--- title: "Zoho Expense MCP server for AI agents - actionlake" description: "Give Claude 139 Zoho Expense actions through one MCP server: users, expenses. Your agent never holds the credential. 100,000 calls a month free." canonical: https://actionlake.com/connectors/zoho-expense updated: 2026-10-23 --- Connectors · Accounting & finance # Zoho Expense MCP server for AI agents. actionlake is an MCP gateway: one remote MCP server that connects Claude and other MCP clients to Zoho Expense and the rest of your systems. It gives your agent 139 Zoho Expense actions (32 reads, 84 writes and 23 that wait for a confirmation) and holds the Zoho Expense credential itself, so the agent never does. It paces Zoho Expense's limits and records every call. Connecting Zoho Expense needs your own Zoho Expense OAuth app and one admin sign-in. [Connect Zoho Expense free](https://actionlake.com/console?start=sandbox) [See pricing](https://actionlake.com/pricing) 100,000 free calls a month. No card, no email, no password: press Start a free sandbox on the next screen and keep the key it shows you. `claude mcp add --transport http actionlake https://connect.actionlake.com/mcp` the first call ``` do { action: "zoho_expense.list_users", intent: "check which Zoho Expense account is connected" } # Retrieve list of users · read · 1 upstream call ``` - 139 actions in one signed file - 32 read look, never change - 84 write create and update - 23 wait for a yes destructive, confirmed first Set up ## Connect Zoho Expense in three steps. 1. 01 ### Add actionlake to Claude. Run the command once in Claude Code; its consent page can create a free sandbox: 100,000 calls a month, no card. In the Claude app, add a custom connector with the URL below and paste your key on the consent page. Creating a new sandbox from the Claude app is not yet tested by us. `https://connect.actionlake.com/mcp` 2. 02 ### Connect Zoho Expense. OAuth 2.0, authorization code with PKCE. You register your own OAuth app with Zoho Expense, an admin signs in once, and you paste the app's client id and secret and the tokens from that sign-in; actionlake renews the access token from then on. actionlake stores what you paste write-only, sealed under your tenant's key. Before the first sign-in, Zoho Expense needs an OAuth app of your own, registered in its developer portal. actionlake has no Zoho Expense app to lend you. - `access_token` Access token from one sign-in with your own OAuth app - `refresh_token` Refresh token from the same sign-in; the access token is renewed from it - `client_id` Zoho client id - `client_secret` Zoho client secret - `api_domain` Where your Zoho Expense lives: your api domain - `organization_id` Your Zoho Expense organization id Found for you at connect: api base. ``` account { op: "connections.requirements", service: "zoho_expense" } # free: exactly what to paste, and what is found for you ``` 3. 03 ### Make the first call. Check before a write. Ask in plain words; Claude picks the action. Before anything changes, `check` validates the call and prices it, for free. ``` do { action: "zoho_expense.list_users" } # retrieve list of users · read · 1 upstream call check { action: "zoho_expense.create_user", input: { … } } # free: inputs, permissions, cost and confirmations, nothing sent ``` Zoho Expense at a glance **Sign-in** OAuth 2.0, authorization code with PKCE. You register your own OAuth app with Zoho Expense, an admin signs in once, and you paste the app's client id and secret and the tokens from that sign-in; actionlake renews the access token from then on. **You provide** `access_token` `refresh_token` `client_id` `client_secret` **Setup fields** `api_domain` `organization_id` **Found for you** api base **Limits we pace to** 100 calls a minute, per connection **API covered** Zoho Expense API 1, at your Zoho Expense instance's API base URL, which you enter when connecting (path /expense/v1) **Built from** Zoho Expense's documentation, read 23 October 2026[zoho.com](https://www.zoho.com/expense/api/v1/introduction/) [zoho.com](https://www.zoho.com/expense/api/v1/openapi-all.zip) **Service file** Version 1.0.0, signed (Ed25519) **Cached reads** 32 of 32 reads, for up to an hour; a write clears what it affects **Shared entities** 5, so ask can line Zoho Expense up with your other systems **Data** Processed and stored in Sydney, Australia. No US region yet Capabilities ## What an AI agent can do in Zoho Expense. 