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PhrasesPaying the BillPosso avere la ricevuta?
A2

Posso avere la ricevuta?

Can I have the receipt?

Pronunciation

ree-cheh-VOO-tah — four syllables, stress on third. 'rice' + 'vuta'. Very clear Italian vowels.

When to use it

Ask for a receipt for expense reports or personal records. By Italian law, restaurants must provide a fiscal receipt ('scontrino fiscale' or 'ricevuta fiscale'). You can also request it if you believe you were overcharged.

What it means

'Ricevuta' = receipt. 'Posso avere' = can I have. Italy's Agenzia delle Entrate (tax agency) legally requires businesses to issue fiscal receipts, and customers can technically be fined if caught leaving without one (though this is rarely enforced for tourists).

Variations

Mi dà lo scontrino?

Can you give me the receipt?

'Scontrino' is the informal term for receipt/till slip.

Ho bisogno della ricevuta fiscale.

I need the fiscal receipt.

Formal phrasing for expense claims.

È una ricevuta fiscale o solo un conto?

Is this a fiscal receipt or just a bill?

Clarifying the type of receipt.

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Posso avere la ricevuta? Cameriere: Certamente. La vuole la ricevuta fiscale o il semplice scontrino? Cliente: La ricevuta fiscale — è per la nota spese aziendale. Cameriere: Perfetto, la stampo subito con il totale e l'IVA separata.

Client: Can I have the receipt? Waiter: Certainly. Do you want the fiscal receipt or just the till slip? Client: The fiscal receipt — it's for company expenses. Waiter: Perfect, I'll print it right away with the total and VAT separated.

Cultural Note

Italy's 'lotta all'evasione fiscale' (fight against tax evasion) means receipts are legally required. The Guardia di Finanza (financial police) has historically run sting operations checking that customers carry receipts when leaving restaurants. Today enforcement is lighter, but receipts remain legally mandatory.