Rent receipt format for HRA: what HR actually accepts
Every January, HR portals across India fill with rejected rent receipts — missing PAN, no signature, wrong period. Here's the format that gets accepted the first time, the two threshold rules everyone trips on, and a sample you can copy (or generate all 12 months free).
Fields every rent receipt needs
- Tenant's name (as on employer records)
- Landlord's name and signature
- Amount, in figures and words
- The month/period the rent covers
- Full address of the rented property
- Payment mode (bank transfer, UPI, cash, cheque)
- Landlord's PAN when annual rent exceeds ₹1,00,000
The two threshold rules
| Rule | Threshold | What's required |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord PAN | Rent above ₹1,00,000/year (~₹8,333/mo) | Quote landlord's PAN to your employer; if no PAN, a signed declaration from the landlord |
| Revenue stamp | Cash payment above ₹5,000 per receipt | ₹1 revenue stamp with landlord's signature across it; not needed for bank/UPI payments |
Sample receipt
RENT RECEIPT
Receipt No: 01/2026-27 Period: April 2026
Received with thanks a sum of ₹20,000 (Rupees Twenty Thousand Only) from Rahul Sharma towards rent for the month of April 2026 for the property at Flat 402, Green Meadows, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, paid via bank transfer.
Landlord: Suresh Kumar · PAN: ABCDE1234F
Signature: ____________
Enter your details once and print the full year's receipts, PAN and revenue-stamp box included.
Generate 12 months of receipts free →
Common rejection reasons
- Receipts without the landlord's signature (a printout alone is not proof)
- Missing landlord PAN above the ₹1 lakh threshold
- One consolidated receipt when HR asked for monthly/quarterly ones
- Rent paid to parents with no bank trail — pay by transfer and keep statements
- Amounts that don't match the rent agreement
How much tax does this actually save?
Your exemption is the least of: HRA received, rent minus 10% of basic+DA, and 50%/40% of basic+DA (metro/non-metro). Check your exact number with our free HRA exemption calculator — it also shows whether the old regime is still worth it for you.