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Transaction Receipt Detection

All you need to know about the transaction receipt detection

Özge E. avatar
Written by Özge E.
Updated this week

At a glance

  • Automatically detects if an uploaded document is just a transaction receipt (e.g. card terminal slip) instead of a valid, itemized VAT receipt.

  • Helps reduce document-related expense rejections and improves submission quality from the start.

Important!

  • This feature is exclusively available in the Circula Professional Plan. If your company is currently using the Circula Starter Plan, you would need to upgrade in order to access this feature. You can find more information about our pricing here.


What is the Transaction Receipt Detection?

Transaction receipt detection uses AI to review documents at the time of expense submission and flag receipts that are not VAT-compliant.

These are usually the small slips printed by card terminals that only show the amount paid and lack the itemization and tax details required for proper expense documentation.

Important!

According to §33 of the German VAT Implementation Regulation (UStDV), invoices under €250 must include at a minimum:

  • The full name and address of the supplier

  • The date of issue

  • The quantity and type of goods delivered, or the scope and type of services provided

  • The payment amount, broken down by applicable tax rates and exemptions

The general requirements for invoices exceeding this amount are outlined in §14 of the German VAT Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz).


How does the Transaction Receipt Detection work?

Detection during upload

When you upload a document, Circula’s AI analyses it and detects whether it's a valid receipt or a transaction slip.

Limitations

Transaction receipt detection doesn’t apply to draft expenses. Credit card expenses are created as drafts and are excluded for now.

User experience

If a transaction receipt is detected:

  • The user will see a warning labelled “Invalid receipt”.

  • The user will be prompted to upload a proper VAT-compliant document.

  • The user can still submit the expense if needed.

Invalid receipt notification in the web app

Invalid receipt notification in the mobile app

What accountants and supervisors see

Even if the detected receipt is submitted:

  • Supervisors and accountants will see a warning icon in their to-do list.

  • The same warning chip will appear directly on the expense.

Invalid receipt notification for accountants & supervisors in the web app

Invalid receipt notification directly on the expense


Frequently asked questions

What’s a transaction receipt?

It’s the slip printed at card terminals that confirms payment. It shows the total paid but lacks itemization and VAT details.

Will my submission be blocked if I only have a transaction receipt?

No. You’ll be warned but still allowed to proceed.

What if I attach both a transaction receipt and a proper receipt?

That’s fine. If a valid, itemized VAT receipt is included, the warning won’t appear. The system automatically removes the flag when it detects a compliant document.


Do you still have questions?

💬 Chat Support
📞 +49 30 588 491 01
✉️ support@circula.com

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