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California Rent Receipt Law

California has no landlord-specific rent-receipt statute, but Civil Code § 1499 lets anyone who pays a debt, including a tenant paying rent, demand a written receipt.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Make a California rent receipt ↓
When a receipt is requiredOn request (general debtor-creditor rule, not landlord-specific): a debtor may require a written receipt from the creditor.
The lawCal. Civil Code § 1499
Landlord recordsThe statute sets no separate record-keeping rule.

What to Put on the Receipt

The statute does not list required contents. A receipt that shows the date, the amount, the rent period, the property address, the tenant's name and the landlord's or agent's name and signature covers what tenants, courts and employers usually ask for.

Details

Civ. Code § 1962 requires the lease to disclose who rent is paid to and the accepted payment forms; § 1947.3 requires landlords to accept at least one form of payment that is neither cash nor electronic funds transfer (no receipt duty in either).

Checked against the statute text in October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; city or county rules and your lease can add to it. Read the statute or ask a local tenant organization or lawyer about your situation.

California Rent Receipt — Fill in the Details

Business details (optional)

Printed under your business name. VAT and GST receipts usually need your address and registration number. The tax number is never put in the QR code.

Keeps the name, address, contact, tax number, logo and currency in this browser (localStorage) for your next receipt, of any type. Nothing is uploaded.

Downloading the same receipt again keeps this number; once you change the receipt, it moves to the next one. Next time, it starts after the last number you downloaded on this device.

Rent Receipt Details

Items

Discount, a second tax (e.g. CGST + SGST), prices with tax included

For prices quoted with VAT or GST in them: the tax is worked out of the total, not added on top.

The discount comes off the subtotal before tax, and both taxes are charged on (or, with prices that include tax, worked out of) the discounted amount.

Scanning it shows the receipt's details on a phone. It is a convenience, not proof the receipt is genuine. How it works

Choose a design

Automatic is US Letter for USD and CAD, A4 for other currencies.

🔒 Nothing is uploaded — your receipt is generated entirely in your browser.

What each check is based on

For receipts you issue for your own business or property. Never create a receipt on behalf of a business you don't own, or for a payment that didn't happen — see our Terms.

California Rent Receipt FAQ

Does a landlord have to give a rent receipt in California?

California has no landlord-specific rent-receipt statute, but Civil Code § 1499 lets anyone who pays a debt, including a tenant paying rent, demand a written receipt.

Other States

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