What your receipts are worth in the UK

Straight answers on HMRC record retention, Making Tax Digital rules, and return rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — with every rule cited directly.

HMRC & tax records

Self-Assessment and company record retention, VAT receipts, and digital proof under HMRC guidance.

Tax records, forms, and financial documentation prepared for Self-Assessment.

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How long do you need to keep receipts for HMRC?

At least five years after 31 January for Self-Assessment, six for limited companies. What records to keep, digital copies, and when the clock starts.

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A business director reviewing business expense records and invoices.

Claiming business expenses without a receipt in the UK

What HMRC allows when a receipt is lost. How bank statements, simplified expenses, and secondary proof work — and the strict exception for VAT.

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Contactless digital transaction with a smartphone and bank card.

Does HMRC accept photos and scanned receipts?

Yes — HMRC explicitly accepts digital copies. Making Tax Digital rules, when you can throw away paper receipts, and what a valid scan must show.

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A laptop screen showing digital accounting dashboards and financial data.

Making Tax Digital receipt rules: What sole traders and landlords must store

HMRC Making Tax Digital rules for sole traders and landlords. Digital record keeping requirements, £50k threshold dates, and storing paper vs scanned receipts.

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A point-of-sale payment terminal printing a detailed till receipt.

UK VAT receipts: What qualifies as a valid tax invoice?

HMRC rules for VAT invoices. The £250 simplified invoice threshold, what details must appear, and why ordinary till receipts fail when reclaiming input VAT.

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Consumer rights & returns

What the Consumer Rights Act 2015 guarantees when goods fail, and what counts as proof of purchase.

A shopper completing a purchase at a store counter with a payment card.

Consumer Rights Act 2015: Do you need a receipt for a refund?

You do not need a till receipt for faulty goods in the UK. What counts as statutory proof of purchase, the 30-day rule, and illegal 'no refund' signs.

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A desk clock and calendar tracking statutory warranty and limitation periods.

Warranty rights in the UK: The 6-year rule under the Limitation Act 1980

Statutory rights vs manufacturer guarantees in the UK. The 30-day right to reject, 6-month fault presumption, and the 6-year Limitation Act 1980 time limit.

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A clipboard with purchase documentation and proof of transaction records.

What counts as proof of purchase in the United Kingdom?

Bank statements, order emails, dispatch notes, and loyalty records. What UK retailers must accept as proof of purchase under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

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These guides are general information, not tax or legal advice. How we research and review them.