If you use Gmail, you probably know that Google can parse your email receipts for things like package tracking in Google Now. If you want to see a list of your most recent receipts -- or see one in particular -- you can just search "my purchases" on Google.
Hi Lifehacker, How long I should keep my bank statements for? I don't work and have been on a disability pension for six years due to cancer. So I decided I should have a big bonfire and burn the lot! Can I do that?
Dear Lifehacker, I’ve recently begun the endeavour to go paperless using a Doxie, Evernote and Google Drive. Loving it so far. My query is about the legality of scanned receipts.
iOS: Receipts are ridiculously easy to lose, so I always try to snap a picture of important ones with my phone. From now on, I'll be taking those pictures with Piikki.
Panorama mode for photographs was one of the main features of iOS 6. While panorama mode is very handy for grabbing skyline shots, it can also have a more practical application: photographing long receipts.
iOS: Got a wallet or drawer full of receipts you need to track? ExpenseMagic is a service that lets you photograph them on your iPhone and then has the data from them typed into a monthly expense report for you.
We've previously suggested using document management systems such as Evernote or OfficeDrop to scan your reciepts and keep them safe, backed up and online. But the Five Cent Nickel blog brings up an important point to remember: some stores will refuse to accept photocopies of original receipts.
When shopping, you often get asked if you want the receipt in the bag. Forget that; make sure it ends up in your hand instead. When the cashier sticks it in the bag, you're probably going to forget it's there and toss it out with the bag. Here are a few tips to help you avoid losing receipts -- and your ability to return unwanted items.
If you're an organised type, then you probably already scan receipts printed on thermal paper (that glossy, fax-like stuff) because you know that ink on that paper fades over time. It turns out that could have an added benefit: the paper itself might be more than usually toxic.
Even if you do all your banking online, there's still one ugly time of year when you've got to deal with a pile of financial paperwork, and that's tax time. If your accountant accepts forms via email, or you just want to save tax documents on your computer, you want a quick and easy way to do it. While most scanner workflows require several steps to digitise documents, the Fujitsu ScanSnap transforms paper into PDF with a single button press. No one wants to spend more time than they have to on receipts, 1099's and W-2's. Let's take a look at how to instantly capture tax-related and other important paperwork to your hard drive on April 15th and throughout the year with the ScanSnap.
December is upon us, which means it's time to start getting 2007 tax paperwork in order. This year I tried out a very high-tech organisation system for deductible receipts (pictured.) Instead of just dropping an enormous pile of differently-shaped scraps of paper into a single folder, I broke them up into labelled envelopes, which is ok, but there's still room for improvement. What about you? How do you keep records of your charitable contributions, misc income and other work expenses to get all your write-offs? Let us know in the comments. (For more December money tasks, check out our year-end to-do list.)
