What Is a Rent Receipt?
A rent receipt, also known as a proof of rent payment or remittance slip, verifies that a landlord has received a tenant’s rent payment. A landlord delivers this document to their tenant after each rent payment is made via cash or another payment method.
For example, imagine a tenant is on a year-long lease agreement and rent is due on the first of each month. If the tenant pays on time, the landlord will issue up to 12 rent receipts for the duration of the lease, one each month directly after payment is received.
Legal Templates’ customizable receipt for rent template helps you keep track of payments and build tenant confidence in your property management practices.
If a tenant falls behind on their rent payments, you can issue a late rent notice to alert them and encourage them to pay.
What Are the Benefits for Landlords?
Landlords can reap the following benefits from issuing rent receipts to tenants:
- Legal compliance: A rent receipt allows for compliance in states that require landlords to send proof of rental payments to tenants.
- Professionalism: Landlords who provide proof of payment even when it’s not required can show their commitment to staying organized and professional.
- Tax benefits: Copies of rental receipts can help landlords track rental income, claim expense deductions, and maintain organized records for tax filing.
- Housing assistance program compliance: Landlords can continue to get support from state or local housing agencies by using a rent receipt to show that tenants are paying their share.
- Record keeping: Landlords can create clear records of late rent payments if they need to begin the eviction process.
What Are the Benefits for Tenants?
Tenants gain the following benefits when they receive proof of rental payments from their landlords:
- Dispute resolution: If a landlord tries to argue that a tenant didn’t pay rent for a certain month, a tenant can refer to rental receipts to prove otherwise.
- Return of security deposit: Tenants can provide a record of on-time payments to justify the return of their security deposit.
- Financial planning: Tenants can refer to rent receipts to track housing expenses and budget efficiently.
- Rental history verification: Rent receipts allow tenants to show a history of rent payments and establish an eviction defense record to counter an eviction notice.
- Claim of tax credits: A rent receipt helps renters claim tax credits for rental assistance programs or deductions related to home office use.
Tenants can use Form 8829 to record tax deductions for a home-based business.
Key Components of a Valid Rental Receipt
When you write a rental receipt, you should ensure to include key details to make the payment record clear. Here are some essential elements of the rent receipt format:
- Date of payment: The date the tenant submitted their payment.
- Amount: The amount the tenant pays for a certain rental period.
- Payment method: Cash, credit card, personal check, or another method.
- Rental period: The duration the payment covers.
- Landlord’s and tenant’s information: Landlord and tenant’s name and contact details.
- Rental property address: Street address, city, state, ZIP code, and unit number (if applicable).
- Landlord’s signature: The landlord’s signature to confirm payment was received.
Does a Landlord Need to Send a Rent Receipt?
Some states require landlords to give tenants rent receipts under certain circumstances. Others have no requirements for this document’s distribution. For example, Wisconsin, Texas, and Minnesota require rent receipts for all cash rental transactions. Meanwhile, states like Wyoming and Ohio don’t require them at all.
Here’s a list of states where creating rent receipts is required and under what situations:
| State | Conditions Demanding a Receipt | Receipt Requirements | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Upon request. | None. | Cal. Civ. Code § 1499 |
| Colorado | For money orders or cash payments. | Landlords must issue paper copies if tenants request them. | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-12-802 |
| Connecticut | For cash payments. | Must include the purpose, date, and amount. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-3a |
Even in areas where rental receipts aren’t required, it’s good practice to provide them. Tenants will appreciate the proof that they paid on time. Providing documentation can also boost your reputation as an experienced landlord. Consider issuing a receipt any time a tenant pays you, including for security deposit acknowledgment and as proof of paid pet deposits per the lease.
How to Write a Rent Receipt
Use a rent receipt to provide proof of rental payments and build trust with tenants. Learn how to write this proof using Legal Templates’ simple rent receipt template.
1. Provide Payment Information
Select the payment method the tenant used. When you use Legal Templates’s document editor, you can choose the tenant’s payment method from a pre-written list. We let you select from some of the best ways to pay rent, including cash or electronic transfers.
Be sure to include the payment amount and the rental period the payment covers. Our adjustable template options even allow you to record prorated rent payments so you can record payments for a partial rental period.
2. Write Rental Details
Record landlord and tenant information, including all tenants with a financial obligation. Provide the property address and other identifying details like unit number if applicable.
3. Finalize Receipt
Specify the date when you will deliver the receipt to the tenant. Legal Templates provides the option to include a receipt number for record-keeping purposes, but you may choose to skip this step.
4. Sign & Distribute
Print out copies of the rental receipt. Sign and distribute one copy to the tenant and keep the second landlord receipt for your business records.
Rent Receipt Sample
View an example template for rent receipts below to learn more about the format. When you’re ready, complete your own with our rent receipt template.
Complete Rent Receipts With Legal Templates
With Legal Templates, you can save time, money, and stress when creating rental receipts. It’s as simple as filling out our pre-made template and saving the receipts to your account. Print them when you’re ready and distribute them in person or via mail to tenants. You can also save rent receipt documents as PDFs and send them electronically.
No matter how you send them, our printable rent receipt template helps you record rent payments and stay organized so you can keep your tenants updated on their payment status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I send a rent receipt?
You can print a rent receipt and deliver it in person to the rented property, handing it to the primary tenant. Alternatively, you can mail it or send an electronic copy via email. Verify the tenant received it by asking for confirmation of receipt.
What should I do before issuing a rent receipt?
Collect payment from the tenant in whatever form you accept and confirm it goes through before you issue a rental receipt. For example, if a tenant pays by check, wait until the check clears to issue payment acknowledgment.
How do I accept online rent payments?
Sign up with a rent-collection website and notify your tenants about online payments and how to make them. They will likely need to set up their accounts to make ACH payments or use mobile payment services like Venmo. Issue a digital receipt by emailing a tenant a PDF file to confirm you received their payment.
Do rent receipts need to be signed?
It’s highly recommended for the landlord to sign their rent receipts because their signature adds validity to the document, instills confidence in the tenant, and fulfills legal requirements in some jurisdictions.
