Overview
- A draft law from the Federal Finance Ministry would end the blanket duty to print paper receipts on 1 January 2028 and replace it with digitally provided receipts, most practically delivered as QR codes shown on the cash-register display.
- Customers would retain the right to request a paper receipt, and the proposal initially exempts very small purchases by removing the obligation for low-value transactions (discussions have mentioned about €30 as a threshold).
- To curb manipulation and tax fraud the draft would require businesses with annual sales above €100,000 to use certified electronic cash-register systems called Registrierkassen that create protected digital records of each transaction.
- The ministry says many modern tills already have the necessary customer displays and QR capability, but some firms may face upgrade costs and consumers are advised to keep certain receipts for warranty or tax reasons for the periods required by law.
- The draft is not yet law and must pass the parliamentary process targeted for later in 2026 before the planned 2028 implementation, leaving details on enforcement, exact thresholds, and technical rules to be decided by lawmakers.