How to Forward Receipts to Brex
The complete guide to Brex's three receipt email addresses, the 2-of-3 matching rule, virtual receipts, why Gmail auto-forward is tricky, file formats, troubleshooting, and how to automate the whole process.
Last updated: February 2026
In This Guide
- 1. What is Brex?
- 2. Brex's Three Receipt Emails Explained
- 3. Prerequisites: Before You Forward Receipts
- 4. Step-by-Step: How to Forward a Receipt to Brex
- 5. File Format and Size Requirements
- 6. Gmail Auto-Forward with Brex
- 7. All Receipt Submission Methods
- 8. Common Issues and Troubleshooting
- 9. Automate It with Expensent
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Brex?
Brex is a corporate card and spend management platform built for startups, technology companies, and growing businesses. Founded in 2017 by Henrique Dubugras and Pedro Franceschi, Brex originally gained attention by offering corporate credit cards to startups without requiring a personal guarantee—a major departure from traditional business credit cards.
Today, Brex has evolved into a comprehensive financial platform that includes corporate cards, expense management, bill pay, travel booking, and business accounts. Brex's AI-powered receipt matching is one of its standout features—when a receipt is submitted, Brex automatically compares the merchant name, transaction amount, and date to find and attach the receipt to the correct card transaction.
Brex also generates virtual receipts for transactions at common vendors like Amazon, Uber, Lyft, major airlines, FedEx, and UPS. These virtual receipts are auto-attached without any action from the cardholder, reducing the receipt collection burden for everyday purchases.
This guide focuses on the email receipt forwarding workflow—how to get receipts into Brex via its three email addresses: receipts@brex.com, receipts+forwarding@brex.com, and reimbursements@brex.com.
2. Brex's Three Receipt Emails Explained
Unlike most expense platforms that provide a single receipt email, Brex offers three distinct email addresses for different use cases. Understanding which to use and when is essential for reliable receipt processing.
receipts@brex.com — Standard Receipt Forwarding
Send or forward receipt emails to receipts@brex.com. This is the primary receipt submission email and the one you should use for individual, manual forwards.
- •Processing: Real-time—receipts are matched to transactions within minutes
- •Best for: Manual forwarding of individual receipt emails
- •Accepts: PDF, JPG, PNG, XML attachments and inline images
- •Matching: Uses the 2-of-3 rule (merchant, amount, date)
receipts+forwarding@brex.com — Gmail Auto-Forward
This address is designed specifically for receipts+forwarding@brex.com Gmail auto-forwarding rules. It uses the plus-addressing convention to differentiate auto-forwarded emails from manual forwards.
- •Processing: Hourly batch—not real-time. Receipts are collected and processed every hour.
- •Best for: Gmail auto-forward rules where you want all receipt emails forwarded automatically
- •Limitation: Still requires Gmail forwarding verification (confirmation code sent to the Brex address)
- •Limitation: Hourly batch processing means up to 60-minute delay before receipt appears in Brex
reimbursements@brex.com — Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Forward receipts for out-of-pocket purchases (expenses paid with a personal card, not a Brex card) to reimbursements@brex.com. This creates a draft reimbursement request instead of matching to a card transaction.
- •Creates: A draft reimbursement request—not a transaction match
- •Best for: Personal purchases that need company reimbursement (hotel, meals, supplies)
- •Workflow: Draft is created → you review and submit → manager approves → payment is issued
| Feature | receipts@ | receipts+forwarding@ | reimbursements@ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing speed | Real-time | Hourly batch | Real-time |
| Matches to card transaction | Yes | Yes | No (creates reimbursement) |
| Best use case | Manual forwarding | Gmail auto-forward | Out-of-pocket expenses |
| Gmail verification needed | N/A | Yes | N/A |
Typo-friendly: Brex also accepts common typos—receipt@brex.com (missing “s”), reciepts@brex.com, and reciept@brex.com all route to the same receipt processing system.
3. Prerequisites: Before You Forward Receipts
Before forwarding your first receipt to Brex, make sure these requirements are met.
