Skip to content
Draft
Changes from all commits
Commits
File filter

Filter by extension

Filter by extension

Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
---
title: Merchant Rules
description: Learn how to enable and use Merchant Rules to automatically apply consistent expense coding based on the expense merchant name.
keywords: [New Expensify, workspace merchant rules, merchant rules, auto-categorize by merchant, expense automation, expense rules, workspace settings, import merchant rules, bulk import merchant rules, merchant rules spreadsheet]
internalScope: Audience is Workspace Admins on the Control plan. Covers creating, using, and bulk-importing Merchant Rules to apply consistent expense coding based on merchant name. Does not cover personal expense rules, Category Rules, Tag Rules, or troubleshooting rule conflicts.
keywords: [New Expensify, workspace merchant rules, merchant rules, auto-categorize by merchant, expense automation, expense rules, workspace settings, import merchant rules, bulk import merchant rules, merchant rules spreadsheet, create a rule from an expense, create a rule prompt]
internalScope: Audience is Workspace Admins on the Control plan. Covers creating Merchant Rules from workspace settings or from an expense you just edited, using them, and bulk-importing them to apply consistent expense coding based on merchant name. Does not cover personal expense rules, Category Rules, Tag Rules, or troubleshooting rule conflicts.
---

# Merchant Rules
Expand All @@ -22,10 +22,33 @@ To create a Merchant Rule:
3. In the **Merchant** section, click **Add merchant rule**.
4. Enter the merchant name and choose how it should match:
- **Contains**
- **Matches exactly**
- **Exactly matches**
5. Select the fields you want the rule to update.
6. Optionally apply the rule to existing unsubmitted expenses and review matching expenses using **Preview matches**.
7. Select **Save Rule**
7. Click **Save rule**.

---

## How to create a Merchant Rule from an expense you just edited

When you edit an expense on a Control workspace that has **Rules** enabled, Expensify offers to turn that edit into a Merchant Rule so the same coding applies to every future expense from that merchant.

1. Open the expense and change any of these fields: **Category**, **Tag**, **Tax**, **Description**, **Billable**, or **Reimbursable**.
2. Click **Create a rule** in the prompt that appears.
3. Choose how the merchant should match, and set any other fields you want the rule to update.
4. Click **Save rule**.

The prompt reads **Create a rule to apply your changes to all expenses that match your criteria.** On web and desktop it appears above the message composer. On mobile and on narrow browser windows it appears below the report header.

The **Add rule** page opens with the merchant name and the fields you just edited already filled in. Every other field is set to **Don’t change**, so the rule updates only what you changed. After you save, you return to the expense, and the new rule appears in the **Merchant** section of your workspace **Rules** page.

To dismiss the prompt without creating a rule, click the close icon **(✕)**. Editing another expense brings the prompt back.

<!-- SCREENSHOT:
Suggestion: An open expense on a Control workspace immediately after the Category was changed, with the "Create a rule to apply your changes to all expenses that match your criteria." prompt visible above the message composer.
Location: Immediately after step 2 of "How to create a Merchant Rule from an expense you just edited".
Purpose: Admins report the prompt as an unexplained pop-up because it appears outside workspace settings; showing where it sits relative to the composer confirms they are looking at the right element before they click it.
-->

---

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -55,7 +78,7 @@ Instead of creating Merchant Rules one at a time, you can import multiple Mercha

## How Merchant Rules are applied

Each Merchant Rule matches expenses using either **Matches exactly** or **Contains**.
Each Merchant Rule matches expenses using either **Exactly matches** or **Contains**.

When an expense is created and its merchant matches a rule, Expensify automatically updates the fields configured in that rule.

Expand All @@ -73,7 +96,7 @@ Use these best practices to ensure predictable results:

**Use specific merchant names**

- Start with **exactly matches** for common vendors (e.g., "Uber", "Slack") to avoid false matches.
- Start with **Exactly matches** for common vendors (e.g., "Uber", "Slack") to avoid false matches.
- Use **contains** carefully, since broad terms can match unintended merchants.

**Test Merchant Rules before rollout**
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -115,6 +138,19 @@ To check which rule was applied:

The message identifies which fields were updated and that the changes were made by a Merchant Rule.

## Why don't I see the Create a rule prompt after editing an expense?

The prompt only appears when all of the following are true:

- You have permission to edit **Rules** on the workspace.
- The workspace is on the Control plan and has **Rules** enabled.
- The expense belongs to that workspace, not to a personal or self-DM chat.
- The expense already has a merchant. An expense whose receipt is still scanning doesn't have one yet.
- You changed one of these fields: **Category**, **Tag**, **Tax**, **Description**, **Billable**, or **Reimbursable**. Changing **Merchant**, **Amount**, or **Date** doesn't trigger the prompt.
- You're viewing the expense itself, not a report listing several expenses.

The prompt is also a one-time offer per edit. Dismissing it, creating the rule, or navigating away from the expense all end it. Edit the expense again to bring it back.

## Why didn't my Merchant Rule apply?

Common reasons include:
Expand Down
Loading