TIM PEC Receipts Guide: How to Read Them Without Errors

Certified Electronic Mail (PEC) represents a true digital revolution in the Italian landscape, a bridge between the tradition of the paper registered letter and the need for immediacy in the contemporary world. Created to speed up communications with the Public Administration, PEC is today an indispensable tool for companies, professionals, and citizens. Its legal value, equivalent to that of a registered letter with return receipt, is based on a system of receipts that attest to its sending and delivery. Fully understanding the meaning of TIM PEC acceptance and delivery receipts is fundamental to using this tool with awareness and security, avoiding errors that could compromise its validity.

This article aims to be a clear and complete guide to correctly interpreting PEC system notifications. We will analyze the substantial differences between the various types of receipts, their format, and their legal meaning, providing practical examples and precise indications. The goal is to transform an apparently technical operation into a simple and safe daily gesture, in line with a culture, like the Mediterranean one, that combines respect for legal formalities with the adoption of innovative solutions. We will delve into how to manage and preserve these important notifications, ensuring the full validity of your certified communications.

PEC: An innovation with legal value

Certified Electronic Mail is much more than a simple email. It is a communication system regulated by the Digital Administration Code (Legislative Decree no. 82/2005) that guarantees the enforceability of communications against third parties. This means that, in the event of a dispute, the receipts generated by the system constitute legal proof. The process always involves four actors: the sender, their PEC provider (such as TIM), the recipient, and the recipient’s PEC provider. Every step is tracked and certified. When a message is sent from one PEC mailbox to another, the system generates two fundamental notifications that together equal the traditional registered letter with return receipt. It is this architecture, supervised by the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID), that gives PEC its uniqueness and reliability.

Acceptance Receipt: The first certified step

The acceptance receipt is the first notification the sender receives, usually a few moments after sending the message. This electronic document does not confirm that the email has arrived at its destination, but attests to a crucial step: the acceptance of the message by your PEC provider. In practice, the sender’s provider (TIM, in this case) certifies that it has received the message and forwarded it correctly to the recipient’s server. The receipt contains essential data such as the date and time of sending, subject, sender, recipients, and a unique identification code. This receipt already has intrinsic legal value because it demonstrates the sender’s intent to send a specific communication at a precise moment.

Delivery Receipt: The definitive proof

The delivery receipt is the document that completes the certification cycle and gives the message the full legal value of a registered letter with return receipt. It is generated by the recipient’s PEC provider and sent to the sender to attest that the message was successfully delivered to the recipient’s mailbox. It is important to underline a fundamental difference compared to traditional emails: delivery is considered to have taken place the moment the message is made available in the recipient’s mailbox, regardless of whether the latter has read it or not. Just like a registered letter delivered to a mailbox, the PEC is considered legally received even if it is not opened.

The different forms of the Delivery Receipt

The delivery receipt is not always the same. Depending on settings and needs, it can appear in three different types, all legally valid. The Complete version is the most exhaustive: it contains the certification data and also a full copy of the original message, including attachments. The Brief version includes the certification data and only an excerpt of the message. Finally, the Synthetic version reports only the certification data and is typically used for recipients included in carbon copy (Cc). For maximum security and to have complete proof of the content sent, the complete receipt is always the recommended choice.

How to read and interpret TIM PEC receipts

PEC receipts, both acceptance and delivery, appear as normal emails in the inbox. To distinguish them easily, it is useful to pay attention to the subject and the sender. Usually, the sender is a provider system address (e.g., `posta-certificata@telecompost.it`) and the subject clearly specifies the nature of the notification, such as “ACCETTAZIONE:” (Acceptance) or “AVVENUTA CONSEGNA:” (Delivery Successful). Inside the message, in addition to explanatory text, there are attachments. The most important is a file with an .xml extension (e.g., `daticert.xml`) which contains all certification data digitally signed by the provider. In the case of a complete receipt, an .eml file will also be present, which is the exact copy of the original message sent. Correct configuration of TIM PEC and the use of the official app can simplify the viewing and management of these notifications.

What to do in case of non-delivery or anomaly

The sending process does not always go smoothly. If the system fails to deliver the message within 24 hours, the recipient’s provider sends the sender a non-delivery receipt. The causes can be various: the recipient’s PEC mailbox might be full or no longer active. Another common case is the “Message Anomaly” notice. This usually occurs when sending a PEC to an ordinary email address (PEO) or vice versa. Sending a PEC to a normal email causes the loss of the legal value of delivery, as you will only receive the acceptance receipt but not the delivery receipt. This is a situation to avoid if you need legal proof of sending. If you receive anomaly messages, it is crucial to verify the recipient’s address and its nature (PEC or PEO).

Preserving receipts: An obligation not to be underestimated

Acceptance and delivery receipts are the pillars of the PEC’s legal value. Therefore, their preservation is as important as the sending itself. It is not enough to save them as normal emails; it is necessary to preserve them in a way that maintains their integrity and validity over time, including enforceability against third parties. PEC providers keep transmission logs for a limited period, usually 30 months. For this reason, it is advisable to adopt a secure archiving system, perhaps using compliant preservation services that guarantee the immutability of digital documents over the long term. Creating dedicated folders in your mailbox or saving complete receipts (with the original message) in a digital archive on your computer is a good practice to start with. This is a fundamental step to protect yourself in case of future disputes. If you have doubts about the difference between email and PEC, you can learn more with our guide to the differences between Alice and TIM.

Conclusions

TIM Certified Electronic Mail is a powerful tool that blends digital efficiency with legal certainty, a perfect synthesis of innovation and tradition. Learning to read and interpret acceptance and delivery receipts correctly is an essential skill for anyone using PEC for important communications, both in professional and private spheres. The acceptance receipt confirms the message has been taken charge of, while the delivery receipt certifies its delivery, completing the legal value comparable to a registered letter with return receipt. Paying attention to anomaly messages and meticulously preserving all receipts are practices that guarantee maximum legal protection. Understanding these mechanisms means fully mastering a fundamental tool for the digital life of every Italian citizen and professional, transforming a regulatory obligation into a valuable opportunity for efficiency and security. For optimal space management, remember to keep your mailbox clean, as explained in our guide on how to act when email space is exhausted.

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Francesco Zinghinì

Electronic Engineer with a mission to simplify digital tech. Thanks to his background in Systems Theory, he analyzes software, hardware, and network infrastructures to offer practical guides on IT and telecommunications. Transforming technological complexity into accessible solutions.

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