---
title: "Rent Receipt Template for Landlords"
canonical: https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template
language: en
updated: 2026-10-09
content: full
---

# Rent receipt template

**What is a rent receipt?** A rent receipt is the landlord's signed, written acknowledgment that a tenant paid rent: who paid, how much, for which unit and period, on what date and by what method, and any balance still owed. Several states require one, most often for cash: New York, Maryland, Washington and New Jersey among them. The landlord keeps a matching copy as the record behind rental income reported on Schedule E.

- One receipt per payment, with its own number. Record the amount actually received and any balance due.
- New York: required for cash and anything other than the tenant's personal check, and for personal checks on written request.
- Show late fees, deposits and other charges on separate lines from rent.
- A refundable security deposit is not rental income; rent paid in advance is income in the year you receive it.

Free online tool: https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template (create on screen, no account needed).

## What a rent receipt is for

A rent receipt answers one question for both sides: was this month's rent paid, in full, on time? For the **tenant** it is proof of payment if the landlord's records are wrong, if a new owner takes over, or if a deposit dispute or eviction case turns on whether rent was paid. For the **landlord** it is the written record behind every deposit in the rental account and every figure on the tax return.

The receipt is issued by whoever receives the money: the landlord, or a property manager or agent acting for the landlord. It follows the payment, not the due date. A rent statement or invoice asks for rent; a receipt confirms that rent arrived.

- **Cash and money orders**: always give a receipt. Cash leaves no trail, and most state receipt rules are written for it.
- **Personal checks and bank transfers**: the canceled check or transfer record already proves payment, but a receipt ties the payment to the unit and the period, and some states require one on request.
- **Online rent portals**: the portal's confirmation is a receipt if it shows the unit, the period, the amount and the date. Keep a copy outside the portal.

## How to fill in this rent receipt template

1. **Enter the landlord or property manager** Use the legal name and address of whoever received the money. A manager acting for the owner can add "on behalf of the owner" in the notes.
2. **Add the tenant under "Received from"** Enter the tenant's name and the rental address with the unit number. Roommates who pay separately each get their own receipt.
3. **Add one line per charge** Write the period on the rent line, for example "Rent, Unit 4B, 1-31 October 2026", with the amount received. Put a late fee or utility charge on its own line. Leave the tax rate at 0%: residential rent carries no sales tax.
4. **Record the payment and the balance** In the notes, give the date received, the method and reference (check no. 1047, money order, cash) and the balance still due for the period, even if it is nil.
5. **Sign in to issue and keep it** Check the amounts, then sign in to issue: the receipt takes the next number in your series and is kept with the tenant's record, ready to send. Issuing and sending receipts needs the Sales module.

## Example: a filled rent receipt

Marigold Property Rentals LLC manages Unit 4B at 1180 Cedar Avenue in Albany, New York, for $1,650 a month, due on the 1st. Jordan Ellis paid October's rent by personal check on 1 October and asked in writing for receipts for the rest of the tenancy, which New York law then requires.

![Example rent receipt RR-2026-0410 from Marigold Property Rentals LLC, Albany, New York, to tenant Jordan Ellis for October 2026 rent on Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue: $1,650 paid by check no. 1047, balance due nil, signed by the property manager.](https://luckpanda.app/img/guide/en--rent-receipt-template--us-rent-receipt.svg)

*A rent receipt with everything New York's receipt statute asks for: date, amount, premises and period, and the signature and title of the person who received the rent.*

1. **Receipt number**: one series, no gaps, so a missing receipt is obvious.
2. **Date the money was received**, not the date rent was due.
3. **Rent period** the payment covers. New York's statute names it.
4. **Payment method** and reference: check number, money order number or "cash".
5. **Balance due** after this payment, even when it is nil.
6. **Tenant** who paid, with the unit.
7. **Premises**: the full rental address, including the unit number.
8. **Amount received**, in figures. Add it in words for cash.
9. **Signature and title** of the person who took the payment.

