Receipt vs. invoice: what’s the difference?
The short answer
A receipt is a proof of payment provided by the seller to the buyer after a transaction, while an invoice is a request for payment sent before or at the time of the transaction. Receipts confirm a completed payment; invoices are requests for future payment.
What they have in common
Both receipt and invoice are documents related to financial transactions and involve the exchange of money for goods or services.
Examples
receipt
- She handed me the receipt after I paid for the groceries.
- Please keep the receipt in case you need to return the item.
- The receipt showed the total amount and the items purchased.
invoice
- I received the invoice for the services rendered last month.
- The invoice is due on the 15th of next month.
- Make sure to send the invoice to the accounting department.
Which one is more common?

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