Does tape make receipts fade?

Yes. Transparent adhesive tape — the standard kind used to stick receipts to expense reports — can dramatically accelerate fading on thermal paper receipts. This is a well-documented problem in accounting and archival contexts.

Why tape causes fading

Thermal paper uses a chemical coating to produce print. The adhesive in many tapes contains solvents and plasticisers that react with this coating, turning the area under and around the tape dark or, over time, bleaching it completely. The effect can appear within days and worsen over months.

Not all tape is equal

The main offenders are standard cellophane tape (like Scotch tape) and packaging tape. Some archival-grade or acid-free tapes are less reactive, but identifying the right product requires checking the manufacturer's specifications, which is impractical for everyday use.

What to do instead

• Staple instead of tape — stapling a receipt to an expense form avoids adhesive contact entirely. The image remains clear.
• Photocopy first — photocopy the thermal receipt onto plain paper before attaching it to anything. The photocopy will not fade.
• Photograph and forward to rct-keep — snap a photo and forward it to your rct-keep ingest address. The app stores a permanent digital copy with the merchant, date, and amount extracted automatically. Once that is done, the paper can go straight in the bin.

The practical takeaway

If you are attaching receipts to expense reports, scan them first and attach the digital copy. If your company requires physical attachment, staple rather than tape. Better still, switch to a digital expense system that eliminates paper handling altogether.