Proof of purchase
Proof of purchase is a record showing you bought a product or service, such as a receipt, order email or card statement, that some claims require.
Also called: receipt, purchase records, proof of purchase documentation
Proof of purchase is a record showing you bought a product or service, such as a receipt, order email or card statement, that some claims require.
What it means
Proof of purchase is a record that shows you bought the product or service covered by a class action settlement. Receipts, order confirmations, online account or loyalty-program history, and bank or card statements all count in most settlements. Some settlements also accept a photo of the product or its packaging.
Settlements handle proof in different ways. Some pay a smaller flat amount to anyone who states they bought the product, and a larger amount if you attach proof. Others require proof for every claim. The notice and claim form say what counts, so look for the dates, product details and amounts they want to see.
Courts watch how demanding this is. The notes to the federal class action rule say a claims process should deter unjustified claims without being unduly demanding. A Federal Judicial Center checklist asks judges to check that the proof requested is something class members could realistically have kept.
What it means for you
Gather proof before you open the form. Search your email for order confirmations, check your online account history, and look at bank or card statements, which can show a charge even when the receipt is gone. You can black out unrelated purchases, but leave the date, merchant and amount visible. If the settlement lets you claim without proof, the payment is often smaller, so decide whether the bigger amount is worth the effort. Keep copies of what you submit.
Example
Say a settlement over a mislabeled snack pays $5 per product without proof and up to $25 with proof. You search your email and find an order confirmation for the snack from last year. You attach it to your claim and pick the proof-based payment, because it shows the product, the date and the price.
FAQ
Usually a receipt, an order confirmation email, a page from your online account, or a bank or card statement showing the purchase. The claim form lists what the settlement accepts, and it may ask for the product, date and price.
Often, yes, up to a limit. Many consumer settlements let you state under penalty of perjury that you bought the product, and they pay a smaller flat amount. Larger amounts usually need documents. Check the claim form.
Related terms
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and committee notes (Cornell LII)
- Federal Judicial Center, Judges' Class Action Notice and Claims Process Checklist and Plain Language Guide (2010)
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.