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oliverames

YNAB MCP Server

Get Income Expense Summary

get_income_expense_summary
Read-onlyIdempotent

Retrieve monthly income and expense summaries with savings rate, computed from non-transfer transactions, to analyze saving trends and month-end financial health.

Instructions

Read-only income vs. spending summary by month, computed from transaction history. Income counts non-transfer inflows to 'Inflow: Ready to Assign'; spending counts non-transfer outflows; transfers and deleted transactions are excluded, so credit card payments do not double-count. Includes per-month savings rate ((income - spending) / income). Use for savings-rate reports, month-end closes, and trend questions like 'am I saving enough'. Refunds appear as negative spending months' offsets, not income.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
budgetIdNoBudget ID (uses default if not provided)
sinceDateNoStart of the window (YYYY-MM-DD). Defaults to 6 full months back.
untilDateNoEnd of the window (YYYY-MM-DD). Defaults to today.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
resultYesStructured result returned by Get Income Expense Summary.
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, idempotentHint, destructiveHint. Description adds valuable behavioral details: exclusion of transfers and deleted transactions, handling of credit card payments, and refund treatment, which are beyond what annotations provide.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Description is concise: first sentence states core purpose, then clarifies exclusions and use cases. Every sentence adds value with no wasted words.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's complexity (include/exclude logic, savings rate calculation), the description is complete. Output schema exists, so return values are covered. No gaps noted.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so parameters are fully documented. Description adds context about default values (6 months back, today) and date format, supplementing the schema without redundancy.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Clearly states it provides a read-only income vs spending summary by month, computed from transaction history. Distinguishes from siblings by specifying exactly what counts as income and spending.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly describes when to use: for savings-rate reports, month-end closes, and trend questions. Also explains what is excluded (transfers, deleted transactions) and how refunds work, helping the agent avoid misuse.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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