Are Businesses Legally Required to Provide Receipts in BC?

If you run a business in British Columbia, you’ve likely wondered whether you're legally required to issue receipts to customers. While many customers expect a receipt by default, some may only ask for one when needed. But from a legal and operational standpoint, what are your obligations as a business owner?

Let’s explore what the law says in BC and why providing receipts is not only a good business practice—it’s often a compliance requirement.

Receipts and the Law in British Columbia

According to Section 84(1) of the Provincial Sales Tax Regulation, businesses in BC must provide a receipt, invoice, or bill upon request when selling:

• Tangible personal property

• Software

• Taxable services

That means while it might not be mandatory to issue a receipt for every transaction automatically, you must be ready to provide one if the customer asks. This regulation applies to any transaction involving goods or services subject to Provincial Sales Tax (PST).

GST/HST Requirements Across Canada

In addition to BC’s PST rules, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires that any business collecting GST or HST clearly communicate the tax amount to the customer. This can be done through a receipt, invoice, sign, or contract. However, for clarity and professionalism, a printed receipt is the most transparent way to meet this requirement.

The CRA also outlines what a receipt should include for tax documentation purposes:

• Date of purchase

• Name and address of the business

• Description of goods or services

• Amount paid

• GST/HST registration number (if applicable)

Why Providing Receipts Is Good Business

Even when not legally required in every situation, issuing receipts has many practical benefits:

• Customer Trust: Receipts offer transparency and show professionalism.

• Returns and Exchanges: They provide proof of purchase for both customer and merchant.

• Expense Tracking: Customers often need receipts for reimbursement or tax purposes.

• Audit Trail: Receipts help you maintain accurate records in case of a tax audit.

For these reasons, many businesses choose to issue receipts by default.

How POS Systems Can Help

Modern Point of Sale (POS) systems make generating receipts effortless. Whether printed, emailed, or stored digitally, receipts can be customized to include all legal and business-specific details.

At Kenrod Ltd., we offer POS systems and cash registers that help you stay compliant with BC and federal tax regulations. Our systems can:

• Print detailed, tax-compliant receipts

• Save transaction records for future reference

• Issue digital receipts for eco-conscious operations

Conclusion

In BC, businesses are legally required to provide a receipt upon customer request for taxable sales. While it’s not mandatory to print one for every sale, having a system in place to issue receipts easily is essential—not just for compliance, but for building trust and keeping organized records.

If your current system doesn’t support proper receipt printing or storage, it may be time for an upgrade.

👉 Explore receipt-ready POS systems at www.kenrod.ca or contact us for expert advice on staying compliant and efficient.