Ttykuu

During a business trip in Dusseldorf I have bought some chocolate from a rather fancy store. After paying for it I was asked if I want the receipt (I am almost certain that this happened after it was actually printed) and automatically said "no". This was almost automatic because where I live I am typically asked if I need a full invoice for deducting the expense.

This is rather strange for a Eastern-European person who sees signs like "ask for receipt and keep it until existing the store" all over the place where I live (this is due to rather high tax-evasion and the government forced all stores to put such signs) and I am wondering if it's OK not to ask and keep the receipt in Germany.

Question: Is it OK if I do not take the receipt in Germany?

It's absolutely in Ordnung. If you don't need it, you don't take it, as many people in Germany do.

• The shop is always required to keep records for tax purposes. Generally that means printing a receipt on a cash register. These records don't include the printout for the customer.


• The customer may be required to keep records for tax purposes, e.g. if the expense becomes a deductable business expense.


• Keeping the receipt would also provide clarity if there are accusations of shoplifting, but receipts are not the only way to resolve such a question. Just one of the most convienient.


• Having the receipt may be necessary if the customer wants to complain about having gotten wrong change.


• The receipt may be required for warranty claims.

So the customer can ditch the receipt immediately. Inconsiderate people may drop it on the sidewalk, so shops may ask routinely "do you want that" and drop it in a waste paper bin if not. I believe there are some models of cash register which can bypass the printing for the customer, while making all required records.