139 actions in 1 area. Every one carries its effect, so a key can allow the reads and hold the rest. - **32** read look, never change - **84** write create and update - **23** destructive wait for a confirmation 1. ### Expense 139 32 read · 84 write · 23 destructive Retrieve list of users · List all expenses · List of all reports · Create an user Top actions ## The Zoho Expense API, shaped for agents. The ids your agent types, what each does, and the one name it shares with other systems. 39 of Zoho Expense's 39 action names are shared with at least one other connector, so an agent learns them once. | Action | What it does | Effect | Same name in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `zoho_expense.list_users` Retrieve list of users | Retrieve list of users | read | `identity.user.list` 474 connectors | | `zoho_expense.list_expenses` List all expenses | List all expenses | read | `finance.expense.list` 40 connectors | | `zoho_expense.list_expense_reports` List of all reports | List of all reports | read | `finance.expense_report.list` 11 connectors | | `zoho_expense.create_user` Create an user | Create an user | write | `identity.user.create` 262 connectors | | `zoho_expense.list_customers` List all customers | List all customers | read | `crm.company.list` 162 connectors | | `zoho_expense.list_projects` List of all projects | List of all projects | read | `work.project.list` 109 connectors | | `zoho_expense.create_expense` Create an expense | Create an expense | write | `finance.expense.create` 36 connectors | | `zoho_expense.delete_user` Delete an user | Delete an user | destructive | `identity.user.delete` 253 connectors | | `zoho_expense.create_expense_report` Create a report | Create a report | write | `finance.expense_report.create` 9 connectors | | `zoho_expense.create_customer` Create a new customer or contact person | Create a new customer or contact person | write | `crm.company.create` 142 connectors | | `zoho_expense.create_project` Create a project | Create a project | write | `work.project.create` 102 connectors | | `zoho_expense.list_taxes` Retrieve list of taxes | Retrieve list of taxes | read | `finance.tax_rate.list` 36 connectors | Try it ## Prompts to paste into Claude. Each one names the Zoho Expense actions it will call, so you know what it reads and what it changes before you send it. 1. Read read Give me a one-line status for every active Zoho Expense project. calls `zoho_expense.list_projects` 2. Write write Create an user in Zoho Expense. Show me exactly what you will send before you save it. calls `zoho_expense.create_user` 3. Across systems read Which Zoho Expense companies have invoices in ConnectWise PSA, and how many each? calls `zoho_expense.list_customers` `connectwise_manage.invoices.list` Across your systems ## Zoho Expense, joined to the rest of your business. One `ask` fetches from Zoho Expense and another system, joins the rows on the same customer on our side, and hands your agent the answer, not every row. - Which Zoho Expense companies have invoices in ConnectWise PSA, and how many each? `zoho_expense.list_customers` + `connectwise_manage.invoices.list`, on `crm.company` · [ConnectWise PSA](https://actionlake.com/connectors/connectwise-psa) - Which Zoho Expense companies have tickets in HubSpot CRM, and how many each? `zoho_expense.list_customers` + `hubspot_crm.tickets.list`, on `crm.company` · [HubSpot CRM](https://actionlake.com/connectors/hubspot-crm) Also mapped by other connectors `identity.user` **517** `crm.company` **227** `work.project` **116** `finance.expense` **26** `finance.expense_report` **5** ask ``` ask { intent: "which Zoho Expense companies have invoices in ConnectWise PSA, and how many each", steps: [ { action: "zoho_expense.list_customers", as: "co", input: {}, limit: 100, max_pages: 5 }, { action: "connectwise_manage.invoices.list", as: "inv", input: {}, limit: 100, max_pages: 5 }, { join: { left: "co", right: "inv", on: "crm.company", group_by: "co.name", select: ["co.name", "count(inv.id) as invoices"] } } ] } ``` Example. Run it through check first: it validates the steps and prices them, and it is free. Governance for Zoho Expense ## Destructive actions wait for a yes. 23 Zoho Expense actions are destructive. These are all of them: - Delete an user `zoho_expense.delete_user` - Delete an expense `zoho_expense.delete_expense` - Delete a customer `zoho_expense.delete_customer` - Delete a project `zoho_expense.delete_project` - Delete a report `zoho_expense.delete_expense_report` - Delete a tax `zoho_expense.delete_tax` - Delete a currency `zoho_expense.delete_currency` - Delete a reporting