Do Receipts Show Your Credit Card Number?

Receipts are a common part of everyday transactions, providing a record of purchases. The information printed on receipts has evolved, particularly concerning credit card details. Masking portions of credit card numbers on receipts is a common practice to enhance security. This protects consumer financial information. Understanding what information is visible on a receipt and why certain details are concealed can help consumers manage their financial privacy.

Information on a Receipt

A typical receipt provides a record of a purchase. It includes the merchant’s name, address, contact details, date, and time of the transaction. Receipts list itemized goods or services, their prices, and the total amount paid, including taxes or fees. The payment method is indicated; for credit card transactions, only a portion of the card number is displayed.

The full credit card number is never shown on a receipt. Businesses mask or truncate the Primary Account Number (PAN), showing only the last four digits. Some receipts may also show the first six digits along with the last four, with middle numbers obscured by asterisks or other symbols. The expiration date is omitted from printed receipts. This limited display is a security measure.

Reasons for Masking Card Numbers

Masking credit card numbers on receipts results from security protocols and industry standards designed to prevent fraud and identity theft. A primary force behind these requirements is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This standard mandates that only the minimum cardholder data be displayed, requiring the Primary Account Number (PAN) be unreadable when shown.

PCI DSS specifies that when the PAN is displayed, the maximum number of digits that can be shown is the first six and the last four. This masking protects cardholder data, making it harder for unauthorized individuals to obtain full card numbers from receipts. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) prohibits the printing of more than the last five digits of a card number or any part of the expiration date on electronically printed receipts.

What to Do with Receipts

Proper handling and disposal of physical and digital receipts protect financial information. Review receipts for accuracy against purchases, ensuring correct items and amounts were charged. For physical receipts, secure disposal methods are recommended, particularly for those containing any part of a card number or personal details.

Shredding paper receipts before discarding them makes it difficult for identity thieves to piece together information. Many store receipts are printed on thermal paper containing chemicals, making them unsuitable for recycling in standard paper recycling bins; they should be placed in mixed waste. For digital receipts, storing them securely in password-protected folders or cloud storage, and deleting them if no longer needed, helps maintain privacy. Even with masked numbers, combining partial card information from receipts with personal data could pose a risk.