Fiscal Receipt and Electronic Receipt: All the Differences

Tax receipt: what is it

For tax receipt means a document that is issued by a merchant or seller to every customer who purchases a good or service from his business. It contains important information about the transaction made by the customer, such as the price of the item or service, the date and time of purchase, the name and address of the store, the seller’s tax code and the tax registration number.

The tax receipt is a document required by law in many countries, including Italy, as it is used to monitor and control commercial transactions and prevent tax evasion. In particular, the issuing of the receipt guarantees that the seller has registered the transaction and paid the corresponding taxes, and can be requested by the tax authority as proof of purchase or as an accounting document.

There are different ways to issue a receipt, depending on the country and the type of transaction. For example, in some cases a paper document may be issued, while in others an electronic document or a printed receipt. In any case, it is important to keep the receipt as proof of purchase and for any tax needs. It must be issued with a fiscal meter, a special device which can be a cash register, an electronic terminal or an electronic scale with printer, which must have been approved by the decree of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and have certain technical characteristics verified by the affixing of a fiscal stamp.

By law, every trader must print a closing receipt at the end of the day. For businesses that operate in several shifts, the closing receipt must be printed before midnight.
For venues open even after midnight, the daily closing receipt must be produced by midnight. For venues such as theaters or discos, whose entertainment activities go beyond midnight, the receipt must be issued at the end of the event reporting the start date.

Electronic receipt: what is it

The electronic receipt it is, instead, a method of issuing the tax receipt which involves the use of a computerized system to generate the document. In practice, instead of receiving a paper receipt, the customer receives a proof of purchase in the form of an electronic file, sent via SMS, email or special app.

The electronic receipt has several advantages compared to the paper receipt, including:

• the greater speed of emission;
• reducing the risk of loss;
• the simplification of administrative procedures for the shopkeeper.

Furthermore, the use of an electronic receipt can help reduce the environmental impact by avoiding the production and waste of paper.

As regards the fiscal validity of the electronic receipt, it depends on the laws and regulations of the country to which it belongs. In general, however, electronic receipt issuing systems are designed to guarantee the security and integrity of data, through the use of encryption and authentication technologies. In any case, the electronic receipt has the same fiscal validity as the paper receipt, and can be used as proof of purchase if necessary.

The differences: Tax receipt and electronic receipt

Here are some of the main ones differences between the fiscal receipt and the electronic receipt:

• Issuance method: the receipt is issued on paper, while the electronic receipt is generated through an IT system and sent to the customer via SMS, e-mail or specific app;
• Storage: the receipt is delivered to the customer in paper form, while the electronic receipt is sent to the customer in the form of a digital file. The latter can be stored both in electronic and paper format, depending on local regulations;
• Issuance times: the fiscal receipt generally takes longer to be issued, while the electronic receipt is generated instantly;
• Possibility of loss: the receipt can be lost or damaged, making its reconstruction difficult or impossible. The electronic receipt, on the other hand, can be recovered quickly and easily in case of loss;
• Costs: printing and managing the receipt can involve costs for the seller, while the electronic receipt can be less expensive and more efficient;
• Fiscal validity: both the receipt and the electronic receipt have the same fiscal validity, provided that they have been issued in compliance with local laws and regulations.

In general, the electronic receipt offers many advantages compared to the traditional receipt, such as issuance speed, cost reduction and environmental impact. However, the choice between a receipt and an electronic receipt depends on local regulations, the seller’s needs and the customer’s preferences.