Receipt vs. Voucher — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on August 20, 2024
Receipt is a document acknowledging payment. Voucher is a coupon or ticket redeemable for goods or services.
Difference Between Receipt and Voucher
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Receipts are documents that confirm the completion of a transaction, often indicating the amount of money exchanged for goods or services. Vouchers, in contrast, are typically used before a transaction or as part of a promotional offer, representing a certain value or entitlement to services or goods. While receipts serve as proof of purchase, vouchers act as a medium to obtain a financial discount or service at a later date.
Receipts are provided after the payment is made and are a record for both the buyer and the seller. They serve as evidence for the purchase and are often necessary for returns or exchanges. Vouchers can be considered as a form of a prepaid receipt used for future transactions. They hold a certain value or terms of service which can be redeemed and can be issued as a part of a marketing strategy to boost sales.
Receipts are specific to the buyer and cannot be transferred, as they detail a completed payment, often including the date, total amount, and a description of the goods or services. Vouchers are more flexible and can be given to others as gifts. They generally have an expiration date by which the owner must redeem the value or service offered by the voucher.
Receipts can be provided for any type of transaction irrespective of the amount or nature of the transaction. They are essential for accounting and tax purposes. Vouchers are not a direct record of a transaction but an instrument that will lead to a transaction, such as gift cards, discount coupons, or tickets redeemable for services like massages or hotel stays.
Receipts are usually issued in the ordinary course of a sale, and customers expect to receive them automatically. Vouchers, however, are optional and can often be purchased or are received as part of a promotional event, loyalty program, or a refund mechanism. Both serve to document the terms of a transaction, but at different stages and for different purposes.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Acknowledgement of payment
A token for future discounts or services
Time of Issuance
After payment
Before utilization
Purpose
To confirm a completed sale
To provide or redeem value/service
Transferability
Typically non-transferable
Often transferable
Financial Value
Reflects exact transaction value
May not reflect cash value; offers discounts/services
Compare with Definitions
Receipt
Proof of a completed transaction.
The cashier handed me a receipt after I paid for the groceries.
Voucher
A token exchangeable for goods or services.
He won a voucher for a free oil change at the charity raffle.
Receipt
A record of purchase.
He needed the receipt to return the defective electronics.
Voucher
An entitlement to a discount or service.
They offered a discount voucher for early bookings on their tours.
Receipt
A receipt (also known as a packing list, packing slip, packaging slip, (delivery) docket, shipping list, delivery list, bill of parcel, manifest or customer receipt) is a document acknowledging that a person has received money or property in payment following a sale or other transfer of goods or provision of a service. All receipts must have the date of purchase on them.
Voucher
A redeemable instrument for transactions.
She gifted her parents a travel voucher for their anniversary.
Receipt
The action of receiving something or the fact of its being received
Families in receipt of supplementary benefit
I would be grateful if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter
Voucher
A certificate that acts as a substitute for cash.
She used a voucher to pay for her meal at the new restaurant.
Receipt
A recipe
She spent hours in the kitchen, trying all sorts of receipts
Voucher
A voucher is a bond of the redeemable transaction type which is worth a certain monetary value and which may be spent only for specific reasons or on specific goods. Examples include housing, travel, and food vouchers.
Receipt
Mark (a bill) as paid
The receipted hotel bill
Voucher
A small printed piece of paper that entitles the holder to a discount, or that may be exchanged for goods or services.
Receipt
The act of receiving
We are in receipt of your letter.
Voucher
A piece of substantiating evidence; a proof.
Receipt
The fact of being or having been received
They denied receipt of the shipment.
Voucher
A written record of expenditure, disbursement, or completed transaction.
Receipt
Often receipts A quantity or amount received
Cash receipts.
Voucher
A written authorization or certificate, especially one exchangeable for cash or representing a credit against future expenditures.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment that a specified article, sum of money, or shipment of merchandise has been received.
Voucher
To substantiate or authenticate with evidence.
Receipt
A recipe.
Voucher
To prepare a voucher for
Properly vouchering each transaction.
Receipt
To mark (a bill) as having been paid.
Voucher
To issue a voucher to
A company that vouchers employees when the payroll cannot be met.
Receipt
To give or write a receipt for (money paid or goods or services delivered).
Voucher
A piece of paper that entitles the holder to a discount, or that can be exchanged for goods and services.
This voucher can be redeemed at any Walmart in the state until March 31 2013.
A voucher for a free kettle
This voucher entitles the bearer to a 20% discount on frozen goods.
Receipt
To give a receipt.
Voucher
A receipt.
Receipt
The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
A balance payable on receipt of the goods.
Voucher
One who or that which vouches.
Receipt
(obsolete) The fact of having received a blow, injury etc.
Voucher
(advertising) A copy of a published advertisement sent by the agency to the client as proof of publication.
Receipt
(in the plural) A quantity or amount received; takings.
This weekend's receipts alone cover our costs to mount the production!
Voucher
(historical) A mechanical device used in shops for automatically registering the amount of money drawn.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment that a specified article or sum of money has been received.