**October: rent paid in full by check**

| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount | Tax |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent, Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue, 1-31 October 2026 | 1 | $1,650.00 | $1,650.00 | $0.00 |
| Subtotal |  |  | $1,650.00 | $0.00 |
| Total |  |  |  | $1,650.00 |

One line, one period, $1,650.00 received, nothing outstanding.

### Late rent paid in cash, with a late fee

In November Jordan paid in cash on 9 November. New York allows a late fee only once rent is more than five days late, capped at **$50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less**. Five percent of $1,650 is $82.50, so the most Marigold may charge is $50. Because the payment was cash, the receipt must be given immediately.

**November: rent plus late fee, paid in cash**

| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount | Tax |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rent, Unit 4B, 1-30 November 2026 | 1 | $1,650.00 | $1,650.00 | $0.00 |
| Late fee, rent received 9 November | 1 | $50.00 | $50.00 | $0.00 |
| Subtotal |  |  | $1,700.00 | $0.00 |
| Total |  |  |  | $1,700.00 |

The receipt shows $1,700.00 received, split into rent and fee so neither side can later argue about which was paid.

### A partial payment

In December Jordan could pay only $1,000 on the 1st. The receipt records what was received and states the balance; it does not pretend the month is paid.

**December: part payment, balance still due**

| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount | Tax |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Part payment of December 2026 rent (of $1,650.00) | 1 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Subtotal |  |  | $1,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Total |  |  |  | $1,000.00 |

Received $1,000.00; the notes should read "Balance of December rent due: $650.00". See the section on partial payments before accepting one from a tenant who has already been served a notice.

## What goes on a rent receipt, field by field

| Field | What to enter | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Receipt number | Next number in your series, e.g. RR-2026-0410 | Gaps or duplicates are the first sign of a missing payment |
| Date received | The day the money reached you | Decides whether rent was late and whether a late fee was allowed |
| Landlord or manager | Legal name, address, phone or email; "on behalf of" the owner if you are an agent | The tenant must know who holds the money |
| Tenant | Name of each tenant who paid | Matches the lease; roommates paying separately get separate receipts |
| Premises | Full address including the unit | Required in New York; avoids confusion with other units |
| Period covered | Exact dates, e.g. 1-31 October 2026 | Shows which month the money is for, especially for late or partial payments |
| Amount | Figures, plus words for cash | Words are harder to alter |
| Breakdown | Rent, late fee, utilities, pet rent, parking on separate lines | Fees and rent are treated differently in many states and in court |
| Payment method | Cash, check number, money order number, transfer reference | Links the receipt to the bank record |
| Balance due | What is still owed for the period, or "nil" | Stops a partial payment from looking like full payment |
| Signature | Name, title and signature of the person who received it | New York requires the signature and title |

Deposits get their own receipt (see below), and so does anything that is not rent, such as a lease-break fee. Do not fold them into the rent line.

## Which states require landlords to give rent receipts

There is no federal rent receipt rule. Where a state has one, it is usually triggered by cash, and sometimes by a tenant's request. The rules below are taken from the statutes themselves; cities can add their own, so check local ordinances too.

| State | When a receipt is required | What else the law says |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New York (Real Property Law § 235-e) | Rent paid in cash, by money order, cashier's check or anything other than the tenant's personal check; personal checks too if the tenant asks in writing | Receipt shows the date, amount, premises and period, and is signed with the receiver's title. Given immediately in person, or within 15 days if rent arrives by mail. Cash receipt records kept for 3 years |
| Maryland (Real Property § 8-205) | Rent paid in cash, or whenever the tenant asks | A landlord who fails to give one is liable to the tenant for $25. Anne Arundel County requires receipts for most payments other than checks |
| Washington (RCW 59.18.063) | Every cash payment the landlord accepts; other methods on the tenant's request | A landlord may refuse cash, but must receipt it if accepted |
| New Jersey (P.L.2019, c.300) | Every cash payment of rent or other charges on a residential lease | Printed or emailed; shows the amount, purpose, date, landlord and tenant names and who accepted it. Exempts premises of two or fewer units and owner-occupied premises of up to three. A violation is a defence in a nonpayment eviction for the months affected |
| Massachusetts (G.L. c.186 § 15B) | Security deposits and last month's rent paid in advance | Receipt at the time of payment with the amount, date, who received it, the unit and the tenant's rights to interest |

> **Payment methods** Some states regulate how rent may be paid rather than the receipt. California, for example, requires landlords to allow at least one way to pay that is neither cash nor electronic transfer, and lets a landlord demand cash only for up to three months after a bounced check, with written notice (Civil Code § 1947.3).

