These rules come from Odyssey's documentation guidance for programs that reimburse families, including Utah Fits All, Florida's FES-EO and FES-UA, and Wyoming ESA. Marketplace orders are different: there, Odyssey pays you directly.
Every receipt needs six things
1. Vendor information
Your business name and contact details.
2. Date of transaction
It must match the date the family enters.
3. Itemized list
Each item or service separately, with its own price.
4. Total amount
Including taxes and fees.
5. Payment method
Card, bank transfer, cash and so on.
6. Proof of payment
"Paid", a zero balance, or payment details.
If you made the receipt yourself
A receipt typed in a word processor or invoicing template, rather than generated by a point-of-sale system, needs separate proof of payment: a bank or card statement showing the account holder, your business name, the amount and the date, or a screenshot of the completed digital payment.1 A second copy of the receipt, or a letter from you confirming payment, doesn't count.
Cash and checks
For cash or check payments, only receipts generated by a point-of-sale or invoicing system at the time of purchase are accepted. Handwritten and self-prepared receipts are rejected regardless of amount.1 If you don't use a POS system, ask families to pay by card, bank transfer or a payment app.
Payment apps
Venmo, PayPal, Zelle and Cash App payments need a screenshot of the completed transaction showing its status, date and time, transaction ID and recipient, together with a receipt showing what was bought.1
Why receipts get denied
- Descriptions too vague to identify the purchase: "Book" instead of "Saxon Math 8/7 Textbook", or bare item numbers.3
- No proof that payment completed: order confirmations, invoices alone, or "pending" payments.3
- A $0 balance, for example a purchase fully covered by a discount.3
- More than one document per request. Combine the receipt and proof of payment into a single file.1
Sources
- 1. UFA: Acceptable Documentation for Reimbursements (Odyssey), updated Aug 12, 2026
- 2. FES-EO and FES-UA Reimbursement Documentation FAQs (Odyssey), updated Sep 2, 2026
- 3. Reimbursement Denial Reasons (Odyssey), updated Dec 12, 2025
- 4. Wyoming ESA: How to Submit a Reimbursement Request (Odyssey), updated Sep 30, 2026