How to fill a rent receipt

We examine why a rent receipt is an important document for tenants and landlords and how to fill a rent receipt.

A rent receipt is an acknowledgement slip provided by the landlord to the tenant, on receiving the rent as per the terms agreed upon in the rent agreement. Whether you have occupied a residential or a commercial property, rent receipts are vital in both cases. A rent receipt is an important document and plays a crucial role for the tenants and the landlords. Let us check out the importance of rent receipts.

Importance of a rent receipt

Rent receipts are proof of monthly rent payments made to the landlord. Rent receipts often play an important role in solving legal disputes between tenants and landlords. For tenants, possession of the rent receipt shows that the rent was paid, especially when the transaction was done in cash. After giving a rent receipt, a landlord cannot claim rent again for that particular month. From the landlord’s point of view, rent receipts help them maintain a proper record. A landlord can demand a copy of the issued rent receipt to end a dispute, if a tenant falsely claims that rent has already been paid. Thus, a rent receipt makes the rental transaction more authentic and allows legal sanctity to the landlord-tenant relationship.

Here are some more benefits that highlight the importance of the rent receipt:

• Claiming tax benefit under the Income Tax Act
• Maintaining rent payment records
• Dispute settlement
• Works as proof in legal matters

A rent receipt should contain certain specific details, to enable one to claim the above-mentioned benefits. Here is the list of information that needs to be mentioned in a rent receipt.

How to fill a rent receipt?

Rent receipts need to contain some key information if you want to claim HRA and prove legal validity. Here is the information that you should include, when you make a rent receipt. These details also play an important role when you have to claim income tax benefits:

• The date on which the payment is received
• Rent period
• Rent amount
• Name of the tenant
• Name of the landlord
• Address of the property for which the rent is paid
• Landlord’s signature
• If the rent amount in a financial year exceeds Rs 1 lakh, then, the PAN detail of the landlord should be mentioned on the rent receipt
• If rent is paid in cash and exceeds Rs 5,000, then, a revenue stamp should be affixed on the rent receipt
• Mode of payment, such as cheque, cash, or online, along with details like cheque number
• Details of balance due when the rent is partly paid
• Details of the reason for excess payment, for example, penalty on late payment, repair charge for damage to property, etc.

How to get a rent receipt?

Normally, the landlords provide the rent receipts to the tenants. However, if the landlord is not providing a rent receipt, then, the tenant can get the rent receipt with the essential details printed on paper and request for the landlord’s signature on it, along with the PAN detail (if applicable). A rent receipt can be generated, pre-filled, using rent receipt generators available online. You just need to fill in the necessary details to get the rent receipt in a prescribed format. After getting the rent receipt printed on paper, get the signature of the landlord on it at the time of rent payment.

Things to keep in mind

• Rent receipt should be accompanied by a valid rent agreement, if you want to use it for claiming HRA.
• Try to pay rent through online mode or cheque, to keep a parallel record of rent payment apart from the rent receipt.
• Online rent receipt should have a revenue stamp and be duly signed by the landlord.
• If the landlord does not have a PAN number and the rent amount is above Rs 1 lakh in a year, get a declaration and Form 60 from the landlord
• It is important to know how to write a rent receipt to avoid later discrepancies when you claim the HRA.