Free Receipt Maker: create payment receipts as PDF

What to include on a receipt

A receipt is proof that a payment was made. Your customer may need it for their own records, a refund, an expense claim or their tax return, so a clear receipt saves questions later. Most receipts should include:

• The word “Receipt” and a unique receipt number.
• Your business name and contact details, and your VAT, GST or tax number if you are registered.
• The customer's name, when you know it.
• The date of payment.
• What was paid for: each item or service with its quantity and price.
• Any tax, shown separately with its rate, and the total amount paid.
• How it was paid: card, cash, bank transfer, cheque or another method.

Some countries have extra rules for receipts and simplified tax invoices, for example when the customer wants to reclaim VAT or GST. Check your local rules if you are registered for tax.

Receipt or invoice: what is the difference?

An invoice asks for payment and shows when it is due. A receipt confirms that payment has been received. Many businesses send an invoice first and a receipt once the customer has paid. If a customer pays on the spot, a receipt alone is usually enough.

Keep a copy of every receipt

Keep a copy of each receipt you issue, together with your invoices and bank records. Tax authorities usually ask businesses to keep records for several years. When you are issuing receipts and invoices every week, BunnyDoc Invoicing keeps them in one place, records payments against invoices and turns photos of your own purchase receipts into expenses with the receipt scanner.