News in Brief

German Cash Limit in 2027

In Germany, consumers can pay in unlimited amounts of cash. Only for sums over €10,000 do buyers have to prove their identity and prove the origin of the money. However, a decision made by the European Union (EU) in 2024 comes into force in Germany in the summer of 2027 restricting cash payments to €10,000 for commercial transactions.

Buyers already have to prove their identity and prove the origin of the money for sums over €10,000, and retailers are obliged to document and store this information, but in the future, this will apply to sums of €3,000 and over. This regulation also significantly tightens the previous requirements for proof of identity.

The EU regulation sets a minimum standard. Existing stricter national regulations remain unaffected. France and Spain, for example, have set a limit of €1,000.