Do I need an invoice to buy a water meter with the property?

Need. According to the Measures for the Administration of Invoices in People's Republic of China (PRC), when units and individuals sell goods, provide services and engage in other business activities, and collect money from outside, the payee shall issue invoices to the payer.

According to the nature of the property fee, the owner should ask the property company for a general or special VAT invoice when paying the property fee. When paying the parking fee, if the land is a public area owned by the owner, the property management company can provide a receipt. If the parking lot is for profit, the property management company will issue a VAT invoice.

And the property company that bought the water meter refused to invoice the property fee:

The property paid by the owners is based on the property service contract signed by the property management enterprise selected by the owners' committee and the owners' congress. Article 7 of the Regulations on Property Management promulgated by the State Council clearly stipulates that "paying property service fees on time" is a basic obligation of the owners. Therefore, even if the property must be invoiced, the owner cannot refuse to pay the property fee.

At the same time, according to Article 6 of the Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Laws in the Trial of Property Service Disputes (hereinafter referred to as the Interpretation), if the owner refuses to pay the property fee without justifiable reasons or fails to pay the property fee within a reasonable time limit, the people's court shall support the property service enterprise to request the owner to pay the property fee.

Therefore, the realty service enterprise has provided services in accordance with the contract and relevant regulations. If the owner does not pay the property fee on the grounds of not issuing the property fee invoice, it is difficult to get the support of the people's court, and the owner will bear the risk of losing the case.