Bill vs. Receipt — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Bill indicates a request for payment for goods or services provided, while a receipt is proof of payment made.
Difference Between Bill and Receipt
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A bill is typically issued before payment is made, detailing the amounts owed for goods or services. It acts as a formal request for payment, often itemized to list prices and services or products provided. On the other hand, a receipt is provided after the payment has been made, serving as proof that the transaction occurred and the payment was received.
While a bill might include details like due dates for payment, total amount due, and payment terms, a receipt usually confirms the total amount paid and may also include the method of payment. The receipt is essential for accounting purposes, confirming that liabilities reflected in the bill have been settled.
In some contexts, the bill may have legal implications, such as in medical billing or utility services, where it can also serve as a notice of amounts past due. Conversely, receipts are important for warranty claims, returns, and as documentary evidence for business expenses or tax deductions.
Bills are commonly used in situations like dining at a restaurant, receiving services from a contractor, or purchasing on credit. Whereas, receipts are often required when returning items, claiming warranty services, or filing tax returns.
Businesses keep copies of both bills and receipts for accounting and auditing purposes. While bills help in tracking receivables, receipts are crucial for verifying that these receivables have been collected.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Requests payment for services or goods provided.
Confirms that payment has been made.
Issued
Before payment.
After payment.
Details
May include itemized charges, due dates.
Shows paid amount, payment method, date of payment.
Legal Implications
Can serve as a legal document in credit transactions.
Used as proof of expenditure or for warranty claims.
Usage Context
Issued in commercial transactions, services.
Provided post-purchase or service payment.
Compare with Definitions
Bill
The playbill for a theater.
The night’s bill featured several famous plays.
Receipt
The act of receiving something.
The receipt of your application will be confirmed by email.
Bill
A draft of a proposed law presented for approval.
The senator introduced a new bill in Congress.
Receipt
A record of a transaction.
The receipt showed all the items purchased.
Bill
A statement of charges for goods or services.
The electric company sent us a monthly bill.
Receipt
The total amount of money received in a given period.
The store’s daily receipts totaled over $5,000.
Bill
The beak of a bird.
The pelican scooped fish into its large bill.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment of having received something.
I kept the receipt for the laptop purchase.
Bill
An invoice requesting payment.
The contractor issued a bill after completing the work.
Receipt
A recipe, especially an old one.
My grandmother passed down her pie receipt.
Bill
Publicize or announce by placards
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.
Bill
An itemized list or statement of fees or charges.
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
Bill
A statement or list of particulars, such as a theater program or menu.
Receipt
A recipe
She spent hours in the kitchen, trying all sorts of receipts
Bill
The entertainment offered by a theater.
Receipt
Mark (a bill) as paid
The receipted hotel bill
Bill
A public notice, such as an advertising poster.
Receipt
The act of receiving
We are in receipt of your letter.
Bill
A piece of legal paper money
A ten-dollar bill.
Receipt
The fact of being or having been received
They denied receipt of the shipment.
Bill
(Slang) One hundred dollars.
Receipt
Often receipts A quantity or amount received
Cash receipts.
Bill
A bill of exchange.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment that a specified article, sum of money, or shipment of merchandise has been received.
Bill
(Obsolete) A promissory note.
Receipt
A recipe.
Bill
A draft of a proposed law presented for approval to a legislative body.
Receipt
To mark (a bill) as having been paid.
Bill
The law enacted from such a draft
A bottle bill in effect in three states.
The GI Bill.
Receipt
To give or write a receipt for (money paid or goods or services delivered).
Bill
A document containing the formal statement of a case in equity; a complaint seeking equitable relief.
Receipt
To give a receipt.
Bill
An indictment or charge in an indictment against an accused person.
Receipt
The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
A balance payable on receipt of the goods.
Bill
A structure projecting from the head of a bird, consisting of the jaws and their horny covering and including the upper and lower mandibles; a beak.
Receipt
(obsolete) The fact of having received a blow, injury etc.
Bill
A similar horny mouth part, such as that of a turtle.
Receipt
(in the plural) A quantity or amount received; takings.
This weekend's receipts alone cover our costs to mount the production!
Bill
The visor of a cap.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment that a specified article or sum of money has been received.
Bill
(Nautical)The tip of the fluke of an anchor.
Receipt
(A piece of) evidence, documentation, etc. to prove one's past actions, accomplishments, etc.
Bill
A billhook.
Receipt
(A piece of) evidence (e.g. documentation or screen captures) of past wrongdoing.
Bill
A halberd or similar weapon with a hooked blade and a long handle.
Receipt
(archaic in New England and rural US since end of 20th century, elsewhere since middle of 20th century) A recipe, instructions, prescription.
Bill
To present a statement of costs or charges to.
Receipt
(obsolete) A receptacle.
Bill
To enter on a statement of costs or on a particularized list.
Receipt
(obsolete) A revenue office.
Bill
To advertise or schedule by public notice or as part of a program.
Receipt
(obsolete) Reception, as an act of hospitality.
Bill
To declare or describe officially; proclaim
A policy that was billed as an important departure for the administration.
Receipt
(obsolete) Capability of receiving; capacity.
Bill
To touch beaks together.
Receipt
(obsolete) A recess; a retired place.
