# What file formats does CounselPro support for statements?

> CounselPro reads PDF statements. If you have paper or photos, scan them to a single PDF first. A bank-generated PDF reads more accurately than a scan.

CounselPro accepts **PDF files** for statements. That is the only format the uploader takes, so anything you send needs to be a PDF before it goes in.

## What if my statements aren't PDFs?

- **Paper statements:** scan them to PDF first. Scan a full statement into one PDF rather than a page per file, so CounselPro can read the cycle as a whole.
- **Photos or screenshots:** combine them into a single PDF before uploading. A phone photo of a statement will read, but not as cleanly as the real thing.
- **Check images:** upload them as PDFs too. There is no separate check uploader. CounselPro pulls the checks out of the statement PDFs and puts them on the [Checks tab](https://www.counselpro.ai/docs/why-checks-dont-appear-in-transactions) on their own.

## Why a clean PDF matters

CounselPro reads the text off every page, then pulls out the transactions. The cleaner the source, the more accurate the result:

- **A bank-generated PDF is best.** When you download the statement straight from the bank's site, the text is already digital and reads exactly.
- **A scan is second best.** A crisp, straight, full-resolution scan reads well. A dark, skewed, or low-resolution one is where errors creep in.
- **A photo is last resort.** It works when it is all you have, but expect to double-check more of the numbers.

If a file keeps failing to process, a rough scan is the usual reason. Re-download a clean copy from the bank and try again. See [why a statement fails and how to retry it](https://www.counselpro.ai/docs/why-did-my-statement-fail).

## Is there a size limit?

There is no set size limit, so a long, multi-year PDF is fine to upload as one file. You do not need to split a big statement into smaller pieces by hand. If a single PDF holds several accounts or months, CounselPro [separates them for you](https://www.counselpro.ai/docs/upload-a-pdf-with-multiple-accounts).

Source: https://www.counselpro.ai/docs/what-file-formats-are-supported