Receipt vs. Invoice: The Difference Simply Explained

01Definition: What Is an Invoice?

An invoice is a document with which you as the service provider assert a claim against the client. It documents what service was provided, how much it costs and when payment is due. The invoice is the central document in business transactions.

In the Code of Obligations, the invoice is mentioned in connection with the bookkeeping obligation (OR Art. 957a). For VAT purposes, Art. 26 MWSTG contains detailed requirements for the content of an invoice.

An invoice is issued before payment and serves as a payment request. It is the basis for bookkeeping — both for the invoice issuer (revenue) and the recipient (expense).

Important for VATOnly a correct invoice entitles the recipient to an input tax deduction. A receipt or till slip is generally not sufficient — unless it contains all the mandatory details of an invoice (which is rarely the case).

02Definition: What Is a Receipt?

A receipt is an acknowledgement of payment. It confirms that a payment has been made. The legal basis is found in OR Art. 88: 'The debtor who makes a payment is entitled to request a receipt and, if the debt is fully discharged, also the return or cancellation of the promissory note.'

The receipt is therefore issued after payment and confirms that the creditor has received the owed amount. It typically contains the amount paid, the date and the signature of the recipient.

An everyday example: The till slip you receive in a shop is a form of receipt. It confirms that you have paid — but is not an invoice in the proper sense.

Requesting a receiptAs a debtor, you have a legal right to a receipt under OR Art. 88. If you pay in cash and do not receive a till slip, you may request a receipt. This is particularly important for business expenses that you want to record in your bookkeeping.

03Direct Comparison: Receipt vs. Invoice

The differences between a receipt and an invoice are often underestimated in practice. Here is a direct comparison:

Criterion	Invoice	Receipt
Purpose	Payment request	Payment confirmation
Timing	Before payment	After payment
Legal basis	OR Art. 957a, MWSTG Art. 26	OR Art. 88
Issuer	Service provider (creditor)	Payment recipient (creditor)
VAT disclosure	Mandatory (if VAT-liable)	Not required
Input tax deduction	Yes (with correct VAT disclosure)	No (generally)
Payment deadline	Contains payment deadline	None (already paid)
Typical form	PDF, letter, email	Till slip, handwritten confirmation
Bookkeeping voucher	Yes — primary voucher	Yes — as supplementary voucher
Mandatory details	Extensive (name, address, service, VAT, etc.)	Minimal (amount, date, signature)

In short: The invoice says 'You owe me money', the receipt says 'I have received your money'. Both documents are important — but they serve different functions.

04Mandatory Details of an Invoice

The MWSTG sets clear requirements for the content of an invoice. A full overview can be found in our article on mandatory details on Swiss invoices. The mandatory details differ depending on whether you are VAT-liable or not:

Invoice without VAT (not VAT-liable)

Name and address of the invoice issuer
Name and address of the recipient
Date of invoice
Invoice number (sequential)
Description of the service rendered or goods delivered
Quantity and unit price (if applicable)
Total amount
Payment terms (deadline, bank details)

Invoice with VAT (VAT-liable, per Art. 26 MWSTG)

All of the above details, plus:
UID number of the service provider with VAT suffix (CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX MWST)
Date or period of service delivery (if different from invoice date)
Amount excluding VAT (net amount)
Tax rate (8.1%, 2.6% or 3.8%)
Tax amount (separately disclosed)
Total amount incl. VAT
Reference to 'MWST' or 'TVA' on the document

Missing VAT details = No input tax deductionIf an invoice does not fully contain the VAT mandatory details (e.g. missing UID number or missing separate VAT disclosure), the recipient cannot claim an input tax deduction. The FTA is very strict on this point during audits.

05Till Slip as a Bookkeeping Voucher

In daily life, you receive a till slip for cash payments. The question is: Is it sufficient as a voucher for bookkeeping? The answer: Yes, but with limitations.

A till slip is a receipt — it confirms payment. For simple bookkeeping (income-expense statement), it suffices as an expense voucher: You can see what was purchased, when, where and for how much.

