When you sell goods or services, you need to create a record of the transaction. Depending on the situation, you will either give customers an invoice or receipt. What is the difference between an invoice and a receipt? Understand invoice vs. receipt distinctions to avoid confusion.

发票vs. receipt

Both invoices and receipts are paper or electronic slips that detail purchase transactions. Invoices and receipts are not interchangeable. An invoice is a request for payment while a receipt is proof of payment. Customers receive invoices before they pay for a product or service and receive receipts after they pay.

发票

Businesses that provide products or services to customers before receiving payment send invoices.发票sare bills sent to customers after they have received a good or service.

发票s are requests for payment. You can send receipts via email or mail. Or, you can hand deliver them.

You won’t invoice every customer. Invoices are used for customers who:

• Make a purchase with store credit
• Have a payment plan
• Are billed in arrears（在获得良好或服务之后，像公用事业一样）

An invoice is a record that details the transaction. It includes information like the date the invoice was created,invoice payment terms, and the total amount due. And, the invoice provides both seller and buyer contact information, like the name, address, and phone number.

发票是mind customers that they owe your business money. They are important for speeding up cash flow, making sure you get paid, and keeping financial records for your business.

发票example

您将洗衣机和烘干机出售给客户。您将在两周内交付洗衣机和烘干机。直到他们收到洗衣机和烘干机后，他们的付款才到期。给客户一张发票，以显示他们欠多少钱。

Receipt

A receipt acts as proof of a transaction. You give customers receipts after they have paid for a product or service.

Receipts include information on the goods or services sold, like price, quantity, discounts, and taxes. They also provide information on the payment method, how much was paid, and details about the seller.

In many cases, customers need receipts if they want to make a购买退货or exchange a product. Since the receipt shows products and prices, you can verify the customer purchased the item(s) from your business. For the most part, you should give customers a receipt for each transaction.

许多企业都有退货政策，说客户必须有收据才能退货。您必须确定所需的退货政策。以下是一些退货政策示例：

• No returns without receipts
• Store credit for returns without receipts
• Returns are accepted without receipts

As a small business owner, you need to keep copies of customer receipts because they act as records. And, keep all the receipts you receive fromvendors. These supporting documents ensure that your accounting books are accurate. And, you need records if you are audited. Storebusiness receiptsfor at least three years.

Customer receipt example

You sell clothes to a customer. They pay you with cash at the point of sale.You need to give them a receipt since you made a sale andaccepted the cash payment. A week later, the customer returns one of the shirts they bought. Because they have a receipt, you can verify the purchase and exchange the shirt for cash.

At-a-glance difference between invoice and receipt

So, what is the main difference between an invoice and receipt?

• 发票是付款的请求。客户收到其良好或服务后，您会提供发票。
• A receipt is proof of payment. You give a receipt after the customer has paid for a good or service.

Customers who receive an invoice will also receive a receipt when they pay. But, customers who pay at the point of sale will not receive an invoice.

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This is not intended as legal advice; for more information, please点击这里。