Expense — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
An MCP server for tracking receipts, mileage, and reports through an AI assistant. It connects with OAuth and accepts receipts from several sources.
claude mcp add --transport http expense https://expense.labnotes.org/mcpWhat Expense does
Expense accepts photos, screenshots, PDFs, clipboard content, and receipts from a connected Fastmail or Gmail inbox. It extracts the merchant, amount, and category, keeps the image with the record, and assigns the expense to an IRS Schedule C line. Mileage uses the IRS rate selected for the trip’s date and category. Reports can be exported as a PDF with attached receipts or as a ZIP archive.
The MCP endpoint is https://expense.labnotes.org/mcp. An assistant can add receipts, record drives, answer spending questions, manage reports, and reconcile a bank statement. Access uses OAuth: sign in and approve the connection, with no API key involved. The assistant cannot connect until that approval is completed.
What it helps with
- capture receipts from email, PDFs, and images
- extract the merchant, amount, and expense category
- calculate mileage using the IRS rate
- export a report with its receipts as PDF or ZIP
- match a bank statement against recorded expenses
Example prompts for the agent
- Add the receipt from
receipt.pdfand assign its proper expense category. - Log the drive described in my last message using the IRS rate for its date and trip type.
- Match this bank statement against the expenses in the selected report.
How to install Expense
Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http expense https://expense.labnotes.org/mcpPlatform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add expense --url https://expense.labnotes.org/mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"expense": {
"url": "https://expense.labnotes.org/mcp"
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"expense": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://expense.labnotes.org/mcp"
}
}
}Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http expense https://expense.labnotes.org/mcpStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Expense
How do I install Expense in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add --transport http expense https://expense.labnotes.org/mcp, then sign in through OAuth and approve access.
What does Expense do?
It collects receipts from files, clipboard content, and mailboxes, extracts their details, and keeps the images with the records. Its MCP connection also lets an assistant handle mileage and reports.
Does Expense need an API key?
No. The MCP connection uses OAuth, so you sign in and approve access instead of providing an API key.
