kvittun

Kvittun is the Icelandic term for a receipt or proof of payment. It provides evidence that a transaction has occurred and money has been exchanged. A kvittun may be issued by a merchant, a bank, or an online service following a purchase, payment, or transfer. It typically includes date, merchant or payer name, description of goods or services, the amount paid, the payment method, and a unique reference number. Many kvittun documents also show tax information, such as the VAT rate and total tax, and may include the customer’s details.

Kvittun can be delivered in paper form at the point of sale or issued digitally, for example by email, a downloadable PDF, or within a wallet or banking app. Digital kvittun may include a QR code or a link to verify the transaction. In accounting and tax contexts, kvittun serves as documentation for bookkeeping, expense tracking, and VAT filings; it can be used to support returns, refunds, or warranty claims.

In Icelandic commerce, the term broadly covers receipts from retail, hospitality, services, and online purchases, as well as confirmations of bank transfers. While an invoice (reikningur) is a request for payment, a kvittun is the acknowledgment that payment has been made.