# Receipt Abbreviations Decoded > What do TC#, OP#, F, T, PLU, SKU and other receipt codes mean? Plain-English decoder for the abbreviations on store receipts, with examples. **URL:** https://receiptmaker.org/receipt-abbreviations/ **Canonical:** https://receiptmaker.org/receipt-abbreviations/ **Receipt abbreviations** are the short codes printers squeeze onto thermal paper to identify the store, register, cashier, items, and taxes on a transaction. They look cryptic, but nearly all of them fall into four zones: header codes (which store and register), line-item codes (what you bought), tax flags (which items were taxed), and footer codes (how you paid). This decoder covers the codes you'll actually see, zone by zone. ## Header codes — which store, register, and cashier - **ST# / STR:** store number — the chain's internal ID for that location - **REG# / TE#:** register or terminal number that printed the receipt - **OP# / CSHR / ASSOC:** operator — the cashier's employee ID - **TRN / TRANS#:** transaction number, resets per register - **TC#:** Walmart's transaction code — the long number under the barcode that Walmart's systems use to retrieve a purchase. See our [Walmart receipt decoding guide](/walmart-item-lookup-from-receipt/) for the full breakdown. ## Line-item codes — what you bought - **QTY / EA / @:** quantity, "each", and unit price (3 @ 1.99 = three units at $1.99) - **SKU:** stock keeping unit — the retailer's own product ID, unique to that chain - **UPC:** the barcode number on the product itself. A standard UPC-A barcode encodes a 12-digit GTIN-12, per GS1, the body that manages the standard — 11 digits of company prefix + item reference, plus a check digit. - **PLU:** price look-up code on loose produce. Per IFPS, PLU codes are 4 or 5-digit numbers assigned in the 3000 and 4000 series — and a 5-digit code with a 9 in front of the 4-digit code means the item is organic. - **WT / LB:** weighed item — shows weight, price per pound, and extended price - **DEPT:** department code the item rings under ## Tax flags — the letters after prices - **T / X:** the item was taxable at the standard rate - **N:** non-taxable item - **F:** at many grocers, a food item — commonly taxed at a reduced rate or SNAP-eligible depending on the state - **TAX 1 / TAX 2 / TAX 3:** separate tax rates itemized at the bottom — states tax general merchandise, food, and prepared food differently, so multi-rate receipts split them out ## Footer codes — how you paid - **SUBTOT / TOT:** subtotal before tax, and the final total - **TEND / CASH TEND:** the amount you handed over - **CHG / CHANGE DUE:** change returned - **AUTH / APPR CODE:** the card network's authorization code for a card payment - **ACCT # ****1234:** the last four digits of the card used — this is what retailer receipt-lookup systems match against - **REF#:** reference number printed on refund/return receipts ## Barcodes at the bottom The bottom barcode usually re-encodes the transaction identifier (like Walmart's TC#) in CODE128 format, a variable-length barcode that can hold letters and numbers. Store systems scan it to pull up the exact transaction for returns. Our [receipt generator](/generator/) renders scannable CODE128 barcodes and QR codes on every template. ## Why the same code differs between stores There is no universal receipt standard — each chain's point-of-sale system picks its own labels. One grocer's **F** is another's **B**; Target prints department + class digits ahead of the item ID, while Walmart prints the UPC. That's why decoding a receipt starts with identifying the store format. Our [template library](/templates/) reproduces the exact layout of 100+ chains, which makes it a handy visual reference when you're trying to read a faded original. ## Need to reconstruct a receipt you can't read? If a thermal receipt has faded past legibility, you can rebuild a clean copy for your records: identify the store format, enter the items and totals you can still make out, and export a fresh PDF. Use the [free receipt maker](/generator/) or start from the matching [store template](/templates/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What does the F mean on a grocery receipt? F flags a food item. Many grocery chains use it to mark products taxed at the state's reduced food rate or eligible for SNAP. The exact meaning varies by chain and state — check the tax summary at the bottom of the receipt to see which rate the item actually rang under. ### What does T or X after a price mean? The item was taxable at the standard rate. An N means non-taxable. Multi-rate receipts (TAX 1 / TAX 2 / TAX 3) itemize each rate separately at the bottom. ### What is the TC# on a Walmart receipt? TC# is Walmart's transaction code — the long number printed under the bottom barcode. It's the key Walmart's systems use to look up your purchase. Our Walmart receipt decoding guide covers it in detail. ### What's the difference between a UPC and a SKU? A UPC is the manufacturer's barcode number (a 12-digit GTIN-12 under the GS1 standard) — identical everywhere the product is sold. A SKU is the retailer's own internal product ID, unique to that chain. ### Are PLU codes the same at every store? Yes for produce — PLU codes are standardized by IFPS as 4 or 5-digit numbers in the 3000 and 4000 series, and a leading 9 marks organic. That's why 4011 is a banana at nearly any US grocer. ### Can I recreate a faded receipt? Yes — pick the store's template in our free generator, enter the items and totals you can still read, and download a clean PDF for your records. For warranty or return purposes, contact the retailer for an official reprint instead. --- *Generated from https://receiptmaker.org/receipt-abbreviations/ — citation policy: link required.* *Full reference: https://receiptmaker.org/llms-full.txt*