The EU's EUR 10,000 cash limit from July 2027: who it binds
From 10 July 2027 traders in the EU may take or make cash payments only up to EUR 10,000. Who is bound, who is not, the cash limit by country today, the EUR 3,000 identification rule and what to do at the counter.
By Alberto RosasCo-founder & CEO, DiditUpdated 
In short
The EU cash limit of EUR 10,000 applies from 10 July 2027 to anyone who trades in goods or provides services: a business may not accept or make a cash payment above that amount, in one go or in linked instalments.[1] It does not cover payments between private individuals, and lower national limits stay.[1]
- EUR 10,000 is the EU ceiling for cash in trade (Article 80).
- EUR 3,000 is the cash amount from which an obliged entity must identify and verify the customer (Article 19(4)).
- Lower national limits, such as EUR 1,000 in France, continue to apply.[1][5]
The Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, puts one cash ceiling across the EU. The AMLR cash limit sits in Article 80 and reaches every business that sells goods or services, and any cash payment a customer makes to one.[1]
The regulation does not ban cash, it does not touch what two private people pay each other, and it does not replace the lower limits that many countries already have.[1] For the whole regulation, see AMLR explained.
What the EU cash limit of EUR 10,000 says
The first paragraph of Article 80 holds the whole rule.
Article 80(1)Regulation (EU) 2024/1624
"Persons trading in goods or providing services may accept or make a payment in cash only up to an amount of EUR 10 000 or the equivalent in national or foreign currency, whether the transaction is carried out in a single operation or in several operations which appear to be linked."
Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624[1]
The limit binds both sides: a business may neither accept nor make a cash payment above it, in any currency.[1]
The regulation applies from 10 July 2027, so the EU limit is not in effect yet. Until then, national law decides.[1]
- 9 July 2024In forceThe AMLR enters into force.
- 10 October 2024NotifiedMember States report existing lower limits to the Commission.
- 10 July 2027AppliesThe EUR 10,000 limit binds traders across the EU.
- 10 July 2030ReviewCommission report on adjusting the limit.
The dates of the cash limit, from Articles 80, 88 and 90 of the AMLR.[1]
Who the limit binds and who it leaves alone
The limit binds "persons trading in goods or providing services". That group is far wider than the obliged entities of Article 3: a trader outside the anti-money laundering rules is still under the cash limit.[1]
Bound by the limit
Trade
- A business that sells goods
- A business or professional that provides services
Article 80(1) AMLR
Outside the limit
Private and bank counter
- Payments between natural persons not acting in a professional capacity
- Payments or deposits at the premises of banks and payment providers
Article 80(4) AMLR
Article 80(4)Regulation (EU) 2024/1624
"The limit referred to in paragraph 1 shall not apply to: (a) payments between natural persons who are not acting in a professional capacity; (b) payments or deposits made at the premises of credit institutions, electronic money issuers [...] and payment service providers [...]."
Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624[1]
Selling a used car to a neighbour for EUR 12,000 in cash is outside Article 80 when neither side acts in a professional capacity. The same car bought from a dealer is inside it.[1] National rules can differ, so check the rule of your country.
Cash deposits at a bank are not capped, but deposits above the limit "shall be reported to the FIU", the financial intelligence unit.[1]
Member States must take "appropriate measures, including the imposition of penalties" against professionals suspected of a breach. The regulation sets no EU amount.[1]
Linked payments: splitting the bill does not get under the limit
The limit applies "whether the transaction is carried out in a single operation or in several operations which appear to be linked".[1]
Article 80 sets no number of days. Article 2(1), point (20), of the AMLR defines linked transactions as "two or more transactions with either identical or similar origin, destination and purpose, or other relevant characteristics, over a specific period".[1][3]
Example
A customer orders a EUR 14,000 kitchen and offers two cash payments of EUR 7,000, one week apart. Same buyer, same seller, same purpose: the operations appear linked and count as EUR 14,000. The trader should ask for a transfer or a card. This is an illustration, not a ruling.
The Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) announced its final draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) on linked transactions on 1 October 2026.[4] They set a specific period only for money remittance, currency exchange and crypto-asset exchange: two or more occasional transactions within one month.[3] They are written for the thresholds of Article 19, give no period for traders in goods, and are a final draft, not law.[2][3] See AMLA's final standards.
Cash limit by country: lower national limits stay
EUR 10,000 is a ceiling. Member States "may adopt lower limits following consultation of the European Central Bank", and existing lower national limits "shall continue to apply".[1]
The table shows the limits today, as read on 2 October 2026. The last column says whether the figure comes from an official national page or from a secondary source (a trade body, a law firm or the press). Confirm secondary rows with the national authority.
| Country | Cash limit today | Source of the figure |
|---|---|---|
| Greece | EUR 500 and above must go through a bank | Secondary, according to Taxheaven[14] |
| France | EUR 1,000 for a resident paying a professional | Official: Service-Public[5] |
| Spain | EUR 1,000 or more prohibited where a business or professional is a party | Secondary, according to El Confidencial[10] |
| Belgium | EUR 3,000 | Official: National Bank of Belgium[6] |
| Netherlands | EUR 3,000 or more banned for goods | Official: Rijksoverheid[7] |
| Portugal | EUR 3,000 or more prohibited; EUR 10,000 for non-resident individuals | Official: Banco de Portugal[8] |
| Italy | EUR 5,000 | Secondary, according to Confcommercio[11] |
| Denmark | Traders may not receive DKK 15,000 or more in cash | Secondary, according to Dansk Erhverv[12] |
| Poland | PLN 15,000 for payments between businesses | Secondary, according to GT Akademia[13] |
| Czechia | CZK 270,000 | Secondary, according to AK Schejbal[15] |
| Romania | Business limits under Law 70/2015, many below EUR 10,000 | Secondary, according to Adevărul[16] |
| Sweden | No general limit; traders handling cash of EUR 5,000 or more fall under the national act | Official: Swedish Police guidance[9] |
| Germany | No general limit | Secondary, according to tagesschau[17] |
| Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg | No statutory limit | Secondary, according to the European Consumer Centre Germany[18] |
Note
A national limit carries its own scope and exceptions, so read the rule, not only the number. For countries not listed we found no source solid enough to print a figure.
The EUR 3,000 rule: when a cash customer must be identified
EUR 3,000 is not a second cash limit. It triggers customer due diligence, and it binds obliged entities, not every shop.[1]
Article 19(4)Regulation (EU) 2024/1624
"By way of derogation from paragraph 1, point (b), obliged entities shall apply at least customer due diligence measures referred to in Article 20(1), point (a), when carrying out an occasional transaction in cash amounting to a value of at least EUR 3 000, or the equivalent in national currency, whether the transaction is carried out in a single operation or through linked transactions."
Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624[1]
| Words in the article | What they mean at the counter |
|---|---|
| Obliged entities | Only the businesses listed in Article 3, such as traders in high-value goods. An ordinary retailer is not on the list.[1] |
| At least Article 20(1), point (a) | Identify the customer and verify the identity.[1] |
| Occasional transaction in cash | A cash sale outside a business relationship.[3] |
| At least EUR 3 000, linked transactions | EUR 3,000 itself is in, and instalments are added together. |
Identifying means collecting the data set of Article 22: all names and surnames, place and full date of birth, nationalities, the national identification number where applicable and the usual place of residence.[1] Verifying means checking it against an identity document, passport or equivalent, or through electronic identification (eID) under the eIDAS regulation at assurance level substantial or high.[1] See AMLR identity verification.
