Receipts

Receipts are essential for business travelers. If you will be reimbursed by your company for expenses, you need to learn about Chinese receipts. The Chinese language for receipt is "fa(1) piao(4)" 发票. "Fa" is a level tone, and "piao" is a falling tone. Receipts from hotels are usually itemized receipts that foreigners are familiar with. However, restaurants use a standard receipt. These receipts do not list the items purchased, they simply state how much money was spent. They are much like currency, they come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1. For example, dinner costs ¥212. You will receive two receipts of 100 RMB, one reciept of 10 RMB, and two reciepts of 1 RMB. You will notice that the receipt has two silver areas. The one on the left is a game. Scratch off the silver area with your fingernail or a ¥1 coin, and see if you win anything. Winning receipts are very rare.

Shops will write a receipt for you, if you purchase goods. If you don't need a receipt, you usually get a discount, because the merchant doesn't need to pay tax on the transaction. The receipt MUST have a red stamp on it. Sometimes, the merchant must go to a special counter to get the red stamp on their receipt, so it takes more time.

Taxis use their own receipts. Be sure to always get a receipt from every taxi. If you forget an item in the taxi, or the taxi driver gives you counterfeit money in change, you can identify him.