---
title: "(Deprecated) Get legacy categories"
method: POST
path: "/categories/get"
tags: ["plaid"]
deprecated: true
---

# (Deprecated) Get legacy categories

`POST /categories/get`

> **Deprecated.**

Send a request to the `/categories/get` endpoint to get detailed information on legacy categories returned by Plaid. This endpoint does not require authentication.

All implementations are recommended to [use the newer `personal_finance_category` taxonomy](https://plaid.com/docs/transactions/pfc-migration/) instead of the legacy `category` taxonomy supported by this endpoint.

## Request body

- CategoriesGetRequest — CategoriesGetRequest defines the request schema for `/categories/get`

## Response `200`

success

- CategoriesGetResponse — CategoriesGetResponse defines the response schema for `/categories/get`
  - `categories` Category[], required — An array of all of the transaction categories used by Plaid.
    - `category_id` string, required — An identifying number for the category. `category_id` is a Plaid-specific identifier and does not necessarily correspond to merchant category codes.
    - `group` string, required — `place` for physical transactions or `special` for other transactions such as bank charges.
    - `hierarchy` string[], required — A hierarchical array of the categories to which this `category_id` belongs.
  - `request_id` string, required — A unique identifier for the request, which can be used for troubleshooting. This identifier, like all Plaid identifiers, is case sensitive.

## Other responses

- `default` — Error response.

## Changes

> 52 revisions in range; 1 could not be searched.

- **2026-07-22** `a1bbca018160` — 13 warning
  - added the new `ASSETS_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `CRA_MONITORING_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `CREDIT_PROFILE_REPORT_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `ENCOMPASS_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - …9 more
- **2026-06-25** `80d23bfdc2e5` — 1 warning
  - added the new `IDEMPOTENCY_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
- **2026-06-10** `fb8c3f188d8b` — 1 warning
  - added the new `BASE_REPORT_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
- **2025-12-11** `465584b48c99` — 2 info
  - added the optional property `provided_account_subtypes` to the response with the `default` status
  - added the optional property `required_account_subtypes` to the response with the `default` status
- **2025-11-19** `4abee1c56929` — 1 info
  - removed the `IDENTITY_ERROR` enum value from the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`

[Full history](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api/changes/categories/get/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/plaid/the-plaid-api/revisions/e536704a333f/schema)