How to make rent receipts
- Enter the tenant's name, the owner's name and the address of the rented home.
- Add the monthly rent and pick the financial year. Choose Custom for any other months.
- Pick how rent is paid. Cash receipts above ₹5,000 get a revenue stamp box.
- Add the owner's PAN if rent is over ₹1 lakh a year, and sign on screen or on the printout.
- Download the PDF. On a phone, use Share to send it straight to the owner on WhatsApp.
Rent receipt format
If you'd rather write receipts by hand, this is the format employers expect. Fill in the brackets, sign it, and add a ₹1 revenue stamp for cash payments above ₹5,000.
RENT RECEIPT No. [1] Date: [5 Apr 2026] Received with thanks from [tenant name] the sum of ₹[27,000] (Rupees [Twenty Seven Thousand] only) by [UPI / bank transfer / cash / cheque] towards rent for [full address of the rented home] for the period [1 Apr 2026] to [30 Apr 2026]. ____________________ [Owner name] (Owner) PAN: [ABCDE1234F]
Rent receipts for HRA
If you're on the old tax regime and get house rent allowance, your employer asks for rent receipts before it reduces your TDS, usually between December and February. You declare the rent on your employer's HRA declaration form and attach the receipts. If the rent is more than ₹1 lakh for the year, the owner's PAN goes on that form too.
If you've moved to the new tax regime, HRA exemption doesn't apply and you don't need receipts for tax. They're still a useful record of what you paid, for you and for the owner.
Receipts are only as good as the payment behind them
The tax department matches HRA claims against the owner's PAN and return, and has questioned claims backed by receipts alone. The strongest proof is a receipt that matches a UPI or bank payment: same amount, same month. Pay rent by UPI or bank transfer where you can, and keep the transaction reference (UTR).
Questions
What should a rent receipt have?
The tenant's name, the owner's name, the rented property's address, the rent amount in figures and words, the period it covers, the date and mode of payment, and the owner's signature. If the yearly rent is more than ₹1 lakh, add the owner's PAN.
When is the owner's PAN needed on a rent receipt?
When the rent you claim for HRA is more than ₹1 lakh in a financial year, your employer needs the owner's PAN. That's about ₹8,334 a month or more. If the owner has no PAN, they give a signed declaration saying so instead.
Does a rent receipt need a revenue stamp?
A ₹1 revenue stamp is needed on a receipt for a cash payment above ₹5,000. Rent paid by UPI, bank transfer or cheque leaves a bank record, and most employers accept those receipts without a stamp. When in doubt, ask your HR team. This tool adds a stamp box on cash receipts above ₹5,000.
Can I make one receipt for the whole year?
Yes. Choose "One for the period" for a single receipt, or "Quarterly" for four. Some employers want one receipt per month, so check with HR if you are unsure. Monthly is the safest choice.
My rent went up in the middle of the year. What do I do?
Turn on "Rent changed during this period" and enter the new rent and the month it started. Receipts from that month use the new amount.
Do I need rent receipts in the new tax regime?
No. HRA exemption is only available in the old tax regime. If you've chosen the new regime, your employer won't ask for rent receipts. Owners still benefit from a record of rent received when they file their own return.
Can I make receipts for past months?
Yes. Choose Custom and pick any start and end month. Receipts should match rent you actually paid, so keep your UPI or bank statement in case your employer or the tax department asks for proof.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. The PDF is made on your phone or computer. Nothing you type is sent to us. Your details are remembered on this device only, so next year takes a few seconds.