Smart Scanning: How to Handle Long Supermarket Receipts

Long supermarket receipts can be a nightmare to scan. They're often a meter long, full of items you don't need for your VAT claim, and impossible to fit in one photo. Here's the smart way to handle them.

The Golden Rule: Header + Footer = Everything You Need

For VAT reimbursement, your admin team only needs specific information. On most receipts, this data appears in two places:

The Header (Top)

• 🏪 Store/merchant name
• 📍 Store address
• 🔢 VAT registration number (critical!)
• 📅 Date and time
• 🧾 Receipt/invoice number

The Footer (Bottom)

• 💰 Subtotal (net amount)
• 📊 VAT breakdown by rate (e.g., 7.7%, 2.5%)
• 💵 Total amount paid
• 💳 Payment method

The middle section? That's just the itemized list of products—rarely needed for VAT claims.

The Folding Technique

Instead of photographing a 1-meter receipt in 10 overlapping shots, try this:

Step 1: Identify the Key Sections

Locate the header (first 5-10 cm) and footer (last 10-15 cm).

Step 2: Fold the Middle

Accordion-fold the middle section so only the header and footer are visible.

Step 3: One Clean Photo

Now you can capture header + footer in a single image:
- Place folded receipt on flat surface
- Ensure both sections are fully visible
- Take one clear photo

When You DO Need the Full Receipt

Some situations require the complete itemized list:

• Mixed purchases (personal + professional items)
• Partial claims (only certain items are VAT-eligible)
• Audit requests (rare, but keep originals just in case)

Pro tip: Even if you fold for scanning, keep the unfolded original until your claim is approved.

Supermarket-Specific Tips

Coop, Migros, Denner (Switzerland)

• VAT number is usually in the header
• TVA/MWST breakdown is always at the bottom
• Keep the "Quittung" number for reference

Carrefour, Monoprix (France)

• Look for "TVA" summary near the bottom
• SIRET/TVA number in header or footer

General Tips

• Ask for a "facture" if the receipt is missing VAT details
• Self-checkout receipts often have less detail
• Digital receipts (email) are often cleaner—ask if available

Quick Checklist for Long Receipts

• [ ] Merchant name visible and readable
• [ ] VAT registration number captured
• [ ] Date clearly shown
• [ ] Receipt/invoice number visible
• [ ] Total amount readable
• [ ] VAT amount/breakdown captured

What TurboVAT Extracts

All the essential data—from just two sections.

Time Saved

Stop wrestling with endless receipt paper. Fold smart, scan once, move on.