# Ecommerce Receipts and Invoices > Receipts and invoices serve different purposes and are governed by different rules depending on the selling jurisdiction. Generating the right document at the right event, with figures that match the actual transaction, reduces support requests and accounting errors. - Type: Merchant guide - Level: Intermediate - Reading time: About 6 minutes - Audience: Written for store owners, builders, and designers refining high-performance ecommerce stores. - Last updated: 2026-11-04 - Canonical page: https://academy.getzenbasket.com/merchant-questions/ecommerce-receipts-and-invoices/ - Part of: [Merchant Questions](https://academy.getzenbasket.com/merchant-questions/) on ZenBasket Academy --- ## What you need to know ### Receipt vs invoice: what's the difference? A receipt records that payment occurred; an invoice requests or documents an amount due under local accounting rules. Some jurisdictions use the terms differently, so confirm the required document with an accountant. ### What should an ecommerce receipt contain? A receipt should identify the seller, order, date, products, quantities, discounts, shipping, tax, currency, amount paid and payment result. Required fields vary by jurisdiction. ### What should an ecommerce invoice contain? An invoice commonly includes seller and buyer details, a unique number, issue date, items, quantities, prices, discounts, shipping, tax and total due or paid. Verify local tax-invoice rules. ### Should customers be able to download invoices? Usually yes. A downloadable, accessible invoice reduces support work, but access must be secure and the document must match the final transaction. ### When should invoices be generated? Generate it at the legally and operationally correct event, such as order acceptance, shipment or payment, depending on the market and invoice type. Do not assume one timing rule worldwide. ### How should taxes appear on invoices? Show tax amounts, rates or categories in the format required by the selling jurisdiction. Reconcile the invoice with the order's actual tax calculation. ### What happens to an invoice after an order is refunded? Keep the original invoice and create the required credit, adjustment or refund record rather than silently changing history. Ask an accountant which document is required. --- ## Frequently asked questions ### Is an order confirmation an invoice? Not necessarily. A confirmation acknowledges the order; an invoice is a formal payment request or transaction document whose requirements vary by jurisdiction. ### Should a refunded invoice be deleted? Usually no. Preserve the original record and issue the appropriate adjustment document or refund record based on local accounting rules. --- ## Related learning path - **Customer Order History and Guest Lookup** - **Ecommerce Return Policy Basics** - [ZenBasket Build Guide](https://help.getzenbasket.com/zenbasket-builder/)