What a receipt is for
A receipt confirms that you received money. Anyone who pays a debt can ask for a receipt (Article 88 Code of Obligations). For cash payments it is often the only proof.
Your clients need it for their own accounts, their tax return or expense claims, for example. For supplementary insurance, a simple receipt is usually not enough for therapy: insurers need the reimbursement slip under Tarif 590.
What goes on a receipt
The law prescribes no fixed form. For the receipt to work as a record, it should show the details in the table. If you are registered for VAT, add your VAT number and the rate. The client's details may only be left out on till receipts up to CHF 400 (Article 57 VAT Ordinance).
| Detail | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Amount in CHF | How much was paid |
| Purpose | The service or goods, for example «Massage, 60 minutes» |
| Who paid | The client's name |
| Who received the money | Your name or business name, with address |
| Date and place | When and where the payment was made |
| Payment method | Cash, TWINT, card or bank transfer |
| Signature | Confirms receipt, especially for cash |
| Receipt number | Helps with bookkeeping, but not required |
| VAT number and rate | Only if you are registered for VAT |
Invoice or receipt?
An invoice asks for payment; a receipt confirms it. Clients who pay cash on the spot usually only get a receipt. Clients who pay later by bank transfer get an invoice, and the payment into your account is the proof.
With TWINT or a card, your client sees the payment in the app or on the statement. A receipt is still useful because it says what the payment was for.
Keeping receipts
Keep a copy of every receipt for 10 years, like all accounting records (Article 958f Code of Obligations). Number your receipts in sequence and you will find any cash payment quickly.
Less cash, fewer receipts
With Zitli Pro, your clients pay the price or a deposit at booking, with TWINT or by card. Or Zitli sends a QR-bill after the appointment, and the money goes straight to your account.
You see paid invoices on each client's page. That leaves fewer cash payments to write receipts for and record by hand.
Read next: Swiss invoice template, TWINT for the self-employed, Tarif 590 and the reimbursement slip · Zitli pricing