For the VAT input tax deduction, however, stricter rules apply. According to MWSTG Art. 26, an invoice must contain certain details (see above). Most till slips do not fully contain these details — in particular, the following are often missing:

Name and address of the buyer (your business)
Separate disclosure of VAT (tax rate + tax amount)
UID number of the seller with VAT suffix

Simplified invoice up to CHF 400For amounts up to CHF 400 (incl. VAT), the FTA accepts simplified invoices for the input tax deduction. These must contain at least the name of the service provider, the date, the type of service, the amount incl. VAT and the tax rate. Many modern till slips meet these requirements — check on a case-by-case basis.

Tip: For larger business purchases in shops (e.g. office supplies, electronics), always ask for a full invoice with your business name and address. Only this way do you secure the input tax deduction.

06Common Mistakes in Practice

In daily business, the same mistakes keep happening around receipts and invoices. Here are the most common — and how to avoid them:

Using a till slip as a VAT voucher: A till slip without a UID number and without separate VAT disclosure does not entitle you to an input tax deduction. Always request a full invoice for business purchases
No invoice number: Every invoice needs a unique, sequential number. Invoices without a number are formally deficient and can be objected to during audits
Confusing invoice and receipt: When a client pays in cash, still issue an invoice — and additionally issue a receipt (or note 'Paid in cash' on the invoice). The invoice is the bookkeeping voucher, the receipt is the payment proof
Incorrectly disclosed VAT: If you are not VAT-liable, you must not disclose VAT on the invoice. If you do it anyway, you owe the disclosed amount to the FTA — without input tax deduction
Missing service description: 'Various work' or 'Flat fee' is not sufficient. The invoice must describe the type and scope of the service in a comprehensible manner
Receipts not retained: Both invoices and receipts must be retained for 10 years. Missing receipts lead to disallowed deductions during audits

einzly creates compliant invoicesWith einzly, you create invoices that contain all Swiss mandatory details — with or without VAT. Invoice number, UID, VAT disclosure and QR payment slip are generated automatically. This way you avoid formal errors.

07When Do I Need What?

In practice, the question often arises: Do I need an invoice, a receipt or both? Here is an overview for the most common situations:

Situation	Required Document	Why
You provide a service	Invoice	Payment request to the client, revenue proof for your bookkeeping
You buy office supplies in a shop	Receipt (till slip) + possibly invoice	Till slip as expense voucher; full invoice for input tax deduction on amounts over CHF 400
A client pays in cash	Invoice + receipt	Invoice as service proof, receipt as payment confirmation
You order software online	Invoice (digital)	PDF invoice as expense voucher and for the input tax deduction
You pay a tradesperson	Invoice	Expense voucher with full service description and VAT disclosure
Client requests payment confirmation	Receipt	Proof that the invoice has been paid (OR Art. 88)

Rule of thumb: When you provide or deliver something, you issue an invoice. When you pay or collect something, you receive or issue a receipt. For bookkeeping, you ideally need both — the invoice as a voucher and the payment proof (bank statement or receipt).

08Frequently Asked Questions about Receipts and Invoices

Legally, a till slip is a receipt — it confirms that you have paid. It is not an invoice within the meaning of the MWSTG, as it typically lacks important details (e.g. buyer's name, separate VAT disclosure, UID number). For simple bookkeeping, it suffices as an expense voucher, but not for the input tax deduction on amounts over CHF 400.

Yes, if you note 'Paid in cash on [date]' on the invoice and sign it, it simultaneously serves as payment confirmation. In practice, this is common for cash payments. For bank transfers, the bank statement suffices as payment proof — the invoice remains the service proof.

In principle yes. The input tax deduction requires an invoice with the mandatory details per Art. 26 MWSTG (incl. UID number, VAT rate and VAT amount). Exception: For amounts up to CHF 400 (incl. VAT), a simplified invoice with reduced details suffices.

Request the supplier or service provider to issue a correct invoice. As a customer, you are entitled to one. Without an invoice, you can still record the expense in your bookkeeping (with a till slip or bank statement as a voucher), but you cannot claim an input tax deduction.

Yes. Even without VAT obligation, you should issue an invoice for every service rendered — with the basic details (name, address, service, amount, invoice number, date). The invoice is your revenue proof in the bookkeeping and is indispensable for the tax return. Only the VAT-specific details (UID, tax rate, tax amount) are omitted.