tag `zoho_expense.delete_tag` - Delete a trip request `zoho_expense.delete_trip` - Make an user inactive `zoho_expense.deactivate_user` - Fully return an advance `zoho_expense.void_advance_payment` - Delete an advance payment `zoho_expense.delete_advance_payment` - Delete a comment `zoho_expense.delete_expense_comment` - Delete an expense category `zoho_expense.delete_expense_category` - Delete an expense document `zoho_expense.delete_expense_document` - Delete multiple expenses `zoho_expense.delete_multiple_expenses` - Delete multiple reports `zoho_expense.bulk_delete_expense_reports` - Delete a comment on an advance payment `zoho_expense.delete_advance_payment_comment` - Delete a comment of a report `zoho_expense.delete_comment_of_expense_report` - Delete an attachment of a report `zoho_expense.delete_expense_report_attachment` - Delete an advance payment attachment `zoho_expense.delete_advance_payment_attachment` - Cancel a trip `zoho_expense.cancel_trip` - Cancel a reimbursement of a report `zoho_expense.cancel_reimbursement_of_expense_report` A destructive action runs only with `confirm: true`. Under the `human` policy the agent cannot confirm for itself: the run stops until a named person approves, in the console or from a signed link in an email. The cap on a key is refused before the call is sent, never after. do zoho_expense.delete_user confirm_policy: **human** Delete an user? **intent:** the user asked me to delete an user run suspended · waiting for a named person · key _zoho-expense-agent_ cannot confirm itself In the console, or from an emailed signed link. a key for this connector ``` account { op: "keys.create", name: "zoho-expense-agent", allowed_actions: ["zoho_expense.*"], cap_calls: 2000, confirm_policy: "human_for_writes", approval_rules: [ { match: "zoho_expense.delete_user", approver: "lead@example.com" }, { match: "zoho_expense.delete_expense", approver: "lead@example.com" }, { match: "zoho_expense.delete_customer", approver: "lead@example.com" } ] } ``` Illustrative. Scoped to Zoho Expense only, capped at 2,000 upstream calls, every write confirmed, and the destructive ones approved by a named person. Cost ## What Zoho Expense costs on actionlake. Every Zoho Expense action is one upstream call, the only thing actionlake bills. Searching, `check`, `cost`, `account` and any call Zoho Expense refused with 401, 403, 429 or a 5xx are free. Paid plans start at US$49 a month for 250,000 calls, with overage from US$0.30 down to US$0.18 per 1,000. - 1 upstream call per action all 139 Zoho Expense actions - 139 actions page each page of a long list is one call - 32 reads can be cached a cache hit costs nothing - 100,000 calls a month, free paid plans from US$49 a month for 250,000 [See pricing](https://actionlake.com/pricing) Action index ## Every Zoho Expense action. 139 actions by area: the id your agent calls, what it does, and its effect. **Expense 139** - `zoho_expense.activate_project` Make a project active write - `zoho_expense.activate_user` Make an user active write - `zoho_expense.active_tag` Mark Reporting Tag as active write - `zoho_expense.active_tag_option` Mark an option as active write - `zoho_expense.add_advance_payment_comment` Add a comment to an advance payment write - `zoho_expense.add_comment_to_expense_report` Add a comment to a report write - `zoho_expense.add_expense_comment` Add a comment write - `zoho_expense.add_expense_to_report` Add an expense to a report write - `zoho_expense.add_expenses_to_expense_report` Add expenses to a report write - `zoho_expense.all_tag_options` Get all Options read - `zoho_expense.approval_history_expense_report` Approval history of a report read - `zoho_expense.approve_advance_payment` Approve an advance payment write - `zoho_expense.approve_expense_report` Approve a report write - `zoho_expense.approve_trip` Approve a trip request write - `zoho_expense.archive_expense_report` Archive a report write - `zoho_expense.assign_role_to_user` Assign a role to user write - `zoho_expense.associate_expense_tags` Associate tags write - `zoho_expense.associate_tags_to_expense_report` Associate tags to a report write - `zoho_expense.bulk_add_expenses` Bulk add expenses write - `zoho_expense.bulk_approve_expense_reports` Approve multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_archive_expense_reports` Archive multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_change_status_of_expense_reports` Change the status of multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_delete_expense_reports` Delete