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MCP Expense Tracker in Claude Desktop

Receipts, mileage and expenses that turn into invoice lines. It logs an expense with its own currency and VAT split, records the receipt by path and sha256, and emits invoice lines that are not taxed twice.

receipt_attach needs a real file path and Claude Desktop has no working directory, so drag the receipt to a known folder and paste the absolute path. The file is not copied, only its path and sha256 are stored.

What you get in Claude Desktop

You say	Tool
I paid 61.50 EUR at Media Markt for a USB hub, Acme project, billable.	`expense_add`
What did I spend this month, by category?	`expense_summary`
Give me the invoice lines to rebill Acme this month with 10% markup.	`expense_to_invoice`

The EUR 61.50 receipt above stored as amount_minor 6150, vat_rate 23, and rebilled at a net unit_price of 50.00, so the invoice did not tax it twice.

Install it in Claude Desktop

The file is claude_desktop_config.json, and the key inside it is mcpServers.

Scope	Path
macOS	`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Windows	`%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "expense-tracker": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@theluckystrike/mcp-expense-tracker"]
    }
  }
}

If node came from nvm, asdf or homebrew, replace "npx" with the absolute path that which npx prints:

"command": "/Users/you/.nvm/versions/node/v22.14.0/bin/npx"

Save, then completely quit Claude Desktop and start it again. A window reload is not enough.

The npm publish of @theluckystrike/mcp-expense-tracker is pending; until then use the .mcpb bundle or a clone and build from the latest release.

No install: the hosted endpoint

The same server runs at https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/expense-tracker over MCP streamable HTTP, no install. Mint a free token with curl https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/token, or use a Pro key. It has no filesystem, so a file comes back as a one-hour download link.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "expense-tracker": {
      "url": "https://mcp.zovo.one/mcp/expense-tracker",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer <token>" }
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop notes worth knowing first

Two documented facts decide whether the entry works: every path in claude_desktop_config.json must be absolute, and a stdio server started here inherits only a limited, platform-dependent subset of environment variables. If node came from nvm or homebrew, paste what `which npx` prints instead of the bare word. The .mcpb route avoids both: Claude Desktop ships a built-in Node.js environment.

Free: unlimited logging, 30 days of history, 3 projects, 5 rules, 200 CSV rows. Pro is $19 once, verified offline.

Questions

Where is claude_desktop_config.json?

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. There is no published Linux path. Settings, Developer, Edit Config opens the right copy and creates it if it does not exist.

I added it and MCP Expense Tracker does not appear.

In order: did you fully quit and restart, not just close the window? Is every path absolute? And is the command resolvable, given the limited environment a stdio server inherits here? If node came from nvm, paste what which npx prints.

Can I install it without editing JSON?

Yes. An .mcpb bundle, the format renamed from .dxt, opens with Claude and shows an installation dialog. One you built yourself goes in through Settings, Extensions, Advanced settings, Install Extension.

MCP Expense Tracker in detail · The same server in Cline and Claude Code · Every server in Claude Desktop · Guides · Claude Desktop docs