Receipt vs. invoice vs. till slip: what is the difference?
Receipt vs invoice explained: an invoice asks for payment, a receipt confirms it was received, and a till slip does both at once, printed at the checkout.
In short: An invoice requests a payment and describes what it is for. A receipt confirms that a payment has been received. A till slip is an automatically printed document that does both at once: it lists the goods you bought and confirms that you paid on the spot. For bookkeeping, all three count as supporting documents as long as the required details are on them.
In everyday language, the three terms get mixed up freely. The hairdresser hands you a "receipt" that is actually a till slip. The plumber sends an "invoice" that is meant to serve as a receipt once paid. And in a restaurant you ask for the "bill" and get a till slip.
Most of the time it does not matter. The difference becomes important when you need a document for your tax return, for VAT or for your accountant. Then it is not the name of the document that counts, but its content.
What is a till slip?
A till slip is the document a cash register or point-of-sale system prints automatically when you pay. It documents a purchase in which the goods and the payment change hands at the same moment. In German-speaking countries it is called a Kassenbon or Kassenzettel.
A typical till slip contains:
- Name and address of the shop, often with its VAT number
- Date and time
- The items bought, with individual prices
- The total and the VAT included
- The payment method (cash, card, Twint)
- A receipt number or till number
Because the slip documents both payment and delivery, it is legally both an invoice and a receipt in most cases. In Switzerland, a till slip qualifies as a document for input tax deduction if it meets the requirements of Art. 26 of the VAT Act (MWSTG); for amounts up to CHF 400, the buyer's name may be missing. What the individual lines and abbreviations mean is explained in How to read a receipt.
The downside of the till slip is the material: thermal paper fades. If you need the slip for longer than a few months, secure it digitally straight away.
What is a receipt?
A receipt (Quittung in German) is a written confirmation from the recipient that they have received a specific payment. It looks backwards: the money has been paid, the debt is settled.
Anyone who pays has the right to a receipt. In Switzerland this is set out in Art. 88 of the Code of Obligations, in Germany in § 368 BGB, in Austria in § 1426 ABGB. It applies to cash payments as much as to card payments or bank transfers, although for electronic payments the bank statement is usually enough as proof.
A receipt contains at least:
- Who paid (the payer)
- Who received the money (the recipient)
- Amount and currency
- What the payment was for
- Date and place
- Signature of the recipient
Classic examples are the handwritten receipt when you buy a bike from a private seller, the confirmation from a tutor for lessons paid in cash, or a rent receipt. How to issue a correct receipt yourself, with a template you can copy, is covered in How to write a receipt.
Important: a receipt on its own says nothing about VAT. A business that wants to reclaim input tax needs the VAT details on the document, whether it is called a receipt or an invoice.
What is an invoice?
An invoice (Rechnung) is a request to pay a specific amount for a service or goods that have been delivered or agreed. It looks forward: the money has not been paid yet, or it was paid separately.
An invoice usually contains:
- Name and address of the issuer and the customer
- Invoice date and invoice number
- Description of the service, with a date or period
- Amount, VAT rate and VAT amount
- Payment deadline and payment details (IBAN, QR-bill)
- The issuer's VAT number, if registered for VAT
For VAT purposes, the invoice is the central document. The Swiss requirements are set out in Art. 26 MWSTG and explained in VAT-compliant receipts in Switzerland. In Germany, § 14 UStG applies, with simplified rules for small-amount invoices up to 250 euros.
A paid invoice does not automatically become a receipt. Proof of payment comes from the bank statement, from a payment note on the invoice ("amount received with thanks") or from a separate receipt.
Receipt vs invoice at a glance
The difference is one of direction: the invoice requests, the receipt confirms. The till slip does both at the same time, because at a checkout there is no gap between delivery and payment.
| Feature | Till slip | Receipt | Invoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Document purchase and payment | Confirm payment received | Request payment |
| Timing | At payment, automatic | After payment | Before payment |
| Issued by | Point-of-sale system | Payment recipient | Service provider |
| Signature | No | Yes, by the recipient | No |
All three are supporting documents. Whether one is acceptable for tax or bookkeeping depends not on its name but on whether the date, issuer, service, amount and, where needed, VAT details are legible.
Which document counts for tax and bookkeeping?
For bookkeeping, any document that clearly evidences an expense counts. Till slip, receipt and invoice are equivalent as long as the mandatory details are present.
A few practical rules of thumb:
- Purchase in a shop, paid immediately: the till slip is enough. For input tax deduction, VAT must be shown.
- Service on invoice: the invoice plus the proof of payment (bank statement) together form the supporting document.
- Cash payment without a till, for example to a private person or a very small business: a signed receipt is the only proof. Always ask for one.
- No document at all: in Germany, a self-made Eigenbeleg can help within narrow limits; in Switzerland, your Treuhänder (the Swiss term for a trustee or accountant) is the right person to ask.
For your accountant or accounting tool, the format matters. A photo of a till slip, a PDF invoice and a scan of a handwritten receipt should all end up filed the same way. With Belego you photograph all three types of document with your phone; the app saves every scan as a PDF and reads the amount, date and merchant automatically. When you export as a ZIP, your accountant gets the PDFs, named by date, merchant and amount, plus a CSV list. Whether it was a slip or a receipt is then just a note.
What if you only have a receipt?
If all you have for a business expense is a handwritten receipt without VAT details, the expense is still documented, but the input tax deduction is lost. For calculating profit, the expense still counts.
Check whether the issuer is registered for VAT at all. A private person selling you a used bike does not show VAT, and that is correct. A tradesperson with a VAT number, on the other hand, should be able to give you an invoice with tax details; just ask.
With till slips the problem is the opposite: they have all the details but are often faded after two years. How long you need which document is covered in How long to keep receipts.
Frequently asked questions
Is a till slip an invoice?
Yes, in most cases. A till slip contains the issuer, date, goods, amount and usually the VAT, which makes it an invoice in the sense of VAT law. In Switzerland it is sufficient for input tax deduction on amounts up to CHF 400 even without the buyer's name. In Germany it counts as a small-amount invoice up to 250 euros.
Is a bank statement a receipt?
No, but it can replace one. A bank statement proves that money went to a recipient, but it names neither the service nor the VAT. For bookkeeping you still need the invoice or the till slip. For warranty claims, many retailers accept a bank statement as proof of purchase if the till slip is missing.
Does a receipt have to be signed?
A classic receipt is signed by the recipient of the payment, because the signature is what makes the confirmation credible. A till slip needs no signature, as the point-of-sale system generates it. A receipt sent by email without a signature is also common, provided the sender and content are clearly identifiable.
Can I ask for a receipt for a paid invoice?
Yes. Anyone who pays may request a receipt, in Switzerland under Art. 88 of the Code of Obligations. For bank transfers, most people skip it because the statement proves the payment. For cash payments, always insist on a payment note on the invoice or a separate receipt, otherwise you have no proof.