General Rules

Want to pay cash? Businesses are required to accept cash payments.

A business displaying a sign that cash payments are not accepted is breaking the law. They cannot refuse your cash payment.

Businesses allow cash payments of up to 3,000 euros. Cash transactions between private individuals are not subject to a limit.

Businesses are prohibited from charging additional fees for cash payments.

Exceptions

• Large denominations (high-value banknotes): a business may refuse large denominations if the value of the note is disproportionate to the amount due.
• Too many coins: a business may refuse to accept more than 50 coins at once.
• Insufficient cash on hand: if the company has insufficient cash to return change, this can be a valid reason to refuse large denominations.
• Security reasons: for temporary and exceptional security reasons, a business may refuse cash payments. However, the business must clearly inform you beforehand.
• Counterfeit banknotes: a business may reject banknotes if it suspects that they are counterfeit.
• Purchase of a house or plot of land: cash payments are not permitted when purchasing a house or a plot of land.