01
Collect the transaction facts
You pull the identifying details and known context for one unclear transaction.
Made for CPAs
Clarify a Mystery Deposit or Expense Without a Long Email
Also useful for: people in Finance
8 min
Intermediate
Communication
Communicate Better
Gather the facts for one unclear transaction, then create a concise message your client can answer without a long explanation.
We'll use them to write your prompt.
Completed ✓
Make Your Play
Give us the situation. We’ll build the prompt.
Unclear transactions often lead to slow back-and-forth.
Your answers save as you type.
What you'll do
This is the plan inside your prompt. Add your details first. Then follow these steps with ChatGPT or Claude.
02
Set useful answer choices
You give your client a short list of distinct explanations instead of asking an open-ended question.
03
Generate the focused question
You use the primary prompt to turn the facts and choices into a concise client email.
04
Check and send
You verify the draft before using it with your client.
Make Your Play
Clarify a Mystery Deposit or Expense Without a Long Email
Tell us what the prompt needs to know
Start with the questions below. Each answer personalizes the playbook and builds the prompt you’ll use at the end.
Your situation
Select whether the unclear transaction is money received or money spent.
Enter the transaction date exactly as it appears in the account activity.
Enter the transaction amount without a currency symbol.
Enter a general or masked account name without a full account number.
Describe the bank text, payee, memo, receipt details, or other facts already available.
0/10000
Enter how the transaction is currently classified or where it is being held pending an answer.
List the distinct answers your client can choose from, including an "other" option when useful.
0/10000
This playbook was updated. Review your inputs before copying.
What you'll do
Check a step when you finish it.
01
Collect the transaction facts
You pull the identifying details and known context for one unclear transaction.
02
Set useful answer choices
You give your client a short list of distinct explanations instead of asking an open-ended question.
03
Generate the focused question
You use the primary prompt to turn the facts and choices into a concise client email.
04
Check and send
You verify the draft before using it with your client.
Fill in the fields above to generate your prompt preview.
Assembled prompt
Beginner instructions
Enter the facts for one transaction only. Use a masked account name, such as “Operating checking ending 4421.” Review the draft against the source record before sending it.
Advanced instructions
Adjust the answer choices to match the client’s chart of accounts and the evidence already available. If classification affects tax treatment or requires documentation, add one short request for the specific supporting item you need.
Use this when
Use this when a deposit or expense can't be classified from the bank description, receipt, memo, or documents already provided.
You'll need
- Transaction type
- Transaction date
- Transaction amount
- Account name
- Transaction context
- Current classification
- Answer choices
You'll get
- One message that states the correct date, amount, and account; shows the current classification; asks one focused question; offers distinct answer choices; and makes no unsupported assumptions.
By the end of this playbook
You will have:
- One message that states the correct date, amount, and account; shows the current classification; asks one focused question; offers distinct answer choices; and makes no unsupported assumptions.
Examples
Progress 1 of 4