A receipt is the customer's proof that they paid you, and your record of the money that came in. Whether you run a kirana store, give tuition or repair phones, a clear receipt prevents arguments later.
Receipt, invoice or cash memo?
- A receipt confirms that payment was received.
- An invoice (or bill) asks for payment and lists what was sold. GST-registered businesses must issue a tax invoice or bill of supply for taxable sales. See GST invoice format.
- A cash memo is a bill and receipt in one, used for cash sales over the counter.
If you aren't registered under GST, a well-made receipt or cash memo is usually all you need.
What to write on a cash receipt
- Your business name, address and phone number.
- Receipt number. Use a running series such as
2026-27/0001so no two receipts share a number. - Date.
- Customer's name, and their phone number if you'll need to contact them.
- What the payment is for: goods sold, a service, fees for a month, rent, an advance.
- Amount in figures and in words, for example ₹2,350 (Rupees two thousand three hundred fifty only). Words make it hard to alter.
- Payment method: cash, UPI, card or bank transfer.
- Your signature or a stamp.
Sample cash receipt
SHARMA GENERAL STORE
12 MG Road, Pune · 98765 43210Receipt No: 2026-27/0128 · Date: 11 October 2026
Received from: Ravi Kumar (99887 76655)
For: Monthly ration, 2 kg rice, 1 L oil
Amount: ₹1,180.00 (Rupees one thousand one hundred eighty only)
Paid by: CashSignature: ____________
Cash rules every business should know
The ₹2 lakh limit
Income-tax law doesn't allow a business to accept ₹2 lakh or more in cash from one person in a single day, for a single transaction, or for one event or occasion. The penalty can be equal to the amount received. For larger amounts, take UPI, a cheque or a bank transfer, and write the method on the receipt.
Revenue stamps
Under stamp law, a signed receipt for more than ₹5,000 usually needs a ₹1 revenue stamp, especially for rent and for cash. Rules vary by state, so check locally if you issue many large receipts. Receipts for payments made through a bank, such as UPI or cheque, are commonly exempt.
Paper receipt book or digital receipts?
A carbon receipt book is cheap, but copies fade, pages get lost, and you can't search them at month end. A digital receipt:
- can't be lost or torn,
- reaches the customer on WhatsApp in seconds,
- adds up your day's sales automatically, and
- can be exported for your accountant.
Making receipts with SmartRaseed
In SmartRaseed, enter the customer, the amount and the payment method, and the app makes a numbered PDF receipt with the amount in words, your logo and signature. Share it on WhatsApp, print it, or show a UPI QR code for payment. Prefer to make one receipt without an app? Use the free online receipt generator.
