Should you keep receipts?
Yes. CRA requires you have receipts for your business expenses. Good news though, you don't need to store a shoebox full of paper receipts. CRA accepts digital copies, as long as the copies capture all the information (front and back). For more information see the CRA website.
You can scan your paper receipts or take photos of them, as long as the digital copy is legible and complete.
Tip! Don't overlook business expenses you pay for with cash. You need records for these types of transactions too. (You can manually add these expenses on the Transactions page.)
Another Tip! You most likely are carrying a phone with a camera, so why not take pics of expense receipts on your phone and email them to yourself? You can simply drag and drop the image of the receipt to your transaction in QuickBooks Self-Employed.
How QuickBooks Self-Employed helps
QuickBooks Self-Employed helps you with record-keeping and receipts at the individual transaction level. It:
- Automatically stores info about the date, amount, and place (payee/supplier)
- Gives you the ability to add notes (particularly useful for meal/entertainment expenses)
- Lets you attach a receipt or document
If you have specific questions about receipts and record-keeping for tax purposes, we recommend you talk with an Accountant or Tax Professional.