Receipt mandate abolished? Why the receipt is going digital – and becoming more relevant than ever

The first announcements of Germany's new federal government were eagerly awaited – and they are shaking up retail. The planned abolition of the receipt mandate and the introduction of mandatory electronic cash registers from 2027 raise questions. What does this mean for retailers? For customers? And for digital solutions like anybill?

We provide answers – and show why the digital receipt will play the decisive role in the future of retail.

What exactly is the new government planning?

The coalition agreement provides for the following:

• The receipt issuance mandate (Bonpflicht) is to be abolished.
• At the same time, mandatory electronic cash registers are planned from January 1, 2027 for businesses with annual revenue above €100,000.

These changes send a clear signal: more digitalization, less paper – and at the same time more transparency and traceability in payment transactions.

The receipt stays – only the medium changes

Even without a legal mandate, receipts remain important:

• For warranty and exchange cases
• For accounting and tax purposes
• For legal proof

So the question is not whether there will be a receipt – but how it is delivered. And this is exactly where digital receipt solutions show their strength.

Why digital receipts are the future

Digital receipts offer far more than just an alternative to paper:

• Cost savings: No thermal paper, no printer maintenance.
• Sustainability: Millions of tons of paper saved every year.
• Customer loyalty: The digital receipt is a touchpoint for loyalty, CRM and marketing.
• Data insights: SKU-level insights enable data-driven decisions.

Major retail chains across Europe already rely on anybill – not because of a legal obligation, but to offer their customers more digital services.

From obligation to added value: retail in transition

anybill was founded in late 2019 – right before Germany's receipt mandate took effect on January 1, 2020. But our ambition was bigger from day one:

We never wanted to merely fulfill a legal requirement – we wanted to create real added value for retailers, customers and the ecosystem around the point of sale.

Today, anybill offers:

• Digital receipts in real time
• Integration into apps, wallets & CRM systems
• Analytics tools such as anybill Purchase Intelligence
• A growing partner network along the value chain

Mandatory electronic cash registers: a boost for digitalization

The planned cash register mandate for businesses with annual revenue above €100,000 sends a strong signal:

• It establishes binding digital standards
• It simplifies the integration of modern POS solutions
• It promotes transparency and automation

With more than 80 POS integrations and a focus on mid-market and enterprise retail, anybill is ready for this new phase.

Conclusion: the digital receipt is here to stay

Abolishing the receipt mandate does not change the relevance of the receipt – it simply opens up new paths.

Retailers that go digital today benefit from lower costs, better customer service and new revenue potential.

anybill supports you on this journey – with technology, expertise and innovation.

Now is the right time to future-proof your checkout processes.