From 10 July 2027, a unified limit on cash payments will come into force across the European Union. Under the new EU regulation on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, businesses, sellers and service providers will no longer be permitted to accept or make cash payments of €10,000 or more.
All transactions exceeding this amount will be required to be conducted exclusively through traceable non-cash payment methods: bank transfers, cards, and electronic payment systems. Violations of the ban will result in liability for businesses.
European authorities explain the initiative as part of the fight against the black market, money laundering and terrorist financing. Cash is frequently used in shadow schemes precisely because of the difficulty of tracing it. The new regulation unifies the rules across the entire EU and closes loopholes that existed in countries with more lenient national restrictions.
An additional requirement is introduced for customer identification in cash transactions exceeding €3,000.
The ban applies primarily to commercial transactions — that is, payments to businesses (purchasing a car from a dealer, real estate from an agency, high-value goods and services).
Private transactions between individuals (for example, the sale of a used car from one citizen to another) will in most cases remain outside the scope of this restriction.
EU member states will be able to set even stricter national limits (below €10,000) should they choose to do so.
The regulation is officially scheduled to enter into force on 10 July 2027.