt automatically finds and extracts receipts from your inbox.

1. Go to Settings → Email Accounts and connect your email (if not already done)
2. Synceipt scans your inbox for emails from common merchants
3. Receipt data (merchant, amount, date, items) is extracted automatically
4. Receipts appear in your Receipts library within minutes
5. You can review, edit, or flag any receipt

Synceipt recognizes receipts from thousands of common merchants: Amazon, Target, Whole Foods, restaurants, hotels, airlines, and more.

Historical Emails: By default, email syncing starts with new emails going forward. To pull in historical emails from your inbox, click the 'Sync Email Receipts' button on the Dashboard and use the date range picker in the modal. Note: Email extraction counts toward your current month's plan capacity.

Method 2: Photo Upload (On-the-Go)

Got a paper receipt in your hand? Take a photo and upload it to Synceipt. Our AI extracts the details for you.

1. Open Synceipt on your phone
2. Go to Transactions → Add → 'Upload Photo' or 'Take Photo'
3. Point your camera at the receipt and take a clear photo (make sure all text is visible)
4. Review the extracted data (merchant, amount, date, items)
5. Edit any incorrect fields
6. Save the receipt

Photo receipts work best when the image is clear, well-lit, and the text is readable. Avoid shadows or blurry photos.

Pro Tip: Take photos in landscape mode and ensure the receipt fills most of the frame.

Method 3: Manual Entry (Full Control)

For receipts that don't arrive by email or can't be photographed (e.g., cash purchases, recurring subscriptions), enter them manually.

1. Go to Transactions → Add
2. Enter the merchant name
3. Enter the amount
4. Enter the date
5. Optionally, add a category (e.g., 'Groceries', 'Office Supplies')
6. Optionally, upload a receipt photo
7. Save

Manual entries are useful for cash purchases, tips on restaurant charges, subscription renewals, and any transaction without a digital receipt.

Organizing Captured Receipts

Once captured, receipts can be organized by:

• Date — Timeline view
• Merchant — Receipts from Amazon, Target, etc.
• Category — Groceries, Office, Travel, etc.
• Status — Matched (linked to a transaction), Unmatched, Flagged

Common Capture Scenarios

What if my email receipt is in a different language?

Synceipt's AI recognizes receipts in many languages. If extraction fails, manually enter the details.

Can I upload receipts from the computer or only via phone?

Both. On web, click Receipts → Upload. On mobile, use the camera or photo library.

What if the photo is too blurry to read?

Retake the photo with better lighting. If still unreadable, manually enter the merchant name and amount.

Can I upload a PDF receipt directly?

Yes. Go to Receipts → Upload / Import PDF and select the file.