When you pay by credit card, your bookkeeping often shows just a single charge – the monthly total of your credit card. That one amount doesn't reveal which individual purchases are behind it. To create the correct bookkeeping from it and claim the input VAT for you, we need the matching receipt for each single payment.
Why we need the individual receipts
The single credit card charge doesn't show what you bought in detail.
Based on the receipts you upload, we create the individual bookings and claim the input VAT correctly for each purchase.
The receipts are also the proof for the tax office. A credit card statement on its own is not accepted as proof for the input VAT deduction.
Without the receipts, we can only claim a fraction of the input VAT (e.g. €200 instead of €3,000) – which costs you real money.
In short: the credit card statement helps us as an overview, but it doesn't replace the individual receipts.
Here's how
For every credit card payment, keep the individual receipt (invoice or till receipt).
Does each card payment appear separately in your bookkeeping? Open the relevant transaction and upload the matching receipt in the "Upload receipts & invoices" field.
Do you only see one monthly summary charge (e.g. from American Express)? Attach all individual receipts to that single transaction. We use them to create the individual bookings (split booking). The credit card statement itself is not enough.
Don't your credit card payments show up at all? Some cards (e.g. American Express, Visa) can't be connected. In that case, add the payments as external transactions and upload the receipts there.
Tip: You can upload receipts on desktop, by email to belege@smarta-steuern.de, or with the smarta Belege app.
Frequently asked questions / issues
Is the credit card statement enough as a receipt? → No. It only shows totals and doesn't show the VAT per purchase. We also need the individual receipts – for correct booking and as proof for the tax office.
How many receipts do I need? → One receipt for each single credit card payment.
My credit card can't be connected (e.g. American Express or Visa). → With some providers this isn't technically possible. Add the payments as external transactions and attach the receipts there.
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