multiple reports destructive - `zoho_expense.bulk_field_update_expense_reports` Bulk update fields of multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_field_update_expenses` Bulk update a field write - `zoho_expense.bulk_forward_approval_expense_reports` Forward approval of multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_reimburse_expense_reports` Reimburse multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_reject_expense_reports` Reject multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_reject_expenses_in_report` Bulk reject expenses in a report write - `zoho_expense.bulk_reset_substatus_of_expense_reports` Reset the substatus of multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_submit_expense_reports` Submit multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.bulk_unarchive_expense_reports` Unarchive multiple reports write - `zoho_expense.cancel_reimbursement_of_expense_report` Cancel a reimbursement of a report destructive - `zoho_expense.cancel_trip` Cancel a trip destructive - `zoho_expense.change_status_of_expense_report` Change the status of a report write - `zoho_expense.close_trip` Close a trip write - `zoho_expense.create_advance_payment` Create an advance payment write - `zoho_expense.create_currency` Create a currency write - `zoho_expense.create_customer` Create a new customer or contact person write - `zoho_expense.create_expense` Create an expense write - `zoho_expense.create_expense_category` Create an expense category write - `zoho_expense.create_expense_report` Create a report write - `zoho_expense.create_organization` Create an organization write - `zoho_expense.create_project` Create a project write - `zoho_expense.create_tag` Create Reporting Tag write - `zoho_expense.create_tax` Create a tax write - `zoho_expense.create_trip` Create a trip write - `zoho_expense.create_user` Create an user write - `zoho_expense.deactivate_project` Make a project inactive write - `zoho_expense.deactivate_user` Make an user inactive destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_advance_payment` Delete an advance payment destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_advance_payment_attachment` Delete an advance payment attachment destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_advance_payment_comment` Delete a comment on an advance payment destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_comment_of_expense_report` Delete a comment of a report destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_currency` Delete a currency destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_customer` Delete a customer destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_expense` Delete an expense destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_expense_category` Delete an expense category destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_expense_comment` Delete a comment destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_expense_document` Delete an expense document destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_expense_report` Delete a report destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_expense_report_attachment` Delete an attachment of a report destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_multiple_expenses` Delete multiple expenses destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_project` Delete a project destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_tag` Delete a reporting tag destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_tax` Delete a tax destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_trip` Delete a trip request destructive - `zoho_expense.delete_user` Delete an user destructive - `zoho_expense.disable_expense_category` Disable an expense category write - `zoho_expense.enable_expense_category` Enable an expense category write - `zoho_expense.export_expense_report` Export a report write - `zoho_expense.forward_approval_expense_report` Forward approval of a report write - `zoho_expense.get_advance_payment` Retrieve an advance payment read - `zoho_expense.get_all_tag_options` Get Reporting Tags Options Detail Page read - `zoho_expense.get_currency` Retrieve details of a currency read - `zoho_expense.get_customer` Retrieve details of a customer read - `zoho_expense.get_expense` Get an expense read - `zoho_expense.get_expense_category` Retrieve details of an expense category read - `zoho_expense.get_expense_report` Retrieve details of a report read - `zoho_expense.get_expense_report_budget_summary` Retrieve the budget summary of a report read - `zoho_expense.get_expense_report_reimbursement` Retrieve the reimbursement details of a report read - `zoho_expense.get_organization` Get an organization read - `zoho_expense.get_project` Retrieve details of a project read - `zoho_expense.get_tags` List of all Reporting Tags read - `zoho_expense.get_tax` Retrieve details of a tax read - `zoho_expense.get_tax_group` Retrieve details of a tax group read - `zoho_expense.get_trip` Retrieve details of a trip read - `zoho_expense.get_user` Retrieve details of an user read - `zoho_expense.inactive_tag` Mark Reporting Tag as inactive write - `zoho_expense.inactive_tag_option` Mark an option as inactive write - `zoho_expense.list_advance_payments` List advance payments read - `zoho_expense.list_currencies` Retrieve list of currencies read - `zoho_expense.list_customers` List all customers read - `zoho_expense.list_expense_categories` List of expense categories read - `zoho_expense.list_expense_comments` List expense comments read - `zoho_expense.list_expense_duplicates` List duplicate expenses read - `zoho_expense.list_expense_reports` List of all reports read - `zoho_expense.list_expenses` List all expenses read - `zoho_expense.list_organizations` List organizations read - `zoho_expense.list_projects` List of all projects read - `zoho_expense.list_taxes` Retrieve list of taxes read - `zoho_expense.list_trips` Retrieve list of all trips read - `zoho_expense.list_users` Retrieve list of users read - `zoho_expense.mark_default_option` Mark an option as default for a reporting tag write - `zoho_expense.mark_document_as_primary` Mark a document as primary write - `zoho_expense.merge_expenses` Merge expenses write - `zoho_expense.recall_advance_payment` Recall an advance payment write - `zoho_expense.reimburse_expense_report` Reimburse a report write - `zoho_expense.reject_advance_payment` Reject an advance payment write - `zoho_expense.reject_expense_in_report` Reject an expense in a report write - `zoho_expense.reject_expense_report` Reject a report write - `zoho_expense.reject_trip` Reject a trip request write - `zoho_expense.remove_advance_payment_from_expense_report` Remove advance payments from a report write - `zoho_expense.remove_expenses_from_expense_report` Remove expenses from a report write - `zoho_expense.reorder_tags` Reorder Reporting Tags write - `zoho_expense.reupload_expense_report_attachment` Re-upload an attachment of a report write - `zoho_expense.share_expense_report` Share a report write - `zoho_expense.skip_duplicate_expense` Skip duplicate detection write - `zoho_expense.split_expense` Split an expense write - `zoho_expense.submit_advance_payment` Submit an advance payment for approval write - `zoho_expense.submit_expense_report` Submit a report write - `zoho_expense.takeback_expense_report` Take back a report write - `zoho_expense.unarchive_expense_report` Unarchive a report write - `zoho_expense.update_advance_payment` Update an advance payment write - `zoho_expense.update_currency` Update details of a currency write - `zoho_expense.update_customer` Update a customer write - `zoho_expense.update_expense` Update an expense write - `zoho_expense.update_expense_category` Update an expense category write - `zoho_expense.update_expense_report` Update a report write - `zoho_expense.update_organization` Update an organization write - `zoho_expense.update_project` Update the details of a project write - `zoho_expense.update_tag` Update Reporting Tag write - `zoho_expense.update_tag_criteria` Update Reporting Tag - Visibility Conditions write - `zoho_expense.update_tag_options` Update Reporting Tag Options write - `zoho_expense.update_tax` Update details of a tax write - `zoho_expense.update_trip` Update a trip write - `zoho_expense.update_user` Update details of an user write - `zoho_expense.validate_expense_report` Validate a report read - `zoho_expense.void_advance_payment` Fully return an advance destructive Questions ## The Zoho Expense MCP server, answered. **Is there a Zoho Expense MCP server for Claude?** Yes. actionlake is an MCP gateway: a remote MCP server that gives Claude, or another MCP client, 139 Zoho Expense actions, through the same eight tools it uses for every other connector. actionlake is independent; it is not made or endorsed by Zoho Expense. **What do I need to connect Zoho Expense?