Digital receipts and e-receipts: how they work and where to keep them
A digital receipt arrives by email, app or QR code instead of on thermal paper. It counts as full proof of purchase and never fades, but it gets lost easily.
In short: A digital receipt is the same document as the paper till slip, delivered as a PDF, an email or an entry in a retailer's app. It counts as proof of purchase and as a bookkeeping document, does not fade and takes no space in your wallet. Its drawback: it scatters across your inbox, apps and customer accounts. Collect e-receipts in the same place as your scanned paper receipts.
At more and more checkouts, the question is no longer "Would you like the receipt?" but "Paper or digital?". The e-receipt then lands in your email, in the retailer's app or behind a QR code you scan at the till.
For you that is convenient: no paper strip, no fading, nothing to photograph. What is new is the question of where the receipt actually lives now, and whether you will find it in two years.
What is a digital receipt?
A digital receipt is the electronic proof of purchase that the point-of-sale system issues as a file or data record instead of printing it on thermal paper. In terms of content it is no different from the paper version: retailer, date, time, items, amounts, VAT and payment method are the same.
Depending on the retailer, the e-receipt takes different forms:
- A PDF file attached to an email
- An email with the receipt written directly in the body
- An entry in the retailer's customer app or online account
- A QR code on the till display that leads to a web page showing the receipt
- An entry in the payment provider's app, for example Twint or a card provider
The PDF version is the best, because it is a standalone file you can save, forward and archive. A receipt that is only visible inside an app belongs to you only for as long as you keep the app and the account.
How does an e-receipt work at the checkout?
At the till you choose the digital option, and the point-of-sale system sends the receipt to a stored address or displays a code. There are three common routes.
- Loyalty card or customer app: the receipt is automatically linked to your account as soon as you show the card or app at the till. You do nothing, but you will only find the receipt in that app.
- Email address: you give your address or have it stored with the retailer. The receipt arrives as an email, usually with a PDF attached.
- QR code: the till display shows a code, you scan it with your phone camera and download or save the receipt. This works without an account, but requires you to act at the moment of paying.
For online purchases the digital receipt is standard anyway: the order confirmation and invoice arrive by email. And for card payments, some banking apps store a copy of the receipt with the transaction, provided the retailer supports it.
Is an electronic receipt legally equivalent?
Yes. An electronic receipt is just as valid as paper, both as proof of purchase and as a bookkeeping document. What matters is the content, not the medium.
In Switzerland there is no general obligation to issue a receipt at the till. For VAT, the details required by Art. 26 of the VAT Act (MWSTG) count, and they may be held electronically. Businesses must keep records for ten years under Art. 958f of the Code of Obligations; the ordinance on business records permits electronic storage as long as the documents remain unchanged and legible.
In Germany, a receipt issuance obligation (Belegausgabepflicht) has applied since 2020 under § 146a AO: anyone using an electronic till must offer every customer a receipt. With the customer's consent, that receipt may be issued electronically. The e-receipt is therefore explicitly provided for, and businesses must follow the GoBD rules for storage.
In Austria, a receipt issuance obligation has applied since 2016 under § 132a BAO, and here too the receipt may be transmitted electronically.
For warranty and statutory guarantee claims, the e-receipt is as good as paper. Many retailers even prefer it, because it can be matched unambiguously in their system. What else you can present as proof of purchase is covered in Receipts for warranty and returns.
Advantages and disadvantages of digital receipts
The biggest advantage of the e-receipt is durability; the biggest disadvantage is dispersion. A paper receipt fades, but at least it sits in one place. The e-receipt lasts forever, but it sits in three email accounts, two apps and a customer portal.
| Criterion | Paper receipt | Digital receipt |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Fades within months to a few years | Unlimited, if saved |
| Storage location | Wallet, drawer, folder | Inbox, app, customer account |
| Findability | Flipping through | Search, if collected in one place |
| Dependency | None | Retailer's account or app |
One more point: if you give an email address or use a customer account at the till, you hand the retailer data about your shopping habits. That is already the case with loyalty cards, but with a QR code e-receipt it is avoidable. If you value data minimisation, choose the QR code or stick with paper and scan it yourself. Why local storage without the cloud matters for receipts too is explained in A receipt app without the cloud.
Where should you keep e-receipts?
In the same place as your scanned paper receipts. A single filing location for all receipts is the whole trick, because receipts are only useful if you can find them again.
Your inbox is unsuitable as an archive. Receipts get buried between newsletters, email accounts get changed, and after two years you will not remember which address the retailer sent the receipt to. Customer apps are even more precarious: delete the app or the account and the receipt is gone.
A simple process that works:
- Save the e-receipt as a PDF straight after receiving it. If the receipt arrives as email text, print the email to PDF.
- Name the file sensibly, for example with date, retailer and amount. A folder structure for this is described in Filing receipts digitally.
- File the e-receipt where the scans of your paper receipts live, not in a separate email folder.
- For receipts kept for warranty purposes, note the expiry date.
If you capture your paper receipts with Belego, you already have all scanned receipts there as PDFs with amount, date, merchant and category. Belego captures receipts through the camera. You scan paper receipts directly; an e-receipt that is only visible on a screen or in an app you photograph from the display, or print and scan. That is not elegant, but it keeps all receipts in one place, searchable and without the cloud. Why PDF is the right format for this is explained in Converting receipts to PDF.
When is the paper receipt still worth it?
The paper receipt is worth it whenever you need it immediately or do not want to leave data behind. Returns in a shop are quicker with paper, and for business expenses some employers and accountants still want to see the original.
Paper has an expiry date, though. Thermal paper fades, often faster than the two-year statutory guarantee period lasts. If you stay with paper, scan the receipt on the day of purchase, as described in Scan paper receipts before they fade. Then you have both: the original for the shop and the copy for later.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to print a digital receipt?
No. An e-receipt is valid as a file just as it is on paper, for warranty, returns and bookkeeping. Save it as a PDF in a fixed location, and you can show it on your phone or forward it when needed. Printing is only worthwhile if a retailer or employer explicitly demands a paper document.
Can I use an e-receipt for my tax return?
Yes. For your tax return, the content of the receipt counts, not the medium. A digital receipt showing the retailer, date, goods or service and amount is full proof for deductions such as training or medical costs. Save it as a PDF and keep it until the assessment is final, or for ten years in business.
What happens to my e-receipts if I delete the retailer's app?
The receipt is then usually no longer accessible to you, even if the retailer keeps it in their system. Save important receipts as PDFs outside the app while you still have access. For warranty cases, the retailer can often trace the purchase through your account or card payment, but that is not guaranteed.
Are digital receipts mandatory in Switzerland?
No. Switzerland has neither an obligation to issue receipts nor a digital receipt requirement. Retailers decide for themselves whether to offer e-receipts. Germany and Austria do have a receipt issuance obligation, but even there the customer may ask for paper. The digital receipt is an option everywhere, not a rule.