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How to connect Claude, ChatGPT or another AI assistant to Summ (MCP)

Set up the Summ MCP server so an AI assistant can read your portfolio, chase data issues and pull tax figures — and understand what you're authorising.

Written by Bart Antonelli

The Summ MCP server lets you connect Claude, ChatGPT, or any other assistant that supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP) directly to your Summ account. Once connected, you can ask about your portfolio, chase down reconciliation issues, connect wallets and exchanges, or pull tax figures — all from a conversation. It is available on every account, with no opt-in needed.

Where to find it

Open Settings and choose the MCP tab, or go straight to app.summ.com/accounts?settings=mcp. The MCP server setup panel shows step-by-step instructions for each assistant and the MCP URL you will need, with a Copy button:

Connecting your assistant

Claude Desktop

  1. Open Claude Desktop and go to Settings.

  2. Choose Connectors and click Add custom connector.

  3. Paste the MCP URL and authorise.

ChatGPT

  1. Open ChatGPT and go to Settings.

  2. Choose Connectors and click Add custom MCP.

  3. Paste the MCP URL and authorise.

Claude Code

  1. In a terminal, run: claude mcp add summ https://mcp.summ.com/mcp

  2. Authorise in the browser window that opens.

Other MCP clients (Cursor and similar): paste the MCP URL into your client's MCP server settings, then follow its authorisation prompt.

The authorisation screen

When your assistant connects, Summ opens an Authorize access page in your browser. If you are not already signed in to Summ you will be asked to Log in to authorize access first. The page then shows:

  • Requesting client — the name of the app asking for access, with a chip describing how much Summ knows about it:

    • Recognised Provider — Summ recognises the app's provider (currently Anthropic's claude.ai and OpenAI's chatgpt.com).

    • Local App — the app is running on your own computer. Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor all show as Local App — this is expected, not a warning about those apps. Summ can only see that the request came from your machine, so confirm you started the connection yourself.

    • Unrecognised Provider — an online app whose provider Summ does not recognise. Anyone can build an MCP client, so check the name and redirect address match an app you actually use before continuing.

  • Access level — if the app asked for write access, you will see an Allow write access switch. Turn it off to grant read-only access: the app can view your data but cannot edit, sync, or connect anything. You can re-authorise with write access later if you need it.

  • Permissions requested — Read or Read and write, followed by the full list under This application will be able to.

  • For a Local App or Unrecognised Provider asking for write access, you also tick I recognise this app and want to continue before Allow is enabled.

Click Allow to finish, or Deny to cancel. Your assistant then completes the connection and you can return to it.

What your assistant can do

With read access, the assistant can:

  • View your portfolio balances

  • View your transaction history and details

  • View your connected wallets and exchanges

  • View data quality issues and recommendations

  • View your tax reports

  • View your tax settings

With read and write access, it can also:

  • Add wallets and exchange connections

  • Add manual transactions

  • Edit and recategorize your transactions

  • Create rules that categorize matching transactions automatically, on plans that include Rules

  • Resolve data quality issues

  • Trigger data syncs across your accounts

  • Update your tax settings

  • Manage tax periods (lock, unlock, finalize)

Some things stay in the web app. Uploading CSV files, connecting exchanges that sign in with OAuth (such as Coinbase), and downloading report files are not available through the assistant — when you ask for a report, it gives you a link to your Reports page instead.

For accountants and collaborators

If you manage clients, your assistant can also list your clients and work on a specific one. It is instructed to always confirm which client you mean before acting and never to mix data between clients — if it seems unsure, tell it the client name.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MCP server included in my plan?
Yes — it is available on every Summ account, including Free. What the assistant can do mirrors your plan: anything you cannot do in the web app on your plan is not available through the assistant either. Report types your plan does not include, rules, and the tax-loss-harvesting workflow all follow your plan.

How long does the connection last? Will I need to authorise again?
Your assistant's access refreshes automatically in the background for as long as you keep using it, for up to 30 days at a time. If it stops working after a long break, simply reconnect and authorise again.

How do I disconnect an assistant?
Remove the Summ connector from your assistant's own settings (for example, Connectors in Claude Desktop or ChatGPT, or claude mcp remove summ in Claude Code). Once removed, the app can no longer refresh its access.

I chose read-only. Why can't the assistant make changes?
Read-only access means it can view your data but not edit, sync, or connect anything, and it will tell you so. To allow changes, remove the connector and reconnect, leaving Allow write access switched on.

Can the assistant delete my transactions or wipe my data?
No. Bulk edits through the assistant cannot delete transactions, and edits it makes can be undone — either by asking it to undo, or from the transaction's Edit History in the web app.

My assistant says Summ MCP is turned off.
Summ can temporarily switch the MCP server off. Your assistant stays connected but has no tools until it is back; it re-checks automatically about once an hour. You can confirm the status under Settings → MCP, which shows Summ MCP is currently turned off while it is unavailable.

My assistant keeps getting errors about invalid arguments.
Assistants remember Summ's tool details from when they connected, and those can go out of date. Remove and re-add the Summ connector, then start a new conversation.

My assistant says it is making "too many requests".
The server allows 300 requests a minute, and 60 in any 10-second burst. Wait a few seconds and try again — the assistant's message tells you how long.

Good to know

  • The authorisation page cannot be faked by a link. The app name, redirect address and requested permissions are fetched from Summ's own server, not read from the link that opened the page.

  • Recognised Provider is based on where the app sends you back to — a secure claude.ai, claude.com or chatgpt.com address. Apps on your own computer are always labelled Local App.

  • Changes are real. Anything the assistant edits, syncs or connects with write access applies to your account exactly as if you did it in the web app.

If you have any questions, reach out to our Support Team via the in-app chat. 😇

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