Never Lose a Credit Card Receipt Again

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I keep credit card receipts?

The ATO requires business records to be kept for five years from when they were prepared or obtained, or the transaction was completed, whichever is later. BAS records are kept five years from the lodgement date. If a record relates to something with a longer life — a depreciating asset, for instance — the five years runs from the last time it was used in a return, so effectively longer. SparkReceipt stores documents for 10 years, which covers all of these comfortably.

Can I use a credit card statement instead of a receipt?

Not for GST credits on larger purchases. For a purchase of $82.50 or more including GST, the ATO requires a valid tax invoice showing the supplier's ABN and the GST amount — a card statement shows neither. Below $82.50 you can claim on other records such as a cash register docket or receipt. For income tax deductions the statement is supporting evidence, not proof of what was bought, so keep the receipt.

What is the $82.50 rule?

It's the GST tax invoice threshold. To claim a GST credit on a business purchase of $82.50 or more (GST inclusive), you must hold a valid tax invoice from the supplier. For purchases under $82.50 you can claim without a tax invoice provided you keep records supporting the claim — a receipt or cash register docket, for example. Either way you need to keep something; the threshold only changes what form it takes.

What is the $300 work expense rule?

If your total work-related expense claims come to more than $300, you must hold written evidence for the entire amount — not just the portion above $300. The threshold excludes car expenses, meal allowance expenses, award transport payment expenses, and travel allowance expenses, which have their own substantiation rules. It's a lower bar than people assume, and it applies to the total, not per item.

Are digital copies of card receipts acceptable to the ATO?

Yes. The ATO accepts digital copies provided they are a true and clear reproduction of the original and remain accessible for the retention period. Scanning a docket and keeping the digital copy is fine — you don't need to keep the paper. Digital is arguably safer, since thermal receipts commonly fade to blank well inside five years.

What is the best credit card receipt scanner app?

SparkReceipt suits sole traders and small businesses well. It combines AI scanning with automatic email fetching, card statement matching, 150+ currencies, and AI categorisation — all at $22.99/month billed annually with 3 users included. There's a 7-day free trial with full access.

How do I match card receipts to my statement?

Manually matching receipts to statement lines is one of the most tedious bookkeeping jobs there is. SparkReceipt automates it: upload the card statement as PDF, CSV, or Excel, and the statement extractor pulls every transaction. AI then cross-references each charge against your scanned receipts and flags anything missing documentation — ideally before you lodge, not after.

What is the best way to organise card receipts?

Digitise immediately and let AI do the sorting. Snap a photo of dockets as you get them, connect your email so digital receipts arrive automatically, and upload statements for matching. Everything is categorised, stored, and searchable — no shoebox, no spreadsheet reconstruction at year end.

Should I shred old card receipts?

Only after you've digitised them. Card dockets can show the last four digits of your card and sometimes more, so careless disposal carries a real identity theft risk. Scan first, creating a durable digital copy the ATO will accept, then shred the paper. SparkReceipt keeps the digital record for 10 years.

Can SparkReceipt handle card receipts in foreign currencies?

Yes. SparkReceipt supports 150+ currencies with automatic conversion at the exchange rate that applied on the purchase date rather than today's rate, and reads receipts in virtually any language. Tax treatment is read from the document, so overseas purchases aren't incorrectly assigned GST.