Transaction Code (TC#, REC#, AUTH#)

A transaction code is a unique identifier the point-of-sale system assigns to each completed sale. It’s how customer service can pull up a transaction even without the original receipt — they scan the barcode at the bottom or key in the digits.

Naming and format vary. Walmart calls it the "TC#" (Transaction Code) and prints a 20-digit value. Target uses "REC#" (~20 digits). Home Depot prints a 12-digit "Trans #". Restaurants and bars use a "Check #". Gas stations use the "Auth #" (authorization code from the card processor) as the de facto transaction ID.

These codes are critical for authenticity when designing receipts. Walmart’s TC# always groups into specific digit patterns (commonly 4-4-4-4-4); a TC# that doesn’t match Walmart’s pattern is an instant tell.

In addition to the human-readable TC#, the same value is usually encoded in the Code 128 barcode at the bottom of the receipt for fast scanning at customer service.