Voucher
(transitive) To establish the authenticity of; to vouch for.
Receipt
(A piece of) evidence, documentation, etc. to prove one's past actions, accomplishments, etc.
Voucher
(transitive) To provide a vouch for (an expenditure).
Receipt
(A piece of) evidence (e.g. documentation or screen captures) of past wrongdoing.
Voucher
(transitive) To provide (a beneficiary) with a voucher.
Receipt
(archaic in New England and rural US since end of 20th century, elsewhere since middle of 20th century) A recipe, instructions, prescription.
Voucher
One who vouches, or gives witness or full attestation, to anything.
Will his vouchers vouch him no more?
The great writers of that age stand up together as vouchers for one another's reputation.
Receipt
(obsolete) A receptacle.
Voucher
A book, paper, or document which serves to vouch the truth of accounts, or to confirm and establish facts of any kind; also, any acquittance or receipt showing the payment of a debt; as, the merchant's books are his vouchers for the correctness of his accounts; notes, bonds, receipts, and other writings, are used as vouchers in proving facts.
Receipt
(obsolete) A revenue office.
Voucher
The act of calling in a person to make good his warranty of title in the old form of action for the recovery of lands.
Receipt
(obsolete) Reception, as an act of hospitality.
Voucher
A document attesting to a credit against certain defined expenditures; a recipt for prepayment; - often used in pre-arranged travel plans, to provide evidence of pre-payment of the cost of lodging, transportation, or meals.
Receipt
(obsolete) Capability of receiving; capacity.
Voucher
Someone who vouches for another or for the correctness of a statement
Receipt
(obsolete) A recess; a retired place.
Voucher
A document that serves as evidence of some expenditure
Receipt
To give or write a receipt (for something).
To receipt delivered goods
Voucher
A negotiable certificate that can be detached and redeemed as needed
Receipt
To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; to mark a bill as having been paid.
To receipt a bill
Voucher
A document representing a certain monetary value.
The company gave out vouchers as part of the holiday bonus.
Receipt
The act of receiving; reception.
Receipt
Reception, as an act of hospitality.
Thy kind receipt of me.
Receipt
Capability of receiving; capacity.
It has become a place of great receipt.
Receipt
Place of receiving.
He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom.
Receipt
Hence, a recess; a retired place.
Receipt
A formulary according to the directions of which things are to be taken or combined; a recipe; as, a receipt for making sponge cake.
She had a receipt to make white hair black.
Receipt
A writing acknowledging the taking or receiving of goods delivered; an acknowledgment of money paid.
Receipt
That which is received; that which comes in, in distinction from what is expended, paid out, sent away, and the like; - usually in the plural; as, the receipts amounted to a thousand dollars.
Receipt
To give a receipt for; as, to receipt goods delivered by a sheriff.
Receipt
To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; as, to receipt a bill.
Receipt
To give a receipt, as for money paid.
Receipt
The act of receiving
Receipt
An acknowledgment (usually tangible) that payment has been made
Receipt
Report the receipt of;
The program committee acknowledged the submission of the authors of the paper
Receipt
Mark or stamp as paid
Receipt
A written acknowledgment of having received money or goods.
She filed the receipt after reconciling her expenses.
Receipt
A document detailing the specifics of a sale.
The receipt listed all the items she purchased, including taxes.
Receipt
A printed or digital confirmation of payment.
I received an email receipt as soon as the payment went through.
Common Curiosities
What legally constitutes a receipt?
A legal receipt must include the date, the amount paid, and a description of the item or service purchased.
Are digital receipts as valid as paper receipts?
Yes, digital receipts are legally valid and widely accepted as proof of purchase.
Can vouchers expire?
Yes, vouchers typically have an expiration date by which they must be used.
Can I give my voucher to someone else?
Yes, unless specified otherwise, vouchers are generally transferable.
Are all receipts proof of payment?
Yes, all receipts serve as proof that a payment has been made.
What do I do if I lose a voucher?
Lost vouchers are often not replaceable, but you should contact the issuer as they may have a replacement policy.
Is a voucher the same as a coupon?
Vouchers and coupons are similar, but vouchers often have a cash value, whereas coupons provide a discount.
Do I need to keep receipts for tax purposes?
Yes, keeping receipts is crucial for tax purposes as they serve as proof of your expenses.
How can I use a voucher?
You can use a voucher by presenting it at the time of purchase or service redemption to avail of its value.
Do vouchers need to be printed to be used?
It depends on the issuer's policy; some accept digital vouchers, while others may require a printout.
Who issues a voucher?
Vouchers are usually issued by businesses as part of a promotional offer or customer compensation.
Can receipts be handwritten?
Yes, receipts can be handwritten, but they must contain all necessary transaction information.
Can I return a product without a receipt?
Return policies vary, but many stores require a receipt for returns.
What is the purpose of a receipt?
The purpose of a receipt is to provide a tangible record of a transaction for both the buyer and the seller.
Can a receipt be used as a legal document?
Yes, a receipt can be used as a legal document in disputes over transactions.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
