$

Amount: $0.00

Subtotal:$0.00

Amount Paid$0.00

Receipt stamped paid in green

What is a Receipt?

A receipt is an electronic or paper record of a transaction. It documents the transfer of goods, delivery of services, or another exchange of value. Receipts serve as proof of purchase for financial record-keeping, tax deductions, and consumer returns or resale. They can be issued from businesses to customers or between companies.

Receipt line item examples with subtotal, discounts and taxes

What is an itemized receipt?

An itemized receipt breaks down each component of a transaction with the cost per item specified. For example, a consumer receipt from the grocery store lists each item purchased and its price. Itemized receipts also include the subtotal, applicable discounts, taxes, and total. Details like the date, time, and location of purchase, as well as the payment method, may also be included.

How to Make a Receipt (7 Simple Steps)

Creating a receipt is easy with our online receipt generator.

1Company Detail

Add your company's information, including:

  • Business Name
  • Email
  • Phone Number
Bill from box on an receipt outlined in red

2Company Logo (Optional)

Upload your company logo from your device to display in the top right corner of the receipt. Square dimensions are recommended.

Sample company logo in an upload box on a receipt

3Customer Details

Add the recipient's contact information, including:

  • Company Name
  • Email
  • Phone Number
  • Name
  • Address
Bill to box on a receipt outlined in red

4Receipt Details

Add a receipt number and customize the date issued.

Receipt number and due date on a receipt outlined in red

5Itemized Description

Fill out the product name, price, and quantity for each item. Select “Additional Details” to add notes.

Sample item and description on a receipt outlined in red

6Taxes, Discounts, and Shipping (Optional)

If applicable, add taxes and discounts by percentage or dollar amount. You can also add shipping costs. Receipt Maker will automatically calculate the totals and subtotal.

Tax section on a receipt outlined in red

7Send!

Select the Preview button to look at your final receipt. Add any final notes or a “thank you” message in the bottom right-hand corner. When you’re ready, hit Send to deliver the invoice directly to the customer’s email. You can also download the receipt.

Finished receipt ready to send
Receipt with all details filled in

What to Include in a Receipt

When thinking about how to write a receipt, consider the information that will be most helpful to the recipient. They will certainly want to know from whom the receipt is being sent, and a clear description of the transaction.

Certain elements are required on a receipt, including the date issued. If sales taxes are legally required as part of the transaction, they should be listed separately on the receipt to indicate that the local tax authority will collect them.

The following elements form the basis of a generic receipt template:

  • Date of receipt delivery
  • Seller information (name, company name, contact details)
  • Customer information (name, company name, contact details)
  • Itemized descriptions and prices of goods or services rendered
  • Applicable taxes, discounts, and shipping charges
Sending receipt

How to Send a Receipt

Whether you are delivering a receipt at the point of sale or closing the loop on a completed invoice, there are several ways in which the receipt can be sent.

For the vast majority of transactions, electronic receipts are sufficient and preferred. Digital receipts can be delivered to the customer's email address as a live link with download options or as a PDF attachment.

In some cases, customers may require paper receipts, especially in business-to-business transactions. Arrangements should be made ahead of time if physical receipts are requested.

Sending an Online Receipt

Receipt Maker takes care of electronic delivery, so all you have to do is fill out the required fields (including the customer's email address) and hit Send.

Online Receipt Generator FAQs (5)

While there are many similarities between invoices and receipts, they serve entirely different purposes. An invoice is used to request payment for a transaction, while a receipt is used to confirm that payment has been completed.
Providing receipts is not just a courtesy; in many cases, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re selling consumer goods, performing freelance services, or engaging in big-ticket business transactions, your customers and clients rely on accurate receipts for their records.
It's time to clean out that dreaded receipt drawer and move to the cloud. Hard copies of receipts are not required for tax purposes, nor are they more legitimate than electronic copies.
The easiest way to organize business tax receipts is to file them digitally. Scan or take a picture of any physical receipts, come up with a file naming system, and organize your cloud-based folders by date. Come tax season, you’ll be grateful for your diligent receipt-keeping efforts.
Receipt Maker takes your privacy seriously. Whenever you create and send a receipt, rest assured that your data is 100% encrypted and protected.

Taxes: Audits and Receipts

It's a good practice to keep all business-related receipts on file for bookkeeping and tax preparation purposes. In the event that your business is subject to an IRS records request as part of a tax audit, you will need to produce proof of all expenses used to claim deductions. These are called business tax receipts. Other kinds of documentation, like bank statements or electronic invoices with payment confirmation, can also be used for this purpose.

Receipts are important for personal taxes, too. Certain expenses, such as qualifying medical bills, childcare costs, and work-related expenses not reimbursed by an employer, can be deducted from your tax liability. You'll need itemized receipts to properly claim deductions.