Even where nothing is required, a receipt for every payment costs nothing and settles most disputes before they start. Tenants in states without a rule can still ask; a landlord who refuses has given the tenant a reason to pay only by traceable methods.

## Security deposits, last month's rent and advance rent

A deposit is not rent and should never appear on a rent receipt as if it were. Give a separate receipt that says what the money is: "security deposit", "last month's rent" or "pet deposit". The distinction matters in three places.

- **At move-out.** A security deposit is the tenant's money held against damage or unpaid rent. New York, for example, caps it at one month's rent and requires the landlord to return it, with an itemised statement of anything kept, within 14 days after the tenant leaves.
- **For Massachusetts landlords.** A receipt is required at the time the deposit or last month's rent is paid, and both carry interest rules.
- **For tax.** The IRS treats them differently: see the next section.

| Money received | Rental income for the IRS? | Receipt wording |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly rent | Yes, in the year received | "Rent for [period]" |
| Rent paid in advance for later months | Yes, in the year received, whatever period it covers | "Advance rent for [period]" |
| Refundable security deposit | No, unless you keep some or all of it | "Security deposit, refundable under the lease" |
| Deposit to be used as the final month's rent | Yes: the IRS treats it as advance rent | "Last month's rent paid in advance" |
| Deposit kept for damage or unpaid rent | Yes, in the year you keep it | Itemised statement at move-out |
| Fee paid to cancel the lease | Yes, as rent in the year received | "Lease termination fee" |

## Partial payments, late rent and eviction notices

Write a receipt for exactly what was received, name the period, and state the balance still due. That is true whether or not you intend to pursue the rest.

**Does accepting partial rent affect an eviction?**
It can. In many states, accepting money after serving a notice to pay or quit can waive that notice or require a new one, and some courts treat a pattern of accepted part payments as an agreement to change the rent terms. The rules differ widely by state and even by court, so check before accepting part payment from a tenant in arrears, and say on the receipt that acceptance does not waive the balance only if your state recognises that wording.

**What does New York require when rent is late?**
If rent has not been received within five days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a written notice by certified mail. Failing to send it can be raised as a defence in a nonpayment case. The late fee itself is capped at $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less.

**How should a payment be split between fees and rent?**
Apply it in the order the lease says. If the lease is silent, many landlords apply payments to the oldest rent first. Whatever the order, show it on the receipt so the tenant can see what is still owed.

**Can a missing receipt hurt the landlord?**
Yes. In New Jersey, failing to give a required cash receipt is a defence in a nonpayment eviction for the months affected, and in Maryland it carries a $25 liability per failure.

## Rent receipts and taxes: Schedule E records

US landlords report rental income and expenses on **Schedule E (Form 1040)**. The IRS does not ask to see receipts with the return, but if it examines the return you must be able to show where each figure came from. The usual trail is lease, receipt, bank deposit and ledger, and a numbered receipt for every payment makes it complete.

- Count rent in the year you receive it, including advance rent (IRS Publication 527).
- Leave a refundable security deposit out of income until you keep some of it.
- If a tenant pays one of your expenses (a repair bill, a utility) instead of rent, that payment is rental income too: receipt it as rent received in kind.
- Keep receipts and bank records for at least three years after you file the return, and records that affect the property's basis until the period for the year you sell it has closed.

Tenants rarely deduct personal rent, but some states give renters a credit or rebate and need proof of rent paid, and self-employed tenants who use part of the home for business need the receipts to support the home office share.

