Free Expense Category Template

Download and import the CSV

Download the CSV and open it in Excel or Google Sheets. In Excel: File → Open. In Google Sheets: File → Import → Upload. The five columns will populate automatically.

Add it as a data validation dropdown in your expense tracker

In your main expense tracking sheet, select the Category column, go to Data → Data Validation, and set the source to the Category column in this template. This creates a consistent dropdown menu — which is critical for SUMIF and pivot table formulas to work correctly.

See the full expense tracking spreadsheet guide for step-by-step setup instructions.

Get your transactions into the spreadsheet automatically

The fastest way to populate your expense tracker is to convert your PDF credit card statements to Excel automatically, then use this category list to assign and filter. Typing transactions manually is the bottleneck — AI extraction eliminates it.

Use the IRS_Schedule column for tax prep

At tax time, filter by Schedule C line number to total each deductible expense category. For example, filter IRS_Schedule = "Schedule C Line 24b" to get your total Meals & Entertainment spend for Line 24b.

For a full walkthrough on how to categorize expenses for taxes, see: How to Categorize Credit Card Expenses for Taxes.

Import into QuickBooks or Xero

The Category and Subcategory columns map directly to Chart of Accounts categories in QuickBooks and Xero. When importing a CSV from CreditCardToExcel, use this template as a mapping reference to ensure consistent account assignment.