At a glance
AI Receipt Check automatically checks whether an uploaded receipt is valid and usable for accounting purposes.
The result is shown as valid or invalid.
Accountants see the full check result, including the reason and any missing required information.
This feature is part of Circula AI and is currently available as part of the AI Beta Program.
š Overview
With AI Receipt Check, Circula automatically evaluates whether a receipt is readable, complete, and suitable for further processing. The check helps accountants review receipts faster and identify potential compliance issues directly.
When a receipt is uploaded, the system checks, among other things:
the readability of the receipt
the document type
the required legal information
The receipt then receives a clear status: valid or invalid.
If a receipt is invalid, accountants see an explanation of why it was classified as invalid and which required information is missing. This makes it easier to decide whether the receipt can be processed further or whether corrections are required.
š”Why AI Receipt Check matters
Manually reviewing receipts takes time and can lead to follow-up questions between finance teams and employees. Missing required information, unclear document types, or poorly readable receipts can delay the review process.
AI Receipt Check helps standardize these checks and makes the result transparent.
The feature supports in particular with:
faster receipt reviews
clearer compliance signals
fewer follow-up questions and rejection cycles
more consistent decisions based on defined requirements
For German companies, complete and correct receipts are particularly important because relevant required information is defined, among other things, by German VAT law. This includes requirements under UStG Ā§14 as well as UStDV Ā§33 and Ā§34.
š ļø How AI Receipt Check works
Upload receipt
As soon as a receipt is uploaded, it is analyzed by AI Receipt Check.
Classify receipt
The system checks:
Is the receipt readable?
What document type is it?
Which required information applies to this document type?
Check required information
The system then checks whether the required information is present on the receipt.
Show result
The system returns a result. This includes:
the overall status: valid or invalid
the readability status
the recognized document type
missing information, if applicable
Accountants see the full result, including all checked and failed requirements.
Users only see warnings in certain cases, for example when:
the receipt is not readable
the receipt type is invalid, for example a booking confirmation, an online DB ticket, an Uber trip summary, or a screenshot of an email
company details are missing on German invoices over ā¬250
š Note:
Warnings for users intentionally focus on the points they can correct themselves.
š Supported document types
AI Receipt Check differentiates between various document types because different requirements apply depending on the receipt type:
Invoices over ā¬250
Invoices over ā¬250 are checked against the full invoice requirements under UStG Ā§14. This also includes validation of the company name and company address.
Invoices under ā¬250
Invoices under ā¬250 follow the simplified invoice requirements under UStDV Ā§33. A reduced set of required information applies to these receipts.
Travel tickets
Travel tickets are checked according to UStDV Ā§34 for passenger transport.
Parking receipts
Machine-issued parking tickets often do not include all the details required for a standard invoice under UStG Ā§14 or UStDV Ā§33. They are still considered valid expense documentation. AI Receipt Check therefore treats them as a separate category so they are not incorrectly flagged as invalid just because certain details are missing.
Foreign local receipts
For foreign local receipts, German companies usually cannot reclaim input VAT. The check therefore takes a pragmatic approach and focuses on basic documentation quality rather than strict German input VAT requirements.
International EU purchases
Reverse charge logic applies to international EU purchases. This requires the supplierās EU VAT ID and the buyerās German VAT ID.
International non-EU purchases
Reverse charge may also be relevant for international purchases outside the EU. Since countries outside the EU, such as the US, do not always show a VAT ID, the check focuses on documentation completeness.
āļøImportant:
If a transport or parking provider issues a full invoice or full receipt instead of a simplified ticket, it is treated as a regular invoice. What matters is that the final result is legally correct, even if the validation path differs.
š§ Current limitations
The following limitations currently apply:
No result is shown yet when multiple receipts are uploaded in one expense.
The result is not yet visible in the expense list view.
The result is only visible in the receipt detail view.
Currently, only one registered company address is supported for validation.
The feature is currently only available for German entities.
š Note
AI Receipt Check helps you assess receipts faster and identify potentially missing or unclear information. The result serves as guidance and does not replace an individual legal or tax review.
Please continue to take into account the legal, tax, and internal requirements that apply to your company.
ā Frequently asked questions
Who can see the result?
Accountants see the full result, including the valid or invalid status and detailed reasons.
Users only see warnings for invalid receipts.
Visibility for Supervisors is planned.
Does AI Receipt Check block submitting an expense?
No. AI Receipt Check provides a compliance signal but does not block submission.
What happens if multiple receipts are uploaded?
Currently, no result is shown in this case. Logic for multiple receipts is under development.
Why are some document types checked more strictly than others?
The depth of the check depends on the tax requirements and risks that apply to the respective document type. If there is input VAT reclaim risk, the check is stricter.
Do you still have questions?
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