** Your own Zoho Expense OAuth app, registered with Zoho Expense (its client id and client secret), and the access and refresh tokens from one admin sign-in. actionlake has no Zoho Expense app of its own, so this is not a one-step consent. actionlake renews the access token as it expires. Plus your api domain and your organization id. actionlake finds api base for you when you connect. The free call account { op: "connections.requirements", service: "zoho_expense" } lists exactly what to paste. **Can an AI agent delete or change things in Zoho Expense?** Only if its key allows it, and only with an explicit confirmation. 23 Zoho Expense actions are destructive, including delete an user, delete an expense and delete a customer. Each runs only with confirm: true. Under the human confirm policy, or an approval rule on the key, the run waits until a named person approves it. **Will an AI agent use up my Zoho Expense API limit?** actionlake paces every call to the limits in the Zoho Expense service file: 100 calls a minute per connection. Repeated reads are answered from cache (32 Zoho Expense actions can be), which never reaches Zoho Expense. **What does a Zoho Expense action cost?** One upstream call, the only unit actionlake bills. A list that pages bills one call per page (139 Zoho Expense actions page). Cache hits, searches, dry runs and calls Zoho Expense refused with 401, 403, 429 or a 5xx are free. The Free plan includes 100,000 calls a month with no card. Paid plans start at US$49 a month for 250,000 calls, with overage from US$0.30 down to US$0.18 per 1,000. **Which Zoho Expense API does it cover?** The Zoho Expense API 1 at your Zoho Expense instance's API base URL, which you enter when connecting (path /expense/v1). It is built from Zoho Expense's documentation as read on 23 October 2026. 139 actions in 1 area, each one in the signed service file (version 1.0.0). **Can I combine Zoho Expense with my other systems?** Yes. ask joins Zoho Expense to ConnectWise PSA or HubSpot CRM on the same customer and returns the answer rather than every row. Zoho Expense maps crm.company, which 227 other connectors also map. **Does actionlake keep my Zoho Expense data, and where?** actionlake processes and stores data in Sydney, Australia; there is no US region yet. Reads may be cached for up to an hour, and a write clears the reads it affects. Each run's request and response is kept, sealed, for your plan's trace window: 1 day on Free, 3 days on Starter, 7 days on Pro, 14 days on Team, 30 days on Business and 30 days on Enterprise. Your Zoho Expense credential is sealed under your tenant's key, never logged and never returned. Your traffic is not used to train models. **Which AI clients can use it?** Claude Code, tested by us end to end, and the Claude app as a custom connector, tested by us with an existing key. Other MCP clients that support remote servers over Streamable HTTP (MCP revisions 2025-06-18 and 2025-11-25) and OAuth dynamic client registration, or a bearer header, should connect the same way; we have not tested them. Or plain REST, under the same action names. ## More connectors like Zoho Expense Shares the most action names with - [Tripletex 21](https://actionlake.com/connectors/tripletex) - [Harvest 20](https://actionlake.com/connectors/harvest) - [Coupa 20](https://actionlake.com/connectors/coupa) - [Jobber 19](https://actionlake.com/connectors/jobber) - [SAP Concur 16](https://actionlake.com/connectors/sap-concur) - [Smokeball 15](https://actionlake.com/connectors/smokeball) Joins with, on shared entities - [Teamwork 4](https://actionlake.com/connectors/teamwork) - [Accelo 4](https://actionlake.com/connectors/accelo) - [HaloPSA 3](https://actionlake.com/connectors/halopsa) - [Procore 3](https://actionlake.com/connectors/procore) - [Adobe Workfront 3](https://actionlake.com/connectors/adobe-workfront) - [Productive.io 3](https://actionlake.com/connectors/productive-io) Browse - [All Accounting & finance connectors](https://actionlake.com/connectors/category/accounting-and-finance) - [All connectors](https://actionlake.com/connectors) - [How actionlake compares](https://actionlake.com/compare) actionlake is independent. It is not made or endorsed by Zoho Expense; the name is the vendor's own. Counts are from the Zoho Expense service file, version 1.0.0. ## Give your agent Zoho Expense today. [Connect Zoho Expense free](https://actionlake.com/console?start=sandbox) [See pricing](https://actionlake.com/pricing) Start free - 100,000 calls/month, no card. No signup. Hard caps on every key. Cached answers are free. --- Source: https://actionlake.com/connectors/zoho-expense More: https://actionlake.com/llms.txt