How to create receipts on WooCommerce orders

In the world of e-commerce, a "Payment Confirmation" is not the same as a "Legal Receipt." To stay compliant with tax authorities (such as the EU Invoicing Directive or local VAT acts), your store must provide documentation that meets specific legal criteria.

This guide explains how to ensure your WooCommerce store is compliant and why your payment provider isn't responsible for your tax records.

1. The Dintero Distinction: Payment Slip vs. Legal Receipt

If you use Dintero Checkout, it is important to understand its role in the transaction:

Dintero (The Payment Gateway): Provides a confirmation that the transaction was successful. This is equivalent to the small slip you receive from a credit card terminal in a physical store. It often carries a disclaimer like "Not a receipt for purchase."
WooCommerce (The Point of Sale): Acts as your digital cash register. It is the responsibility of the WooCommerce system—not the payment provider—to generate the itemized, legally binding tax invoice.

Bottom line: You cannot rely on Dintero's transaction logs for your legal accounting; you must generate invoices directly from WooCommerce.

2. Top Plugins for Legal Compliance

Since standard WooCommerce order emails do not always meet local tax laws, we recommend using one of the following plugins to generate automated PDF invoices:

Plugin Name	Best For	Key Features
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips	Most Popular	Automated PDFs, sequential numbering, and easy-to-use templates.
WooCommerce PDF Invoices (Premium)	Advanced Business	Supports credit notes, proforma invoices, and multi-currency tax layouts.
Germanized for WooCommerce	EU/Strict Compliance	Specifically built for high-regulation markets (like Germany/Norway/EU).

3. What Makes an Invoice "Legal"?

To ensure your documents are valid for your customers' tax deductions and your own accounting, ensure your chosen plugin includes:

Unique Invoice Number: A non-editable, sequential number.
Seller Information: Your registered company name, address, and VAT/Organization Number.
Customer Information: Full billing address.
Tax Breakdown: Clear distinction between the net price, the VAT amount/percentage, and the total.
Date of Transaction: The date the transaction or delivery took place.

Legal Disclaimer: While these tools provide the technical framework for compliance, tax regulations vary significantly by country. We recommend consulting with an accountant to verify that your invoice layout meets your local requirements.