Why GoCardless Doesn't Send PDF Receipts by Default (and How to Fix It)
GoCardless focuses on compliant Direct Debit collection. Its emails are notifications about when money will be taken, not itemised receipts. Here's why — and how to add proper PDF receipts automatically.
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Notifications vs receipts
| Feature | GoCardless Notification | PDF Receipt |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Regulatory timing notice | Proof of payment for customer/bookkeeping |
| Branding | GoCardless template | Your logo, address and styling |
| Line items | Not included | Included (qty, price, totals) |
| VAT/tax | Not itemised | Shown with rates and totals |
| File format | Plain email | Numbered PDF attachment |
Why receipts aren't included by default
Understanding GoCardless's core purpose helps explain why PDF receipts aren't included:
- Scope: GoCardless is a payment network for Direct Debit, not an invoicing tool.
- Compliance: Mandatory notifications must be clear and standardised.
- Variation: Every business presents receipts differently (branding, tax, line items).
- Regulation: Direct Debit notifications are governed by UK/EU regulations.
- Focus: Their priority is payment collection, not business documentation.
💡 Did You Know?
GoCardless notifications are legally required to inform customers about upcoming Direct Debit collections. These serve a regulatory purpose, while receipts serve a business documentation purpose.
Add automated receipts in minutes
Setting up is straightforward: connect GoCardless, design your template, connect email, then on the Pro plan enable Auto Receipts on the Dashboard so each confirmed payment generates a PDF—no send-time calendar to maintain.
1 Connect Your GoCardless Account
Link your GoCardless account to enable payment data access:
- • Go to Settings → GoCardless Integration
- • Click "Connect GoCardless Account"
- • Authorize access (OAuth 2.0 secure connection)
- • Verify connection status
2 Design Your Receipt Template
Create a professional receipt that matches your brand:
- • Use the Receipt Designer
- • Upload your logo and set brand colors
- • Add business address and VAT number
- • Configure line items and VAT settings
- • Preview different receipt formats
3 Enable email and Auto Receipts (Pro)
Connect how receipts are sent, then turn on full automation—no send-time calendar required:
- • Configure email settings (SMTP or Gmail/Outlook OAuth)
- • Set default email subject and message
- • On the Dashboard, enable Auto Receipts (Pro) so each confirmed GoCardless payment generates and emails a PDF automatically
- • Test with a sample receipt
- • Monitor delivery status
Best practices for professional receipts
✅ Essential Elements
- Business branding: Logo, colours, contact info
- Legal compliance: VAT number, business address
- Clear numbering: Sequential receipt numbers
- Detailed line items: Description, quantity, price
- Professional email: Use your domain (SPF/DKIM)
- Consistent formatting: Standard layout and fonts
- VAT breakdown: Show rates and calculations
- Payment details: Date, method, reference
What customers receive
A branded email with a PDF attachment showing the payment date, amount, line items, VAT and your business details—complementing GoCardless' compliance notifications.
Keeping records for VAT and year-end
🗂 Download your full receipt archive
Proper PDF receipts are only half the picture — you also need them filed for your accounts. With Receipt Archive in Settings → Receipt Management, you can download every receipt you have sent as a single ZIP for any date range (last month, last 3 months, last 12 months, or custom).
Each archive includes the receipt PDFs plus a CSV summary, making VAT returns, bookkeeping, and year-end accounts straightforward and giving your accountant a complete record in one file.
📧 Email Example
From: [email protected]
Subject: Receipt #REC-001 - £25.00 Payment Confirmation
Attachment: receipt-REC-001.pdf
Common challenges and solutions
Email delivery issues +
Problem: Receipts going to spam or not delivered
Solution: Set up SPF/DKIM records, use professional email domain, and avoid spam trigger words
VAT compliance questions +
Problem: Unsure if receipts meet VAT requirements
Solution: Include all required elements: business details, VAT number, line items with rates, and total VAT amount
Receipt numbering +
Problem: Need sequential numbering for accounting
Solution: Automatically generate unique receipt numbers with prefixes (e.g., REC-001, REC-002)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this replace GoCardless emails? +
No. GoCardless notifications still go out as required by law. You add a branded receipt alongside them. This gives customers both the regulatory notification and a professional business receipt.
Is this suitable for VAT invoices? +
We generate receipts with all required VAT information. Many businesses use them as VAT receipts; if you need invoices with specific numbering rules, you can configure your template to include all required details on the PDF.
Can I customise the email subject and message? +
Yes. Set a default subject and body in Settings, with variables for amount, date, receipt number, and customer name. You can also create different templates for different payment types.
How quickly are receipts sent after payment? +
With Auto Mode on (Pro), receipts go out shortly after GoCardless marks the payment confirmed. We react to those events in real time and also reconcile periodically so missed webhooks rarely leave a gap.
What if a customer doesn't receive their receipt? +
You can manually resend receipts from your dashboard, and the system tracks delivery status. We also recommend setting up proper email authentication (SPF/DKIM) to improve deliverability.
Can I send receipts for past payments? +
Yes. You can generate and send receipts for any past GoCardless payment, useful for customers who need duplicate receipts or for new customers who joined after the payment was made.
Your payments are already automated. Your receipts should be too.
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