Transaction Date vs Posting Date on Card Statements
Many card statements show a transaction date (when you bought) and a posting date (when it cleared). In a CSV you usually want one date column, so it helps to pick on purpose.
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Steps
- Look at the statement PDF and find which column is which; headings often say "Trans" and "Post".
- Convert the PDF and check which date ended up in the preview date column.
- Pick one date for all your files: posting date matches the statement period, transaction date matches your receipts.
- If you need the other date, copy it from the description or PDF into an extra column.
Good to know
Month totals can shift
A purchase on the 31st that posts on the 2nd belongs to different months depending on which date you use. Stay consistent across the year.
Reconciling with the statement
The statement total is based on the posting period, so posting date is easier when you check totals against the PDF.
Expense reports
Expense policies usually ask for the purchase date, which is the transaction date.
Questions
Can I keep both dates?
Yes. Add a second date column in your spreadsheet and fill it from the PDF.
Why does one date have no year?
Many statements omit the year. See the guide on dates without a year.
Doing this every month? RowSmith Pro
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- A suggested Schedule C category on every transaction (a suggestion only; confirm with your own records or a tax professional).
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- One CSV or Excel file per statement, plus a Source file column in the combined file.
- Monthly category totals as CSV or Excel.
- Extra Payee, Category and Category source columns in the accounting and Excel downloads.
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This guide was written with AI assistance and reviewed against the converter's behaviour. Always review your output before using it.
RowSmith is an independent tool and is not affiliated with any bank or software company.
Converting is free. RowSmith Pro ($9/month or $59/year) adds suggested Schedule C categories, saved cleanup rules and monthly category totals.