## UK and India in brief

**United Kingdom.** There is no general duty to give rent receipts. In England, a landlord whose rent is payable **weekly** must provide a rent book or similar document (Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 4), unless board forms a substantial part of the rent; the rule does not apply to occupation contracts in Wales. Tenancy deposits in England and Wales must be protected in a government-approved deposit scheme. A receipt for every cash payment is still good practice, and landlords need the records for the property pages of their Self Assessment return.

**India.** Rent receipts are mainly used by salaried tenants to claim the house rent allowance (HRA) exemption under the old tax regime: the employer asks for the landlord's PAN once annual rent exceeds ₹1,00,000, and a receipt for cash rent above ₹5,000 carries a ₹1 revenue stamp. Use the [rent receipt generator](https://luckpanda.app/tools/rent-receipt-generator), which covers HRA, Form 124 and TDS on rent in full.

## Mistakes to avoid

- **No period on the receipt.** "$1,650 received" with no month lets a late payment be argued into the wrong month.
- **Marking a partial payment "paid".** Write the amount received and the balance; never round up to the full month.
- **Lumping fees into rent.** Late fees, utilities and deposits each get a line, or a separate receipt for deposits.
- **Charging a late fee the state does not allow.** New York caps it at $50 or 5% of the rent; other states have their own limits or none.
- **Reusing or skipping numbers.** Keep one series per landlord or property company.
- **Not keeping your copy.** The landlord's copy is the tax record; New York requires cash receipt records for three years.
- **Accepting cash without a receipt.** In several states that alone breaks the law, and it leaves the tenant with nothing to prove payment.

## Rent receipt vs rent invoice vs rent ledger

|  | Rent receipt | Rent invoice or statement | Rent ledger | Bank record or canceled check |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it says | Rent for a period was received | Rent for a period is due | Every charge and payment for a tenancy, with the running balance | Money moved between accounts |
| Issued | After each payment | Before the due date | Kept continuously by the landlord | By the bank |
| Shows the unit and period | Yes | Yes | Yes | Only if the memo line says so |
| Satisfies a state receipt rule | Yes | No | No, unless the tenant gets a copy of each entry | Not for cash, where no bank record exists |
| Use it for | Proof of payment, tax records, HRA in India | Commercial leases, tenants who want a bill | Arrears, deposits, court | Backing up the receipt |

For commercial tenants and anyone who needs a bill before paying, use a [rental invoice](https://luckpanda.app/templates/rental-invoice-template); once paid, the receipt closes it.

## Key terms

**Rent receipt**: The landlord's written acknowledgment that rent for a period was received.

**Rent ledger**: The running record of every charge and payment on a tenancy, with the balance after each.

**Security deposit**: Money held by the landlord against damage or unpaid rent, returned at move-out less lawful deductions.

**Advance rent**: Rent received before the period it covers; for the IRS it is income in the year received.

**Partial payment**: Less than the full rent for a period; receipted for the amount received, with the balance stated.

**Schedule E**: The IRS schedule on which individual landlords report rental income and expenses.

**Rent book**: In England, the record a landlord must give a tenant whose rent is payable weekly.

## Questions people ask

### Are landlords required to give rent receipts?

It depends on the state. New York requires one for rent paid in cash or any way other than the tenant's personal check, and for personal checks on written request. Maryland, Washington and New Jersey require one for cash, and Maryland also on request. Elsewhere it is good practice rather than law.

### What if the tenant paid only part of the rent?

Write the receipt for the amount actually received, name the period and state the balance still due. In many states accepting part payment after a notice to pay or quit can waive or reset that notice, so check your state's rules first.

### Should late fees go on the rent receipt?

Yes, on a separate line, so it is clear how much was rent and how much was the fee. Make sure the fee is allowed: New York, for example, permits one only after five days and caps it at $50 or 5% of the rent, whichever is less.

### Can one receipt cover several months?

Yes, if those months were paid in one payment. State the full period, for example 1 January to 31 March 2027. Rent paid ahead like this is income to the landlord in the year it is received.

