Estonia plans to replace most paper receipts for transactions and invoices with digital documents confirming transactions next year, according to a draft law developed by the Estonian Ministry of Economy.
The purpose of the bill is to change consumer protection laws that govern the issuing of purchase receipts and invoices sent pursuant to long-term contracts. The aim of the changes is to reduce the number of printed receipts and invoices sent by post.
Currently, the law dictates that a paper receipt must be provided if the transaction amount exceeds 20 euros. The Ministry of Economy recommends abandoning such a rule.
The Ministry said that this would have a positive impact on the environment, as business people reduce their ecological footprint and consumers would give up documents in paper form. At the same time, the ministry admits that some users, especially the elderly, would like to receive receipts and monthly bills in paper form.
In the letter accompanying the draft law, it is recalled that the regulation on issuing printed receipts and invoices was changed in 2015, and it is time for changes, as are technologies has developed, consumer behavior is changing and a large no. of entrepreneurs also thinking about their ecological footprint.
The draft amendment to the law would require merchants to issue a paper receipt only if the consumer pays in cash and does not use a loyalty card, or uses a loyalty card that does not allow the consumer’s purchase history stored for two years. .
In addition, the service provider must provide a receipt even if the consumer requests a paper receipt at the time of purchase. So, while the change means traders no longer have to issue a receipt, consumers will still be able to ask for a paper receipt at the time of purchase, and traders will have to issue one either in paper form or digitally with the consent of the user.
If the changes are approved, they will come into effect on July 1 of the following year.
