RECEIPT is the technical as well as popular term signifying a legal acknowledg ment of money received in discharge of a debt or demand. It is often popularly believed that a written receipt is the only legal proof of payment; but lids is a mistake, the fact being that it is only one mode of proving it. If the money be paid in presence of witnesses, or even without witnesses, provided a jury or judge believe the statement on oath of the party paying it, this is, in England, quite as good evidence of the pay ment as if a written receipt were given; and even a written receipt is not conclusive, for it is,subject to explanation, and if it was obtained in advance of a payment which never followed, or by fraud, it goes for nothing as a discharge of the debtor. If a receipt is in writing, and the sum paid exceeds 40s., it must be stamped with a penny receipt stamp (which may be an adhesive stamp), otherwise the receipt is inadmissible as evidence of payment. Not only is a receipt proper subject to stamp-duty, but also any note or memorandum given to a person on payment of money, and acknowledging pay ment of any part of a debt or demand, whether signed or not; so receipts given oil pay ment of bills of exchange or promissory-notes, are liable to stamp-duty. Ent there are
several exceptions from liability to stamp-duty. Such are receipts for deposits with bankers (except when paid on allotment of shares, or in respect of calls on shares); receipts as to the assessed taxes—for land-tax, income-tax, and payments to the crown; receipts by officers, seamen, marines, Or soldiers for wages or pay; receipts for purchase of government stock; receipts written on the back of duly stamped bills of exchange or promissory-notes', or upon the back of duly stamped purchase-deeds. Where a debtor tenders money, but requires a stamped receipt at the stone time, he ought to provide himself with paper, and stamp, and writing materials, for the creditor is not bound t,o supply these. In Scotland, the receipt of money cannot be proved by witnesses, where the debt was created by writing, audit is not allowed to dispute the validity of a written receipt, except in cases of fraud.