Bill
Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
Receipt
To give or write a receipt (for something).
To receipt delivered goods
Bill
A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle, used in pruning, etc.; a billhook.
Receipt
To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; to mark a bill as having been paid.
To receipt a bill
Bill
Somebody armed with a bill; a billman.
Receipt
The act of receiving; reception.
Bill
A pickaxe, or mattock.
Receipt
Reception, as an act of hospitality.
Thy kind receipt of me.
Bill
(nautical) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke (also called the peak).
Receipt
Capability of receiving; capacity.
It has become a place of great receipt.
Bill
The beak of a bird, especially when small or flattish; sometimes also used with reference to a platypus, turtle, or other animal.
Receipt
Place of receiving.
He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom.
Bill
A beak-like projection, especially a promontory.
There is a lighthouse on Portland Bill.
Receipt
Hence, a recess; a retired place.
Bill
Of a cap or hat: the brim or peak, serving as a shade to keep sun off the face and out of the eyes.
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.
Bill
A written list or inventory. (Now obsolete except in specific senses or set phrases; bill of lading, bill of goods, etc.)
Receipt
A writing acknowledging the taking or receiving of goods delivered; an acknowledgment of money paid.
Bill
A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.)
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.
Bill
A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.
Receipt
To give a receipt for; as, to receipt goods delivered by a sheriff.
Bill
A declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law.
Receipt
To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; as, to receipt a bill.
Bill
A piece of paper money; a banknote.
Receipt
To give a receipt, as for money paid.
Bill
One hundred dollars.
Receipt
The act of receiving
Bill
A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; an invoice.
Receipt
An acknowledgment (usually tangible) that payment has been made
Bill
A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods
Receipt
Report the receipt of;
The program committee acknowledged the submission of the authors of the paper
Bill
A writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated in the document; a bill of exchange. In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of hand, or a promissory note.
Receipt
Mark or stamp as paid
Bill
A set of items presented together.
Bill
The bell, or boom, of the bittern.
Bill
(transitive) To dig, chop, etc., with a bill.
Bill
(obsolete) to peck
Bill
To stroke bill against bill, with reference to doves; to caress in fondness
Bill
(transitive) To advertise by a bill or public notice.
Bill
(transitive) To charge; to send a bill to.
Bill
A beak, as of a bird, or sometimes of a turtle or other animal.
Bill
The bell, or boom, of the bittern
The bittern's hollow bill was heard.
Bill
A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle; - used in pruning, etc.; a billhook. When short, called a hand bill, when long, a hedge bill.
Bill
A weapon of infantry, in the 14th and 15th centuries. A common form of bill consisted of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, having a short pike at the back and another at the top, and attached to the end of a long staff.
France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows end bills.
Bill
One who wields a bill; a billman.
Bill
A pickax, or mattock.
Bill
The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.
Bill
A declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law.
Bill
A writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated in the document.
Bill
A form or draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.
Bill
A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods; a placard; a poster; a handbill.
She put up the bill in her parlor window.
Bill
An account of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; a statement of a creditor's claim, in gross or by items; as, a grocer's bill.
Bill
Any paper, containing a statement of particulars; as, a bill of charges or expenditures; a weekly bill of mortality; a bill of fare, etc.
Bill
To strike; to peck.
Bill
To join bills, as doves; to caress in fondness.
Bill
To work upon ( as to dig, hoe, hack, or chop anything) with a bill.
Bill
To advertise by a bill or public notice.
Bill
To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods.
Bill
A statute in draft before it becomes law;
They held a public hearing on the bill
Bill
An itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered;
He paid his bill and left
Send me an account of what I owe
Bill
A piece of paper money (especially one issued by a central bank);
He peeled off five one-thousand-zloty notes
Bill
The entertainment offered at a public presentation
Bill
A list of particulars (as a playbill or bill of fare)
Bill
An advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution;
He mailed the circular to all subscribers
Bill
Horny projecting mouth of a bird
Bill
A sign posted in a public place as an advertisement;
A poster advertised the coming attractions
Bill
A long-handled saw with a curved blade;
He used a bill to prune branches off of the tree
Bill
A brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes;
He pulled down the bill of his cap and trudged ahead
Bill
Demand payment;
Will I get charged for this service?
We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights
Bill
Advertise especially by posters or placards;
He was billed as the greatest tenor since Caruso
Common Curiosities
What is a receipt?
A receipt is a document confirming that payment has been made.
When do you receive a bill versus a receipt?
A bill is received before payment, while a receipt is given after payment.
Why keep a receipt?
To serve as proof of payment, necessary for returns, warranties, and tax purposes.
Are receipts necessary for all transactions?
While not always mandatory, they are advisable for proof of purchase and financial tracking.
What details are on a receipt?
A receipt typically includes the amount paid, payment method, and date.
What is a bill?
A bill is a document requesting payment for goods or services provided.
Can a bill serve as a receipt?
No, a bill cannot serve as a receipt as it does not confirm payment.
What details are found on a typical bill?
Details often include the amount due, due date, and a breakdown of services or products.
How long should you keep bills and receipts?
It depends on the purpose but generally for at least the period required by tax regulations.
What if I lose a receipt?
Contact the seller for a duplicate or check bank statements if proof of payment is needed.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
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.
