What a receipt shows
- your business name and how to reach you
- who paid you
- a receipt number and the date
- the date you were paid and how
- what it was for, line by line or by invoice number
- the amount received, clearly marked as paid
Free receipt template and maker
Make a receipt for money you have been paid, marked paid in full, and download the PDF. No sign-up, and nothing leaves your device.
Shows when and how you were paid, and VAT to HMRC's rules. Shows when and how you were paid, on US Letter paper. Shows when and how you were paid, on A4 paper.
What to put on a receipt
Receipt or invoice?
An invoice asks to be paid. A receipt confirms that you have been. If you sent an invoice first, put its number on the receipt under For invoice, so the two match up in your books and in your client's.
Cash payments
A bank transfer or a card payment leaves a record on both sides. Cash does not, so a receipt is often the only proof the money changed hands, for you and for your client. Make one at the time, while you are both there.
VAT
A receipt does not replace a VAT invoice. If your customer is VAT registered and wants to reclaim the VAT, they need a VAT invoice from you (VAT Notice 700, section 16). The receipt records that it has been paid.
How long to keep them
UK: if you are self-employed, keep your records for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the tax year they belong to (gov.uk).
US: the IRS says to keep records that support your income until the period of limitations for that return runs out, which is generally 3 years (IRS).
From invoice to receipt
Made the invoice here? Switch the document to Receipt at the top when it is paid. The client and the lines are already filled in: add the date you were paid, how, and the invoice number.
Questions
Is this receipt maker free?
Yes. Make as many receipts as you like. Each PDF carries one small line at the bottom saying it was made with Billsmith.
Can I make a receipt for a deposit?
Yes. Add one line for what was paid, such as "Deposit for kitchen refit", with the amount you received. The receipt shows that amount as paid in full.
Can I turn an invoice into a receipt?
Yes. When the invoice is paid, switch the document to Receipt at the top. The client and the lines are already there; add the date you were paid, how, and the invoice number.
Do you keep a copy of my receipts?
No. The PDF is built inside your browser and never sent to us. Your details are saved in this browser only, so the next one is quicker. "Clear everything" removes them.