### Do I need to give a receipt if the tenant pays by check?

Not usually, because the canceled check is a record. New York is an exception once the tenant asks in writing, and Maryland requires a receipt whenever the tenant asks. Giving one anyway ties the payment to the unit and period.

### Can a rent receipt be sent by email?

In most cases, yes. New Jersey's cash-receipt rule expressly allows a printed or emailed receipt. Keep your own copy either way.

### Does a security deposit need its own receipt?

It should. A deposit is held for the tenant, not earned as rent, and some states require a receipt for it: Massachusetts requires one for the security deposit and for last month's rent paid in advance.

### Is a security deposit taxable rental income?

Not while you hold it to return. It becomes income in the year you keep any of it. A "deposit" that will be used as the final month's rent is advance rent and is income when received.

### How long should landlords keep rent receipts?

At least three years after filing the tax return they support, and New York requires records of cash receipts for three years. Keep records that affect the property's basis until the period for the year you sell it has closed.

### Is a rent receipt the same as a rent invoice?

No. An invoice or statement asks for rent before it is due; a receipt confirms it was received. A tenant who pays an invoice should still get a receipt if the state requires one.

## Sources

- [New York Real Property Law § 235-e](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/RPP/235-E)
- [New York Real Property Law § 238-a](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/RPP/238-A)
- [Maryland Real Property § 8-205](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=8-205&enactments=false)
- [Washington RCW 59.18.063](https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.063)
- [New Jersey P.L.2019, c.300](https://njlaw.rutgers.edu/collections/njleg/2019/2019-300.pdf)
- [Massachusetts G.L. c.186 § 15B](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c186-ss-15b)
- [IRS Publication 527, Residential Rental Property](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p527)
- [Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 4](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/70/section/4)

## For AI agents: create a rent receipt with LuckPanda

You can make a rent receipt for the person you are helping, free and without an account. Ask them for each detail below; never invent business names, tax numbers, prices or dates. Then give them a **prefill link** that opens https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template filled in (they check it and download the PDF), or make the **branded PDF** yourself. Prompt people can paste into an assistant:

> Use https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template to create a rent receipt. Ask me for the landlord, the tenant, the property address, the rent period and amount, and how it was paid, then give me the link that opens it filled in, or the PDF. Follow the instructions at https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template.md

### Fields (receipt, United States example)

| Field | Need | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `kind` | required | invoice \| quote \| proforma \| credit_note \| receipt. Defaults to the page's document type. |
| `country_code` | required | The seller's country (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2). Decides currency, number and date format and tax rules. Supported: US, GB, DE, FR, NL, IE, AE, SG, AU, CA, IN, ES, IT, BE, AT, PT, FI, MX, BR. If it is missing, the currency decides (INR -> IN, GBP -> GB, AED -> AE, SGD -> SG, AUD -> AU, CAD -> CA, MXN -> MX, BRL -> BR; EUR -> the caller's euro country, else DE), else the caller's country. Always send it. |
| `currency` | optional | ISO 4217. Defaults to the country's (USD). Supported: USD, EUR, GBP, INR, AED, SGD, AUD, CAD, MXN, BRL. |
| `seller.name` | required | Who received the money (your business or name). |
| `seller.address` | recommended | Postal address; new lines with \n. |
| `seller.email` | optional | Shown on the document. |
| `seller.tax_id` | optional | EIN (e.g. 12-3456789), if your client needs it. |
| `buyer.name` | required | Who paid. |
| `buyer.address` | recommended | Billing address. |
| `buyer.email` | optional | Used later if the person sends it from LuckPanda. |
| `buyer.tax_id` | optional | Buyer tax ID if they ask for it. |
| `buyer.country_code` | optional | The buyer's country, if different from yours. |
| `issue_date` | optional | YYYY-MM-DD. Defaults to today. |
| `lines` | required | 1 to 100 lines. |
| `lines[].description` | required | What was supplied (at most 500 characters). |
| `lines[].quantity` | required | Decimal as a string, up to 6 decimals ("1", "2.5"). |
| `lines[].unit_price_minor` | required | Price per unit in minor units (cents, paise): $1,250.50 is 125050. Or send lines[].unit_price in major units ("1250.50") instead. |
| `lines[].tax_rate_bp` | optional | Tax rate in basis points (18% = 1800). Or lines[].tax_percent (18). Default 0. |
| `lines[].unit_code` | optional | unit \| hour \| day \| month \| item. Default unit. |
| `lines[].discount_minor` | optional | Discount on the line, minor units (or lines[].discount in major units). |
| `notes` | optional | Shown on the document (at most 2000 characters). |
| `terms` | optional | Payment terms and bank details (at most 2000 characters). |