Authorize Your Sending Email Address
Brex routes receipts to your account based on the sender's email. Your sending email must be associated with your Brex user profile, or you must be set up as a copilot (authorized assistant) for the cardholder.
- Log in to your Brex dashboard
- Navigate to Settings > Personal Settings > Edit Profile > Integrations
- Add and verify any additional email addresses you want to forward from
Receipts sent from unauthorized addresses are silently ignored—no error notification, they simply never appear in your account.
Understand the 2-of-3 Matching Rule
Brex auto-matches receipts to card transactions by comparing three fields:
- Merchant name — The vendor name on the receipt vs. the transaction
- Transaction amount — The total on the receipt vs. the charge amount
- Date — The receipt date vs. the transaction date
At least 2 of these 3 fields must match for the receipt to auto-attach. If only 1 matches, the receipt goes to unmatched items for manual review. Merchant name matching is fuzzy (e.g., “Amazon.com” matches “AMZN”), but large discrepancies in amount or date will prevent matching.
Note the 2-Month Age Limit
Brex will not auto-match receipts to transactions older than 2 months. If you forward a receipt for a purchase made more than 2 months ago, it will appear in your unmatched receipts and must be manually attached to the transaction through the dashboard. For best results, forward receipts as soon as possible after the purchase.
Check for Virtual Receipts First
Before manually forwarding a receipt, check if Brex already auto-generated a virtual receipt for the transaction. Brex creates virtual receipts for common vendors including Amazon, Uber, Lyft, major airlines, FedEx, UPS, and select SaaS providers. If a virtual receipt is already attached, you do not need to forward anything—the transaction is already compliant.
4. Step-by-Step: How to Forward a Receipt to Brex
Once your email is authorized, here's how to forward a receipt to Brex:
Choose the right email address
Use receipts@brex.com for standard receipt forwarding (most common). Use reimbursements@brex.com only if the expense was paid with a personal card and you need reimbursement. Use receipts+forwarding@brex.com only when setting up Gmail auto-forwarding rules.
Forward the receipt email
Forward the original receipt email to the chosen Brex address. The receipt can be a file attachment (PDF, JPG, PNG, XML) or an inline image in the email body—Brex processes both. To add a memo, include memo: your note here in the email body.
Brex matches the receipt
Brex's AI extracts the merchant name, amount, and date from your receipt and applies the 2-of-3 matching rule to find the corresponding card transaction. If sent to receipts@brex.com, matching happens in real-time (minutes). If sent to receipts+forwarding@brex.com, expect up to an hour for the batch to process.
Verify in your Brex dashboard
Open the Brex dashboard or mobile app and check that the receipt appears attached to the correct transaction. If the receipt did not auto-match, look in your unmatched receipts section and manually attach it to the right transaction. You can also edit the memo, category, or other fields at this point.
5. File Format and Size Requirements
Brex accepts a more focused set of file formats than some other expense platforms, but covers the most common receipt types.
Accepted Formats
- •PDF — Document files (most common for digital receipts)
- •JPG / JPEG — Image files
- •PNG — Image files
- •XML (CFDI) — Mexican fiscal receipt format
- •Inline images — Receipts embedded in the email body
Limitations
- •No documented size limit — Standard email attachment limits apply (typically 25 MB)
- •DOC / DOCX — Not supported
- •XLS / CSV — Not processed
- •HEIC — Not documented as supported (convert to JPG first)
- •GIF — Not listed as a supported format
Inline images work: Unlike some expense platforms that only process file attachments, Brex can also extract data from receipts embedded directly in the email body as inline images. This means HTML receipt emails (common from SaaS subscriptions, airlines, and hotels) can be processed without needing to save and attach a separate file.
6. Gmail Auto-Forward with Brex
Unlike most expense platforms, Brex has specifically addressed the Gmail auto-forwarding problem with a dedicated email address and a Google Workspace add-on. But both solutions come with significant limitations.
Option 1: receipts+forwarding@brex.com
Brex created receipts+forwarding@brex.com specifically for Gmail auto-forward rules. The plus-addressing convention allows Brex to identify these as auto-forwarded emails and process them differently.
