Receipt Scanning Problems
Fixes for receipts stuck waiting to upload, receipts that couldn't be read or need a look, the monthly limit, forwarded emails that never arrive, and wrong currency or country.
Overview
Most receipt problems fall into one of three groups: the photo hasn't reached us yet, it arrived but wasn't read the way you expected, or an emailed receipt never showed up at all. This page walks through each one.
Receipt scanning is available on Starter, Pro and Premium. If you're on Free, the scan button shows Receipt scanning is a Starter feature instead.
Quick Checks
| What you see | Most likely cause | Jump to |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting to upload notice | The photo is still on your phone | Stuck waiting to upload |
| Ready to file but nothing filled in | AI reading is off | Nothing was read |
| Couldn't read | The read failed | Couldn't read or Needs a look |
| Needs a look | The sums don't add up | Couldn't read or Needs a look |
| Monthly receipt limit reached | Your allowance is used up | Monthly limit |
| Emailed receipt never appears | Sender not confirmed | Emailed receipts not arriving |
Stuck Waiting to Upload
Receipts you snap with quick capture are saved on your phone first and upload in the background. Until they reach us, Receipts awaiting filing shows a notice like "2 receipts waiting to upload". Tap it to open Waiting to upload and see each one.
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Uploading now | It's going up | Nothing, give it a moment |
| Waiting to upload | It hasn't started yet | Open the app with a connection |
| Will try again shortly (or in a few minutes) | An earlier attempt failed | Leave it, or tap Retry |
| Stopped | It won't upload as it is | Tap Retry, or Discard it |
| Not sure this one arrived | The upload was cut off after sending | Check Receipts awaiting filing first |
Get a connection and open the app
Uploads happen while the app is open. Once you're back on Wi-Fi or mobile data, open Forbidden Finance and leave it open for a moment.
Retry anything that stopped
In Waiting to upload, tap Retry on any receipt marked Stopped.
Check before retrying an uncertain one
For Not sure this one arrived, look in Receipts awaiting filing first. It may already be there. Retrying anyway can create a copy that you'll be asked to merge.
If the screen says These receipts are locked, they're encrypted on your phone. Unlock your device and open the screen again.
Nothing Was Read from My Receipt
If a receipt shows Ready to file but no merchant or total, AI reading is probably off. With it off, receipts are stored and attached, and you enter the details yourself.
Turn AI reading on
Go to Settings > AI and switch on Let AI read my receipts.
Read the receipts you already have
Turning it on doesn't go back and read older receipts. Open Receipts awaiting filing and tap Scan with AI on each one you want read.
Scan with AI doesn't use up your monthly allowance, because the receipt was counted when it came in.
Couldn't Read or Needs a Look
- Couldn't read means the read failed. The image is still saved. Fill in the details yourself, or tap Re-scan to try again.
- Needs a look means something didn't add up, most often that the items and tax don't match the printed total. Open it, check the amount and line items against the paper receipt, and correct anything that's off. Re-scan is there too.
A few things that help a re-scan succeed: a flat receipt, good light, the whole receipt in frame, and a separate page for each part of a long receipt.
Receipts already attached to a transaction can't be re-scanned. Remove the receipt from the transaction first. It goes back to Receipts awaiting filing, where Re-scan or Scan with AI is available.
Wrong Currency or Country
- "No currency was printed on this receipt." The currency was guessed. Change it on the form if it's wrong before you save.
- "Country inferred from the address, check it." The store's address didn't print a country, so it was worked out from the rest of the address. Correct it if the guess is wrong.
Both are just prompts. Whatever you save is what counts.
Monthly Limit Reached
Each plan includes a monthly receipt allowance: 75 on Starter, 200 on Pro and 400 on Premium. It counts receipts, not pages, and resets on your renewal date, not the 1st of the month.
When it runs out, the scan button is replaced by Monthly receipt limit reached with the reset date. You can still add transactions and type the details in by hand. To check where you are, open Settings > Receipt forwarding and look at Receipts this month.
Emailed receipts that arrive after you've hit the limit aren't stored. Forward them again after your allowance resets.
Emailed Receipts Not Arriving
Mail to the shared receipts address is filed by who sent it. If an emailed receipt never appears, work through these in order:
Check the sending address is confirmed
Go to Settings > Receipt forwarding and look under Addresses you can send from. Your account email is already listed. Any other address must show Confirmed. If it says Check your inbox to confirm, receipts from it won't arrive yet.
Confirm a pending address
Open the confirmation email and tap the link. The link expires after an hour. If it didn't work, tap Link didn't work? and paste the link or the code from the end of it. If it has expired, remove the address and add it again.
Use the right address for mail rules
Automatic forwarding rules in your mail app keep the store's own sender address, which the shared address can't match to you. For those, use your private Automatic forwarding address under Show advanced options.
Check the size
Receipt emails must be under 20 MB, including attachments.
If you rotated your automatic forwarding address, the old one stopped working immediately. Update any mail rule that still points at it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add receipts without AI reading?
Yes. With Let AI read my receipts off, receipts are stored and attached exactly the same way. You type the details in yourself.
An address says it's already confirmed on another account
An email address can be confirmed on only one Forbidden Finance account at a time. Remove it from the other account first, or use a different address.
Does a re-scan count against my allowance?
No. Scan with AI and Re-scan are free. Only new receipts count.
How many sending addresses can I add?
Up to 5. Remove one to add another.
Related Articles
Scan a Receipt
The full guide to capturing and filing receipts.AI Settings
Turn AI receipt reading on or off.Notification Settings
Choose when you hear about emailed receipts.Contact Support
Still stuck? Get in touch.Need more help? Email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you.