--- title: "How to use Retroactive Extraction" description: "Learn how to catch up with past expenses and retrieve your receipts and invoices hidden in your inbox, using Retroactive Extraction." url: https://help.receiptor.ai/en/articles/12087604-how-to-use-retroactive-extraction collection: "Getting Started" updated: 2026-11-06 language: en --- # How to use Retroactive Extraction Learn how to catch up with past expenses and retrieve your receipts and invoices hidden in your inbox, using Retroactive Extraction. ## What’s a Retroactive Extraction Retroactive Extraction allows users to **automatically** **retrieve financial documents from their past emails**. This functionality is handy for businesses and individuals who need to catch up on their bookkeeping or prepare for tax season by retrieving historical financial data. ## Free extraction for new workspaces On your first workspace, Receiptor AI offers a free retroactive extraction from the last month. You'll see the offer in the Recent extractions panel on the right when you first open the Retroactive section. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/jQZxZwi32uRy4B2GUxf5JxkRbIAWb4daX8qMFSQwINCyOUEitP2uT6gmvU1L92Mp2Pnm5njLpwB.png) Click **Extract from \[date\]** to run it instantly, with no quote or payment required. ## Request a quote To scan a custom date range or a larger volume of emails, start by requesting a quote. Prices are calculated based on the number of emails in scope, not the number of documents extracted. Go to [**Retroactive**](https://app.receiptor.ai/retroactive) in the left sidebar. On the left panel, fill in: 1. Select the **email account** to scan. 2. Set the **date range** for the extraction. 3. Click **Request quote**. Quotes are generated in a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the volume of emails in scope. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/uGMe2VR0p8Bg08BXAmP3PVPwd6hmzYlvAfzTCS3xhtp3Cmf3WGwc52rhvjk7AGvDeoHRfMNIRLo.png) ## Advanced Options Click **Show advanced options** before requesting a quote to refine what gets scanned: - **Search preferences:** choose which parts of emails to analyze: PDF attachments, image attachments, and email body. - **Document types:** limit extraction to specific types: Invoices, Receipts, Credit Notes, Order Confirmations. - **Sender filters:** restrict to allowed senders only, or exclude blocked senders. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/cWjsCRr3kXMFMrvn05FTSx1Co9yZlyiG6ollJlqx1xaTGMwMMsnThb6SFqTOcHOle4qyAcvdV9l.png) This is particularly helpful if you want to **optimize the cost of your retroactive extraction**! ## Run the extraction After requesting the quote, you’ll get a summary of the **number of emails** identified for this date range (those the AI has to go through), the **estimated time & documents** to be found (based on benchmark, not your specific case), and the **price**. Click on _‘Accept Quote & Start Extraction’_ to be redirected to check out and launch the extraction. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/K9wmUlnWh7Tzu1onnY4yPLsKAxVOGQBIfwn1jfh765S66DSKfo2hKoIP2nIERE7CMI0FfbQkR3G.png) ## After the extraction Once your extraction has started, you can track its status and the number of documents found under _‘Recent extractions’._ ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/zltvjJa5h4WzeHgYJdLDk7Uig0Df8eNmsMIsehNvDDuGT6qV45djsDw3UuNEsFwSyoHXxqRg2gI.png) Click the dropdown arrow on any extraction to see the full details: the search preferences used, how many emails were analyzed, and how many documents were extracted. Click the **document count** in any completed extraction to jump directly to your [Documents section](https://app.receiptor.ai/documents) filtered to show only the documents from that extraction. ## View all extraction history Click **See All Extractions** at the bottom of the Recent extractions panel to open the full Extractions History page. Here you can: - See every extraction ever run on this workspace with its full details. - Delete extractions you no longer need. - Export all documents from a specific extraction directly as **CSV** or **ZIP** (individual PDFs). ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/gxYxUlZYvlQhztCI5r2FrOEmc6sv4CsC4CBnyRHp5xteLg80AVcxhGJvDISCFTy70FkYjIsp2Gv.png) ## Manage past quotes Scroll to the bottom of the Retroactive section to find **Your Past Quotes**. Click the **Actions** button (three dots) on any quote to: - **View:** review the quote and pay it if you haven't yet. - **Edit:** adjust the scope before paying. - **Delete:** remove a quote you no longer need. ![](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/gattachments/EYDSpcuTj7XyrlB07prrsoZtDUT3Bwh4Q7pGwQyeuD4BEILWmRsZFRmjzXFVHd5Vfe3BW6jTai2.png) ## What’s Next? **All extracted documents will appear in your** [**Documents section**](https://app.receiptor.ai/documents)**.** You can then export the extracted data in various formats (such as CSV or PDF) or directly push it through Xero, QuickBooks, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Retroactive Extraction is a great way to catch up on your backlog, but if you want to stay on top of new documents without running manual extractions, **you can start continuous monitoring**. Once enabled, Receiptor AI automatically scans every new email as it arrives, categorizes your documents, and keeps your workflow up to date with no action required. ## Common Questions **Q: How is the extraction priced?** A: Pricing is based on the volume of emails scanned, not the number of documents extracted. When you request a quote, Receiptor AI counts the emails in your selected date range and scope, then calculates the price. You see the exact cost before paying anything. **Q: How long does an extraction take?** A: It depends on the volume. Quotes are generated in a few seconds to a few minutes. The extraction itself runs in the background, and you can track its progress in the Recent extractions panel. **Q: Is retroactive extraction free?** A: Your first workspace includes one free extraction from the last month. Beyond that, extractions are paid based on email volume. Additional workspaces do not include a free extraction. **Q: A document I know exists is not in the results. Why?** A: Open the extraction dropdown to check how many emails were analyzed. Then go to **Activity Logs** to see exactly what happened to specific emails: whether they were scanned, skipped, or filtered out by your settings. ## Support Still have questions? Reach out via the in-app chat or at [info@receiptor.ai](mailto:info@receiptor.ai).