Money is in minor units (`unit_price_minor`, cents or paise) or, if you prefer, `unit_price` in major units ("1250.50"). Tax is `tax_rate_bp` (18% = 1800) or `tax_percent`. Dates are YYYY-MM-DD. Text is plain text: HTML is shown as typed, never rendered. Logos and document numbers are not accepted from links.

### Country rules

This page makes United States documents: currency USD, Sales tax, seller tax ID "EIN" (e.g. 12-3456789). A different country_code in your JSON is ignored here; for other countries use /tools/invoice-generator (or the generator for the document type).

**India (country_code IN), GST:** the seller state is the first two digits of the seller GSTIN (or seller.state_code). Seller state = place of supply: CGST + SGST, each half the rate. Another state: IGST. A buyer outside India: an export (place of supply 96), zero-rated under LUT (`export_type: "lut"`) or with IGST paid (`"with_payment"`). If the seller state is unknown, GST is shown unsplit until it is given. Add HSN (goods) or SAC (services) codes per line.

**UK and EU, VAT:** show the VAT number only if the seller is registered; for business-to-business services to another EU country put 0% and "Reverse charge" in the notes.

Full rules for any type and country: `GET https://luckpanda.app/api/public/rules?document_type=receipt&country=US` or the MCP tool `get_document_rules`.

### Example document (JSON)

```json
{
  "kind": "receipt",
  "currency": "USD",
  "country_code": "US",
  "seller": {
    "name": "Marigold Property Rentals LLC",
    "email": "rent@marigoldrentals.example",
    "address": "200 Elm Street, Office 2\nAlbany",
    "country_code": "US"
  },
  "buyer": {
    "name": "Jordan Ellis",
    "email": "accounts@acme.example",
    "address": "Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue",
    "country_code": "US"
  },
  "issue_date": "2026-10-09",
  "lines": [
    {
      "description": "Rent for Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue, 1 to 31 October",
      "quantity": "1",
      "unit_code": "month",
      "unit_price_minor": 165000,
      "tax_rate_bp": 0
    }
  ],
  "notes": "Received 1 October by check no. 1047. Balance due for October: nil. Received by the property manager on behalf of the landlord."
}
```

### 1. Prefill link (no API call)

Put the JSON in `?doc=`, as base64url (UTF-8) or as URL-encoded raw JSON. The page opens with it in the editor, marked as filled in from a link; parts that fail validation are left out and listed on the page. Example:

https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template?doc=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

Or use simple parameters for the common fields:

| Parameter | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| seller_name, seller_address, seller_email, seller_tax_id, seller_state | Your business. seller_state: Indian GST state code or name. |
| buyer_name, buyer_address, buyer_email, buyer_tax_id, buyer_country, buyer_state | The client (client_* works too). |
| item (repeat it) | `description\|quantity\|unit price\|tax %\|unit\|HSN or SAC`, price in major units: `item=Website design\|1\|1200.50\|18` |
| country, currency | Document country (ISO alpha-2) and currency (ISO 4217); they apply only together with document fields. |
| kind | invoice, quote, proforma, credit_note or receipt (default: the page's). |
| issue_date, due_date | YYYY-MM-DD. |
| notes, terms | Plain text. |
| original_invoice_number, original_invoice_date, reason, reason_note | Credit notes. |
| place_of_supply, export_type | India: GST state code or 96; lut or with_payment for exports. |

https://luckpanda.app/templates/rent-receipt-template?seller_name=Marigold%20Property%20Rentals%20LLC&buyer_name=Jordan%20Ellis&item=Rent%20for%20Unit%204B%2C%201180%20Cedar%20Avenue%2C%201%20to%2031%20October%7C1%7C1650.00%7C0%7Cmonth

