# actual_rules_update

Update an existing budget rule by ID. Only provide the fields you want to change. IMPORTANT Field Types: -

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `actual_rules_update`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-rules-update

## Facts

- Tool: `actual_rules_update`
- Server: Actual (`actual-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual.md
- Install: `npx -y actual-mcp-server`
- Homepage: git+https://github.com/agigante80/actual-mcp-server.git
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "actual_rules_update",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why actual_rules_update is rated Medium

This tool creates or modifies data (budget rules) in a reversible manner. While it operates in a financial management context (Actual Budget), it does not move money, commit financial obligations, or execute arbitrary operations—it only updates rule configuration. This is Write rather than Financial because the primary action is data modification, not monetary movement.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states 'Update an existing budget rule' — modifies data reversibly. The tool name 'actual_rules_update' and description explicitly indicate modification of budget rules, which are configuration objects in a financial management system."

## Use case

AI agents use actual_rules_update to create or update resources in Actual, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Actual environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Actual:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "actual_rules_update": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "actual_rules_update_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Actual (63)

- `actual_accounts_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-accounts-delete.md
- `actual_categories_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-categories-delete.md
- `actual_category_groups_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-category-groups-delete.md
- `actual_payees_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-payees-delete.md
- `actual_rules_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-rules-delete.md
- `actual_schedules_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-schedules-delete.md
- `actual_tags_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-tags-delete.md
- `actual_transactions_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-transactions-delete.md
- `actual_bank_sync` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-bank-sync.md
- `actual_query_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-query-run.md
- `actual_session_close` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-session-close.md
- `actual_accounts_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-accounts-list.md
- `actual_budgets_get_all` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-budgets-get-all.md
- `actual_budgets_getMonth` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-budgets-getmonth.md
- `actual_budgets_getMonths` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-budgets-getmonths.md
- `actual_budgets_list_available` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-budgets-list-available.md
- `actual_categories_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-categories-get.md
- `actual_category_groups_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-category-groups-get.md
- `actual_entities_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-entities-search.md
- `actual_get_id_by_name` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-get-id-by-name.md
- `actual_notes_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-notes-get.md
- `actual_payee_rules_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-payee-rules-get.md
- `actual_payees_common_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-payees-common-list.md
- `actual_payees_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-payees-get.md
- `actual_rules_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-rules-get.md
- `actual_schedules_get` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-schedules-get.md
- `actual_server_info` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-server-info.md
- `actual_session_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-session-list.md
- `actual_tags_list` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-tags-list.md
- `actual_transactions_filter` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/actual/actual-transactions-filter.md
- …and 33 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/actual.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=actual · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/actual