SBP and QR Code Payments at the POS: Receipts, Refunds, and Fees
The customer points their camera at a sticker near the checkout or scans a QR code on the terminal screen — money is transferred via the Faster Payments System (SBP) in seconds, and a bank terminal might not even be involved in this setup. However, a POS receipt is required in any case, while refunds and processing fees work differently than with card payments.
1. Static or Dynamic QR — What's the Difference#
| QR Type | How It Works | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Static (sticker on counter or stand) | The same code is used permanently; the customer enters the amount manually in their banking app | Requires no equipment, but amount errors fall entirely on the customer and the cashier who failed to check it |
| Dynamic | Generated for a specific order amount — on the POS, terminal, or smart terminal screen — the customer only confirms the payment | More reliable (no manual amount entry), but requires a POS, terminal, or service capable of generating a QR code for a specific amount |
Both options represent payments via SBP (Faster Payments System): funds are transferred directly from the buyer's account to the seller's account, bypassing card networks.
2. A terminal is optional — a receipt is always mandatory#
A bank acquiring terminal for accepting SBP payments is not required: funds are processed using the merchant's SBP account details obtained from a bank or SBP aggregator, separately from card acquiring. However, for 54-FZ compliance, this changes nothing: as soon as funds are received non-cash from the customer, the seller is required to issue a fiscal receipt with the payment method "non-cash" (tag 1081), exactly as with a card payment. The Federal Tax Service does not distinguish between non-cash payment methods; the key factor is the receipt of funds itself.
3. How to issue a receipt via QR/SBP: step-by-step#
- Enter the order amount on the POS.
- Show the QR code — a static one on the counter or generate a dynamic one for the order amount.
- The customer scans the code and confirms the payment in their banking app.
- Wait for confirmation — a push notification or a "Payment successful" mark on the terminal/POS screen — before issuing the receipt.
- Issue the receipt using the "cashless" payment method.
Step 4 is the most common point of error: if you issue a receipt before bank confirmation and the payment fails for some reason (QR code expired, customer canceled in the app), you get a classic payment type mismatch — a receipt exists, but the money is missing. For a breakdown of this situation, see the article on payment type discrepancies.
4. Refund to a customer who paid via SBP#
- Find the transaction in your bank/SBP acquirer personal account by date, time, and amount.
- Initiate a refund specifically for this transaction — the money will be returned to the customer's account the same way it arrived.
- At the same time, issue a non-cash “sale return” receipt on the POS for the same amount, linked to the original receipt — exactly as you would for a card payment refund.
The refund initiation interface varies by bank/aggregator — check your specific provider's personal account to find the “Refund” button for the transaction. The principle remains the same regardless of the bank.
5. Account payment via QR code from an individual — is a receipt required?#
Yes. Any cashless settlement with an individual using an electronic payment method — including transfers via QR/SBP to the seller's bank account — requires the use of a cash register under 54-FZ. The exception is settlements between legal entities and individual entrepreneurs without presenting an electronic payment method (a standard bank transfer between legal entities): such transfers do not require a receipt; read more in the article on correction receipt for online payments.
6. A bank push notification is not a receipt#
The "Payment completed" status in the customer's app or the merchant dashboard is a technical confirmation of the transfer, not a fiscal document. The seller's obligation to the customer and the tax authority is fulfilled only by an issued cash register receipt — just as a terminal slip does not replace a receipt when paying by card.
7. Commission: SBP vs. Acquiring#
| SBP | Acquiring (Card) | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission benchmark | Usually fractions of a percent | Typically 1.5–2.5% |
| Exact rate | Depends on the bank/aggregator and turnover — check with your bank | Depends on the bank, category, turnover |
| When acquiring is still needed | Customers not used to QR/SBP, familiar refund process, tips directly on the terminal | — |
The difference in commission rates is the main reason why many venues promote QR payments as their primary method, keeping the terminal for guests who prefer it.
8. Example#
Coffee shop: a bill of 450 ₽ paid via SBP. At a hypothetical SBP rate of 0.4%, the fee is about 1.8 ₽; with card payment and 2% acquiring, the fee would be around 9 ₽. Savings are about 7 ₽ per bill, which at 300 such bills per month equals about 2,000 ₽. The calculation is illustrative: check with your bank or SBP provider for actual rates.
9. How to do this in Cenaly#
- In POS, QR/SBP payments are recorded in the same way as card payments — as "cashless"; there is no separate "SBP" toggle in the POS, as for FNS it is the same payment form tag.
- Refunds are processed in POS → Receipts: find the receipt, click "Refund", and select "card"/cashless as the payment method.
- Guests can pay for their order directly from their phone via online payment in the QR menu — the provider is selected based on the location country; for payments in the Russian Federation, please check with support for the current list of connected aggregators with SBP support.
- Receipt fiscalization on a physical fiscal printer is performed via Cenaly Hardware Bridge.
10. Frequently Asked Questions#
Does a receipt need to specifically indicate "SBP payment"? No, the "cashless" payment method is sufficient — tag 1081 does not distinguish between a card, a bank transfer, and a QR payment.
A customer showed a screenshot saying "Payment completed," but the money hasn't arrived yet — should I issue a receipt? No, wait for your own confirmation (in the merchant's banking app or the acquirer's merchant portal) — the customer's screenshot guarantees nothing.
Is a separate agreement with the bank needed to accept SBP if merchant acquiring is already set up? Usually, yes — SBP acceptance is typically set up as a separate service with the bank or through an SBP aggregator, even if card acquiring is already active. Check with your bank.
Is it possible to operate completely without a terminal, using only QR codes? Legally, yes, but customers who are not used to QR/SBP or do not have the required app will simply be unable to pay by card — most locations maintain both channels.
Related articles: cash/cashless mismatch · correction receipt for online payments · acquiring terminal and POS · receipts and refunds in Cenaly
This material is for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with an accountant or a bank. Primary sources: Federal Law No. 54-FZ "On the Use of Cash Register Equipment", FTS guidelines (kkt-online.nalog.ru), rules of the Faster Payments System (SBP) of the Bank of Russia.