Verification takes place before the occasional transaction is carried out. If it cannot be completed, the trader must refrain from the transaction and consider a report to the FIU.[1]
Article 19(4) adds that the EUR 3,000 rule "shall not apply where Member States have in place [...] a limit to large cash payments of EUR 3 000 or less", except for payments or deposits made at the premises of credit institutions, electronic money issuers and payment service providers.[1]
From EUR 10,000, any occasional transaction, in cash or not, triggers full customer due diligence for an obliged entity.[1] AMLA's final draft adds no lower thresholds.[2]
Which high-value goods traders become obliged entities
Article 3 brings in persons trading, as a regular or principal professional activity, in precious metals and stones or in high-value goods, plus those trading or intermediating in cultural goods.[1]
| Trader in | In scope when | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Jewellery, gold- or silversmith articles | Value exceeding EUR 10,000 | Annex IV(1) |
| Clocks and watches | Value exceeding EUR 10,000 | Annex IV(2) |
| Motor vehicles | Price exceeding EUR 250,000 | Annex IV(3) |
| Aircraft and watercraft | Price exceeding EUR 7,500,000 | Annex IV(4), (5) |
| Precious metals and stones | Gold, silver, platinum and five other listed metals; diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald | Art. 3(3)(e), Annex V |
| Cultural goods | Transaction or linked transactions of at least EUR 10,000 | Art. 3(3)(i) |
Traders that become obliged entities under Article 3(3) of the AMLR.[1]
A dealer selling EUR 30,000 cars is not an obliged entity under the AMLR, so the EUR 3,000 rule does not reach that dealer. The cash limit does.[1]
Traders in high-value goods must also report sales for non-commercial purposes of motor vehicles of at least EUR 250,000, and of watercraft or aircraft of at least EUR 7,500,000 (Article 74).[1] Duties per sector are in the AMLR checklist by obliged entity.
At the counter: what a merchant does with a cash payment
The two numbers combine into one decision at the till.
1Add up the cash
Count every instalment that appears linked to the same sale.
Where the cash total lands
Do not take it in cash
Above EUR 10,000 or your lower national limit: ask for a transfer or a card.
Obliged entity: identify first
Verify the identity before the sale. Other traders take the payment.
Take the payment
The amount alone triggers no identification under the AMLR.
2Keep the record
An obliged entity keeps the identity record for five years.
Decision flow for one cash sale, from Articles 19(4), 77 and 80 of the AMLR.[1]
A trader that is not an obliged entity has one AMLR duty at the counter: respect the limit. For an obliged entity, suspicion overrides every amount: due diligence applies "regardless of any derogation, exemption or threshold".[1]
What a small trader needs in practice
A jeweller with two employees has the same duty as a large firm. The list is short.
- Know your limit: EUR 10,000 or the lower national one.[1]
- Decide whether you are an obliged entity, using Article 3 and Annex IV.[1]
- Identify and verify the customer before a cash sale of EUR 3,000 or more.[1]
- Record what you checked and what you decided, with the supporting documents.[1]
- Keep the record for five years from the transaction, then delete the personal data.[1]
The five years also run from a refusal, so a sale that did not happen still leaves a record to keep.[1] In practice a small trader needs two things: a check that takes minutes while the customer waits, and a record that can still be found in year four.
Identification is one line of a longer list. An obliged entity also needs a risk assessment, written policies and a compliance officer.[1]
How Didit helps a trader with no compliance team
Didit gives a small trader the identification step as a hosted flow: the customer opens a link on a phone, captures the identity document and a face match, and the trader receives the result and the record. The article map is on the AMLR solution page.
Pricing is per check: a full identity check is $0.33, AML screening against sanctions and politically exposed person (PEP) lists is $0.20, and ongoing monitoring is $0.07 per person per year. Start free and see pricing. Session records keep for the period you configure, from 1 month to 10 years, with deletion on demand. Setup is in the AMLR guide in the docs.
Didit provides
- A hosted identity check: document capture, liveness and face match
- 14,000+ document types from 220+ countries and territories
- Sanctions and PEP screening as an optional step
- The record of each check, with the retention you set
Stays with you
- Knowing whether you are an obliged entity
- Respecting the cash limit at the till
- The decision to carry out the transaction
- FIU reporting and the record duty itself
Didit helps you meet the identification duty; it does not move it. An obliged entity that outsources a task "shall remain fully liable" for it.[1] See what Article 18 lets you outsource.
