Apple is rumored to be developing a built-in bill splitting tool for its upcoming iOS 27 operating system, allowing users to simply take a photo of a receipt to distribute charges, according to a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman highlighted by IT Home.
Traditionally, splitting a restaurant bill meant one person paid the entire amount upfront, and other group members transferred their share later. Apple’s new feature is designed to combine receipt recognition, item assignment, and payment requests into a single, seamless flow, eliminating manual math and individual follow-ups.
The entire process revolves around the iPhone camera and the native Wallet application. Users can point their iPhone camera at a physical receipt, and the system will read the text and items. From there, users can assign individual dishes or items to specific contacts in their list. The system will then automatically calculate each person’s exact share, including proportional tax and tip, before sending out payment requests.
This upcoming bill splitting tool will integrate deeply into Apple’s existing financial ecosystem. It is expected to connect with Apple Cash in the Wallet app and will also be accessible directly through the Messages app.
Apple Watch users will also be able to approve payments directly from their wrists. By keeping the transaction within native software, Apple hopes to streamline the process compared to switching back and forth between third-party apps like Venmo, Cash App, Splitwise, or Tab.
For everyday users, this feature will dramatically reduce the friction of managing group dinners, movie outings, concerts, or shared travel expenses by keeping everything consolidated inside the Apple platform.