The catch: You still need to complete Gmail's forwarding verification. Gmail sends a confirmation code to the Brex address, and you must enter that code in Gmail. Brex provides a way to retrieve this code through their support or dashboard, but the process is not seamless.
Hourly batch processing: Receipts sent to receipts+forwarding@brex.com are processed in hourly batches, not in real-time. You may wait up to 60 minutes for a receipt to appear in your Brex dashboard.
Option 2: Brex for Google Workspace Add-On
Launched in December 2023, the Brex for Google Workspace add-on is a more robust solution for organizations. Google Workspace admins can install it to enable org-wide receipt auto-forwarding with keyword filtering.
- •Bypasses individual Gmail forwarding verification
- •Admin-configured keyword filters to target receipt emails
- •Works across the entire Google Workspace organization
Limitations: Requires a Google Workspace admin to install. Not available for personal Gmail accounts. Keyword-based filtering is less accurate than AI-based detection (may miss receipts that don't contain the configured keywords, or forward non-receipt emails that happen to match).
The Core Gmail Limitation
Regardless of which Brex option you use, Gmail's auto-forwarding has a fundamental constraint: it forwards all matching emails, not just receipts. A filter for “from:amazon.com” will forward shipping notifications, marketing emails, and order confirmations alongside actual receipts. Without AI-powered detection, your Brex account gets cluttered with non-receipt emails that fail to match any transaction.
The Solution: Expensent
Expensent solves all three problems. It connects to your email via secure OAuth (no Gmail forwarding verification needed), uses AI to detect only actual invoice and receipt emails, and forwards them to receipts@brex.com in real-time—not hourly batches. No Google Workspace admin required, no keyword filters to maintain, and no non-receipt clutter. See Section 9 for setup details ↓
7. All Receipt Submission Methods
Brex offers more receipt submission channels than most expense platforms. Here's how they compare:
Email Forwarding
Forward receipt emails to receipts@brex.com, receipts+forwarding@brex.com, or reimbursements@brex.com depending on the use case. Best for digital receipts that arrive in your email inbox. This is the method that Expensent automates.
Send a photo of your receipt to the Brex WhatsApp number. Brex extracts the data and matches it to a transaction. Best for quick capture when you have a physical receipt and your phone handy. Requires linking your phone number to your Brex account.
SMS
Text a receipt photo to the Brex SMS number. Similar to WhatsApp but uses standard text messaging. Your phone number must be associated with your Brex account.
Slack Integration
Upload receipt images directly through the Brex Slack integration. Brex sends transaction notifications to Slack, and you can reply with a receipt image. Best for teams that live in Slack and want to handle receipts without leaving the platform.
Mobile App (Camera)
Open the Brex mobile app, find the transaction, and use the camera to scan a physical receipt. The app matches the receipt to the transaction automatically. Best for paper receipts at restaurants, stores, and in-person purchases.
Browser Extension
The Brex browser extension lets you capture receipts from web pages (order confirmations, booking pages) and submit them directly to Brex without downloading files. Best for online purchases where the receipt is displayed in the browser.
Dashboard Upload
Upload receipt files directly through the Brex web dashboard. Navigate to the transaction and attach a receipt file. Best for catching up on accumulated receipts or attaching receipts that failed to auto-match.
Virtual / Auto-Generated Receipts
Brex automatically generates and attaches virtual receipts for transactions at supported vendors (Amazon, Uber, Lyft, airlines, FedEx, UPS, and others). No action required from the cardholder. Check if a virtual receipt is already attached before forwarding manually.
Key insight: Despite all these submission channels, the core problem remains: digital receipts arrive in your email, and none of Brex's built-in methods automatically capture them from your inbox. You must manually identify each receipt email and forward it, or use a third-party tool like Expensent to automate the process.
8. Common Issues and Troubleshooting
If your receipts aren't appearing or matching correctly in Brex, work through these checks:
1.Receipt not matching (2-of-3 rule failed)
Most common cause. Brex requires at least 2 of 3 fields (merchant, amount, date) to match a card transaction. If the merchant name on the receipt differs significantly from the card transaction description, or the date/amount is off, matching fails. Check the unmatched receipts section in your dashboard and manually attach the receipt to the correct transaction.
