What bank CSV formats does the expense categorizer support?

The tool auto-detects CSV exports from TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, and CIBC. It also handles generic CSV files with Date, Description, and Amount columns. Most Canadian banks let you export transactions as CSV from online banking under 'Download transactions' or 'Export.'

Is my financial data safe with this tool?

Yes. The tool runs 100% in your web browser using JavaScript. Your bank data is never uploaded to any server. It never leaves your computer. There are no accounts, no logins, and no data collection. You can even use it offline after the page loads.

What T2125 expense categories does it recognize?

The categorizer maps transactions to 13 T2125 line items: Advertising (8521), Meals & Entertainment at 50% (8523), Insurance (8690), Interest & Bank Charges (8710), Business Licences & Memberships (8760), Office Expenses (8810), Professional Fees (8811), Rent (8860), Repairs & Maintenance (8871), Travel (8963), Telephone & Utilities (9060), Motor Vehicle Expenses (9180), and Other Business Expenses (9270).

How does the HST Input Tax Credit calculation work?

For HST-eligible business expenses, the tool extracts the HST component from the HST-inclusive purchase price using the formula: HST = Amount × 13/113 (for Ontario's 13% HST rate). This gives you the Input Tax Credit (ITC) you can claim back on your HST return. Meals are calculated at 50% of the ITC since meals are only 50% deductible.

What if the tool can't categorize a transaction?

Transactions the tool can't auto-categorize are flagged in a 'Needs Review' section. You can manually assign each one to the correct T2125 category using a dropdown menu, then click 'Apply & Recalculate' to update your totals. This typically happens with small local businesses or unusual merchant names.

Can I use this for my accountant?

Absolutely. After categorizing, you can download two files: (1) a full categorized CSV with every transaction tagged by T2125 line, and (2) a T2125 summary CSV with totals per category. Hand either to your accountant — it saves them hours of manual categorization, which may reduce your accounting bill.

📅 February 22, 2026 · 10 min read · Updated for 2026 tax year

Free Expense Categorizer for T2125: Auto-Sort Your Bank Transactions into CRA Categories

Filing your T2125 as a Canadian freelancer means categorizing every business expense into the correct CRA line item. If you have 200–500 transactions per year, that's hours of tedious manual work — or hundreds of dollars in accounting fees.

We built a free tool that does it in seconds.

📂 Try the Expense Categorizer Now

Upload your bank CSV → get T2125-categorized expenses with HST ITCs. Free. No signup. 100% private.

Open the Categorizer →

What the Expense Categorizer Does

The FreelancerTax Expense Categorizer reads your bank's CSV transaction export and automatically:

Detects your bank format — supports TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, and generic CSVs
Categorizes each expense into the correct T2125 line item (advertising, meals, vehicle, office, etc.)
Calculates HST Input Tax Credits — extracts HST from inclusive prices so you know what to claim back
Applies the 50% meals rule — automatically halves meals & entertainment deductions per CRA rules
Separates personal from business — identifies personal transactions (groceries, streaming, gym) and excludes them
Flags unknowns for review — transactions it can't categorize get a dropdown for you to assign manually
Exports two reports: a full categorized CSV and a T2125 summary with line-by-line totals

How to Use It (3 Steps)

1 Export Your Bank CSV

Log into your online banking and export your transactions as a CSV file. Most banks have this under "Download Transactions," "Export," or "Account Activity." Select the date range for your tax year (January 1 – December 31, 2025).

Where to find CSV export by bank:

TD: Account Activity → Download → CSV
RBC: Account Details → Download Transactions → CSV
BMO: Account Activity → Export → CSV
Scotiabank: Accounts → Transaction History → Download
CIBC: Account Activity → Download → CSV Format

2 Upload to the Categorizer

Drag and drop your CSV file onto the Expense Categorizer page (or click to browse). The tool auto-detects your bank's format and processes every transaction instantly.

Your data never leaves your computer. The tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No uploads, no servers, no accounts.

3 Review & Export

Review the results: a summary dashboard shows your total income, deductions, and HST ITCs. The T2125 breakdown table shows amounts per category. If any transactions need review, assign them using the dropdown menus and click "Apply & Recalculate."

Then download your reports:

Categorized CSV — every transaction tagged with its T2125 category, deductible amount, and HST ITC
T2125 Summary — line-by-line totals ready to enter on your tax return

T2125 Categories the Tool Recognizes

The categorizer maps transactions to 13 CRA expense categories:

T2125 Line	Category	Example Merchants
8521	Advertising	Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Vistaprint, Mailchimp
8523	Meals & Entertainment (50%)	Restaurants, Tim Hortons, Uber Eats, DoorDash
8690	Insurance	Manulife, Sun Life, Intact, Desjardins
8710	Interest & Bank Charges	Monthly fees, service charges, overdraft
8760	Business Licences & Memberships	Professional associations, co-working memberships
8810	Office Expenses	Staples, Adobe, Zoom, Slack, Best Buy
8811	Professional Fees	Accountant, lawyer, bookkeeper
8860	Rent	WeWork, Regus, co-working spaces
8871	Repairs & Maintenance	Home Depot, hardware stores
8963	Travel	Air Canada, WestJet, Airbnb, hotels
9060	Telephone & Utilities	Rogers, Bell, Telus, Fido, internet
9180	Motor Vehicle	Gas stations, parking, auto repair
9270	Other Business Expenses	Courses, conferences, certifications

Transactions that don't match any pattern are flagged as "Needs Review" so you can assign them manually. Personal transactions (groceries, Netflix, gym) are automatically identified and excluded.

How HST Input Tax Credit Calculation Works

When you buy something for your business in Ontario (or any HST province), the price includes HST. You can claim back that HST as an Input Tax Credit (ITC) on your HST return.

The tool automatically extracts HST from each business expense using the formula:

HST ITC = Purchase Amount × 13 ÷ 113

For example, a $113 office supply purchase includes $13 of HST. That $13 is your ITC. For meals, the ITC is calculated at 50% (since meals are only 50% deductible).

The tool totals all your ITCs so you know exactly how much HST to claim back. For more on HST, see our complete HST/GST guide.

Privacy & Security

We take your financial privacy seriously:

100% client-side processing. Your CSV file is read by JavaScript in your browser. It is never uploaded to any server.
No accounts or logins. You don't need to sign up, log in, or provide any personal information.
No data collection. We don't track what you upload, what your transactions are, or what categories they fall into.
Works offline. After the page loads, you can disconnect from the internet and it still works.
Open logic. The categorization rules are visible in the page source — no black box.

Tips for Best Results

Use a dedicated business account. If you mix personal and business transactions, the tool will flag more items for review. A separate business account = cleaner results.
Export the full year. Get January 1 – December 31 for your complete tax year picture.
Review flagged transactions carefully. The tool catches ~85-90% automatically. The remaining 10-15% need your judgment — you know whether that Amazon purchase was for your business or your kids.
Download both exports. Give your accountant the categorized CSV (they can spot-check) and keep the T2125 summary for your own records.
Run multiple accounts. If you have separate business chequing and credit cards, run each CSV through separately and combine the T2125 summaries.

📂 Ready to categorize your expenses?

Upload your bank CSV and get T2125-ready results in seconds.