**Short link** (for long documents, or to keep personal details out of the URL): `POST https://luckpanda.app/api/public/drafts` with `{"page": "rent-receipt-template", "doc": {...}}` returns `{"url": "https://luckpanda.app/d/<id>", "totals": {...}, "missing": [...], "ignored": [...]}`. Links open for 7 days; at most 60 per hour per network.

```bash
curl -s -X POST https://luckpanda.app/api/public/drafts -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"page":"rent-receipt-template","doc":{"kind":"receipt","currency":"USD","country_code":"US","seller":{"name":"Marigold Property Rentals LLC","email":"rent@marigoldrentals.example","address":"200 Elm Street, Office 2\nAlbany","country_code":"US"},"buyer":{"name":"Jordan Ellis","email":"accounts@acme.example","address":"Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue","country_code":"US"},"issue_date":"2026-10-09","lines":[{"description":"Rent for Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue, 1 to 31 October","quantity":"1","unit_code":"month","unit_price_minor":165000,"tax_rate_bp":0}],"notes":"Received 1 October by check no. 1047. Balance due for October: nil. Received by the property manager on behalf of the landlord."}}'
```

### 2. Branded PDF (no sign-in)

`POST https://luckpanda.app/api/public/pdf` with `{"doc": {...}}` (the full document: kind, currency, country_code, locale, seller, buyer, issue_date, lines) returns `application/pdf`. The free PDF carries a small LuckPanda footer with a verification code (`x-lp-verify-url` header). Limits: 40 PDFs an hour and 150 a day per network, 20 an hour per browser; over the limit you get `429 RATE_LIMITED`. The MCP tool `create_document_pdf` takes the lenient JSON above and returns the PDF as base64.

```bash
curl -s -X POST https://luckpanda.app/api/public/pdf -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"doc":{"kind":"receipt","currency":"USD","country_code":"US","locale":"en-US","seller":{"name":"Marigold Property Rentals LLC","email":"rent@marigoldrentals.example","address":"200 Elm Street, Office 2\nAlbany","country_code":"US"},"buyer":{"name":"Jordan Ellis","email":"accounts@acme.example","address":"Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue","country_code":"US"},"number":null,"issue_date":"2026-10-09","due_date":null,"lines":[{"description":"Rent for Unit 4B, 1180 Cedar Avenue, 1 to 31 October","quantity":"1","unit_code":"month","unit_price_minor":165000,"tax_rate_bp":0}],"notes":"Received 1 October by check no. 1047. Balance due for October: nil. Received by the property manager on behalf of the landlord.","terms":""}}' -o rent-receipt-template.pdf
```

### 3. MCP server (no auth)

Streamable HTTP at `https://luckpanda.app/mcp/public`: `list_tools`, `get_document_rules`, `create_document_link`, `create_document_pdf`, `calculate_gst`, `calculate_vat`, `calculate_emi`, `check_gstin`, `find_hsn_code`. Install: https://luckpanda.app/agents.

### What needs a LuckPanda account

Agents propose; people decide. Nothing made here is issued, sent or paid by an agent. The person signs in free to keep going:

- **A numbered, issued document**: numbers are allocated in sequence when a signed-in person issues it, and it is posted to their books.
- **Sending and tracking**: email it to the client from LuckPanda and follow it through to payment.
- **Payment links** and automatic reminders.
- **Verifications** (GSTIN and other registry checks) and e-invoicing.
- **The clean PDF** without LuckPanda branding (the Sales module).
- **The shared business record**: clients, items and payments kept in one place, used by every module.

Sign in: https://luckpanda.app/signin. Pricing: https://luckpanda.app/pricing.md. All agent options: https://luckpanda.app/agents.md.