2.Receipt is older than 2 months
Brex will not auto-match receipts to transactions that are more than 2 months old. The receipt will arrive but remain unmatched. Go to your dashboard, find the old transaction, and manually attach the receipt. For best results, forward receipts promptly after purchase.
3.Email not authorized in Brex
If you send from an email address that is not associated with your Brex account, the receipt is silently dropped. Go to Settings > Personal Settings > Edit Profile > Integrations and verify your sending address is listed. You can also forward receipts if you are set up as a copilot for the cardholder.
4.Gmail forwarding verification not working
Setting up Gmail auto-forwarding to receipts+forwarding@brex.com requires completing Gmail's verification step. Gmail sends a confirmation code to the Brex address, and you must enter it in Gmail settings. Contact Brex support to retrieve the verification code, or use the Brex for Google Workspace add-on (requires Workspace admin). Alternatively, use Expensent to bypass this entirely.
5.Hourly delay with receipts+forwarding@
If you are using receipts+forwarding@brex.com, remember that this address processes receipts in hourly batches. A receipt forwarded at 2:05 PM may not appear until 3:00 PM. This is by design, not a bug. If you need real-time processing, forward directly to receipts@brex.com or use Expensent.
6.Duplicate receipt attached
If you forward the same receipt twice, or forward a receipt for a transaction that already has a virtual receipt auto-generated by Brex, you may end up with duplicate receipts. Check the transaction in your dashboard—if a virtual receipt is already attached, you do not need to forward the email receipt. If you have duplicates, remove the extra one manually.
7.Virtual receipt not auto-generated
Brex only generates virtual receipts for a curated list of vendors (Amazon, Uber, Lyft, major airlines, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Not all vendors are supported. If a virtual receipt was not generated for a vendor you expected, you still need to forward the receipt manually or use Expensent to automate it. The list of supported virtual receipt vendors is not publicly documented and changes over time.
9. Automate It with Expensent
Expensent eliminates manual forwarding entirely. Connect your email once, and every invoice email is automatically detected and forwarded to receipts@brex.com in real-time.
Connect your email
Link your work email using secure OAuth—we never see your password. Gmail, Outlook, and IMAP supported.
Set receipts@brex.com as your destination
Enter receipts@brex.com as your forwarding address in Expensent. We use the standard receipt email for real-time processing—no hourly batch delays.
Done. Receipts flow automatically.
When a new invoice arrives that you've set to auto-forward, it goes straight to Brex automatically. No Gmail verification, no hourly delays.
Why Expensent + Brex is Better Than Manual Forwarding
- No Gmail verification headaches — Bypasses Gmail's forwarding verification entirely. No confirmation codes, no Brex support tickets.
- Real-time, not hourly batches — Unlike receipts+forwarding@brex.com, Expensent forwards to receipts@brex.com for immediate processing.
- AI-powered detection — Recognizes invoices from any vendor, not a fixed keyword list. Catches receipts you'd forget to forward.
- No Google Workspace admin needed — Works for individual users. No IT department involvement or add-on installation required.
- Historical scanning — Finds past receipts in your inbox and forwards them retroactively. No more year-end scramble.
- Paper receipt capture — Built-in phone camera scanner with edge detection. Snap paper receipts and they're forwarded to Brex just like email invoices.
- AI price extraction — Reads PDF, JPG, and PNG attachments to extract the invoice amount, currency, and recipient automatically. International invoices show both original and converted amounts.
- Fine-grained control — CC team members on forwarded receipts, attach vendor notes, filter by attachment type, skip $0 invoices, or block specific senders entirely.
- 5-minute setup — Connect once, done forever
Want to see how the integration works in detail? See the Brex Integration Page →
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Stop manually forwarding receipts to Brex
Set up Expensent in 5 minutes. Every invoice email flows to receipts@brex.com automatically—in real-time, with no Gmail verification or hourly batch delays.
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