Create a receipt step by step
Updated
Use this when you want to issue one donation receipt. Open Create a receipt. Fields marked with * are required.
1. Organization Information
- EIN (Employer ID Number)*: see EIN format.
- Organization Name*
- Organization Address*: address line 1, address line 2 (optional), city, state and ZIP code.
- Location Issued*: the city and state where the receipt is issued, for example Los Angeles, CA. The form requires it, but the U.S. receipt doesn't print it.
- Organization Email*: a copy of the receipt is sent here.
- Organization Logo: optional.
- Authorized Signature*: upload an image or use Type to Sign. See Logo and signature.
If you are signed in, your last details are filled in for you. See Your account.
2. Donor Information
- Donor Name*
- Donor Address*
If you are signed in and paying with credits or a pass, you also see an option to email the receipt to the donor. You must tick a box to confirm you will keep your own copy. See Email receipts to donors.
3. Gift Information
- Type of Gift: Cash Donation is the default. The other choice is Non-cash gift (donated item). See Gift types.
- Gift Amount ($)*. For a gift in kind this field is Donor-declared value ($) and is for your records only: the receipt doesn't print a value.
- Gift Date* and Receipt Date*: see Receipt dates.
- Designation (Optional): up to 50 characters, for example "Building fund".
4. IRS Acknowledgment
The box titled IRS Acknowledgment has three choices. The first is selected for you:
- No goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution. Use it for a plain gift.
- Goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution. This is IRS Option B. It needs a value and a description of the goods or services, and costs 2 credits. See Option B receipts.
- No goods or services were provided other than intangible religious benefits. The IRS limits this to benefits provided by an organization organized exclusively for religious purposes. See Gift types.
Whichever you choose is printed at the foot of the receipt. A statement is always printed, even for a gift under $250.
Length limits
The receipt is one page, so some text has a limit. A counter such as 12/80 shows the length. Nothing is cut off as you type, and the PDF never cuts text. If you go over a limit the counter turns red and you can't continue until you shorten it.
- Organization Name: 80 characters. Location Issued: 40.
- Organization Address: the street line 50 characters, the unit line 25, and the city, state and ZIP code together 66.
- Donor Name: 50 characters.
- Donor Address: 100 characters in all (street, unit, city, state and ZIP code together), so a long city name is fine if the street is short.
- Designation (Optional): 50 characters. Goods or services provided (description) (Option B): 100.
5. Receipt Options (optional)
- Thank You Message (up to 300 characters), Thank You Sign-off and Thank You Signee Name (up to 120 characters each).
- Donation Website (HTTPS:// required): the receipt gets a "Donate Again" link. A web address that starts with http is changed to https, and an address with no prefix gets https added.
- Format for print (show QR code instead of button): appears after you enter a Donation Website.
Receipts are always in English.
6. Generate
If you are not signed in, click Generate Receipt. The PDF downloads.
If you are signed in, click Preview Receipt to check how it looks, then click Generate Receipt in the preview. A preview costs nothing.
When it works, you see Receipt Generated! and the PDF is in your downloads. A copy goes to your Organization Email.
If something goes wrong
- Authorized signature is required or Email address is required: fill in that field and try again.
- Please enter a valid EIN in the format 12-3456789.: check the number. See EIN format.
- Daily limit reached!: the free receipt for that EIN is used up for today. See Free tier.
- A message about credits: the receipt type or amount needs credits. See Credits and passes.
Nothing is saved as a draft. If you close the tab before you generate, you start over. For more messages, see Form errors.
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