Is it possible to scan a receipt and later reprint it if needed?

[Arkitech]

I work at a PC repair shop and I have a client who is a contractor. He's looking for a system that will allow him to scan receipts into a PC and then later reprint the receipt exactly like the original. Is this possible?

I've been working on this project with him for about a month now and although I've come close, I can't quite get a perfect replica of the original receipt. So far I've tried used a Seiko thermal heat printer along with a Neat scanner.

Sorry to post this in OT, but I've been racking my brain on this one for awhile. Can't seem to find a lot about it online either.

 

[Bateluer]

Hmm. I wonder if the original receipt system could be changed to a regular laser printer? That way, I think it'd be child's play to print one copy to the printer and one copy to a PDF printer and saved.

 

[Spikesoldier]

what your client is asking is pretty much impossible.

the goal must be pretty rewarding (fraud?)

 

[Arkitech]

Hmm. I wonder if the original receipt system could be changed to a regular laser printer? That way, I think it'd be child's play to print one copy to the printer and one copy to a PDF printer and saved.

The downside to that is the receipts would'nt look like the originals. I'm starting to think this might be mission impossible

 

[Arkitech]

what your client is asking is pretty much impossible.

the goal must be pretty rewarding (fraud?)

He owns a few businesses and he's trying to keep track of expenses by scanning his receipts into a PC. Appears to be legit from what I've seen so far. I'm assuming the reprints are probably for tax purposes maybe?

 

[Spikesoldier]

then why the emphasis that it must be an exact copy? a reproduction is not good enough? for tax purposes or any other purpose - i cant think of any advantages an original has over a copy unless you are returning something.

 

[Lifted]

Refer to pages 9 - 11 of this document for the requirements of digital only storage. Any solution you come up with will likely not meet these requirements. Passing off copies as originals is likely to be considered fraud if discovered by the IRS.

SECTION 9. PENALTIES
The District Director may issue a Notice of Inadequate Records pursuant to § 1.6001–1(d) if the taxpayer’s books and records are available only as electronically stored books and records and the taxpayer’s electronic storage system fails to meet the requirements of this revenue procedure. Taxpayers whose electronic storage system fails to meet the requirements of this revenue procedure may also be subject to applicable penalties under subtitle F of the Code, including the § 6662(a) accuracy-related civil penalty and the § 7203 willful failure criminal penalty.

 

[Arkitech]

hmm interesting..

I'm not sure why he wants exact copies, I never really asked.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Just as an aside, I have had many a receipt with, *disappearing ink*, less than a year in a drawer and you pull out a blank piece of paper, Fry's comes to mind.
Hmmmmm

 

[Sphexi]

You don't need exact copies. If ever he had a chargeback and had to provide proof it'd be faxed in anyways, so it doesn't really matter. A better idea is to make sure he's using a card machine that supports chips, with that it's pretty much impossible to do a chargeback as the pin is required. Customer would have to prove someone stole their card and their pin, won't happen.

 

[Sluggo]

Just as an aside, I have had many a receipt with, *disappearing ink*, less than a year in a drawer and you pull out a blank piece of paper, Fry's comes to mind.
Hmmmmm

Used to be the product broke right after the warranty was up, now the receipt goes blank right before the warranty is up.

 

[SandEagle]

This your client?

http://daily-times.com/ci_17164751