Identify a cash customer in minutes
Send a link, get a verified identity and a stored record, and pay per check.
Key takeaways
- From 10 July 2027, traders in goods and services may accept or make cash payments only up to EUR 10,000.
- Payments between private individuals and deposits at banks are outside the limit.
- Lower national limits continue to apply: check the cash limit by country.
- EUR 3,000 is an identification trigger for obliged entities, not a cash limit.
- An obliged trader keeps the identity record for five years, then deletes the personal data.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EU ban cash payments above EUR 10,000?
No. Article 80 of the AMLR limits cash payments to EUR 10,000 only for persons trading in goods or providing services. Payments between private individuals who are not acting in a professional capacity are outside it, and so are deposits at banks.
When does the EUR 10,000 cash limit start?
On 10 July 2027, the date from which the AMLR applies. Until then, national cash rules decide.
Is the cash limit the same in every EU country?
No. EUR 10,000 is the EU ceiling. Member States may adopt lower limits, and existing lower limits continue to apply. France, for example, limits a cash payment to a professional to EUR 1,000, according to Service-Public.
What is the difference between the EUR 10,000 and the EUR 3,000 thresholds?
EUR 10,000 is the ceiling for a cash payment in trade under Article 80. EUR 3,000 is the level at which an obliged entity must identify and verify the customer for an occasional cash transaction under Article 19(4).
Do I have to show ID to pay EUR 3,000 or more in cash?
Only when the seller is an obliged entity under Article 3, such as a trader in high-value goods. That seller must identify you and verify your identity before the sale. An ordinary retailer has no such duty under the AMLR.
Can I split a cash payment into smaller amounts to stay under the limit?
No. The limit covers a single operation and several operations which appear to be linked, so instalments for the same purchase are added together. Article 80 gives no number of days.
Can I still deposit more than EUR 10,000 in cash at my bank?
Yes. Payments and deposits at the premises of credit institutions and payment service providers are outside the limit. Deposits above it are reported to the financial intelligence unit.
What happens to a trader who accepts cash above the limit?
That depends on the country. Article 80(5) requires Member States to take appropriate measures, including penalties, against professionals suspected of a breach. The AMLR sets no EU amount.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR), EUR-Lex, Official Journal of 19 June 2024. Articles 3, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 74, 77, 80, 88 and 90, Annexes IV and V.
- Final Report, draft RTS under Article 19(9) AMLR, AMLA, announced 1 October 2026. Final draft, not adopted.
- Factsheet on the RTS under Article 19(9) AMLR, AMLA.
- AMLA finalises key standards for the private sector, AMLA press release, 1 October 2026.
- Paiement en espèces, Service-Public (France), official.
- Restriction of the use of cash, National Bank of Belgium, official.
- Verbod op contante betalingen vanaf EUR 3.000, Rijksoverheid (Netherlands), official.
- Aceitação como meio de pagamento, Banco de Portugal, official.
- Guidance for cash traders on money laundering, Swedish Police, official.
- El Confidencial, 20 August 2026 (Spain), secondary.
- Tetto al contante, Confcommercio (Italy), secondary.
- Kontantforbudsgrænsen nedsættes til 15.000 kr., Dansk Erhverv (Denmark), secondary.
- Przepisy AML, GT Akademia (Poland), secondary.
- Taxheaven (Greece), secondary.
- AML 2027, part 5, AK Schejbal (Czechia), secondary.
- Adevărul (Romania), secondary.
- tagesschau (Germany), secondary.
- Cash payment limits in Europe, European Consumer Centre Germany, secondary.
If you are an obliged trader, the identification step is the part to set up before July 2027. The AMLR solution page shows how each check maps to its article.
Set up your counter check before July
Configure the identity check your sales call for and keep the evidence of each one.