What has to be on it?
| Field | Required | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The word 'Receipt' | Yes | So it is not mistaken for a request for payment. A document that reads like an invoice can be paid twice. |
| Your business name and address | Yes | Who received the money. |
| The customer's name | Yes | Who paid it. Useful even for small cash jobs, because it links the payment to a job in your records. |
| A receipt number and date | Yes | The date the payment was made, not the date the work happened, if those differ. |
| What it was for | Yes | Reference the invoice number where there is one, and describe the work where there is not. |
| The amount paid | Yes | And whether it settles the invoice in full or in part — a part payment recorded as full is a problem you find months later. |
| The payment method | Yes | Cash, card, bank transfer. This is what makes reconciliation possible when the bank line does not obviously match. |
| VAT breakdown | Recommended | If you are VAT registered, show it, and include your VAT number so the customer can reclaim. |