Lost receipt: handle an expense without a receipt

🧾 Step 1 – Try to get a copy

📞 Contact the shop or restaurant. Many can print a new receipt if you give the date and time.
📧 Did you shop online? Search for the order confirmation or invoice in your email.

✅ If you get a copy, photograph it and attach it to the transaction as usual.

⚠️ A bank statement is not enough instead of the receipt.

👉 Applies to: expenses and company card purchases where the receipt is missing.

📄 Step 2 – Fill in a lost receipt form

If you can't get a copy, you fill in a form. Use your company's form or one of the Expense templates for lost receipts:

📄 Basic template
📋 Detailed template

The form must include:

📅 the date of the purchase
🏪 the shop or supplier
🧾 what you bought
💰 the amount including VAT
⚠️ why the receipt is missing
✍️ your name and signature

📎 Step 3 – Attach the form in Expense

Photograph the form and attach the image to the transaction.
Write in the comment that the original receipt is missing.
Submit the expense report as usual.

⚠️ Without the original receipt, no VAT is deducted on the purchase.

💡 Your company's policy decides whether the expense is approved. Ask your finance department if you are unsure.

❓ Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I register an expense without a receipt?
Yes, if you attach a completed lost receipt form.

Do I get my money back without a receipt?
That depends on your company's rules and your approver's decision.

Is a bank statement enough?
No, a bank statement is not enough as documentation. Fill in a lost receipt form.

Can the VAT be deducted without a receipt?
No, without the original receipt no VAT is deducted.

Where do I find the form?
Use your company's form, or one of the Expense templates for lost receipts: the basic template or the detailed template (see step 2).

✅ Summary

🧾 First, try to get a copy of the receipt
📄 Otherwise, fill in a lost receipt form
📎 Attach it in Expense and write that the receipt is missing