Cash Payment Cap of 10,000 Euros from July 2027: What Owners of Cash-Heavy Businesses Should Check Before a Sale

From 10 July 2027, businesses that offer goods or services may accept or make cash payments only up to 10,000 euros anywhere in the EU. The legal basis is Article 80 of the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (EU) 2024/1624; it applies directly, without a national implementing act. Germany and Austria have so far had no general cap. For the purchase of a business or of shares, we found no source applying the rule to them.

Anyone who wants to go about selling your company with a lot of cash takings still has a reason to prepare: buyers check where revenue comes from, and from 2027 there is a clearer yardstick for it. As of 26.10.2026; an overview, not legal advice.

What applies from 10 July 2027?

Persons who trade in goods or provide services may neither accept nor make cash payments of more than 10,000 euros. This also applies to payments that are evidently linked, that is made in several instalments.

Point	Rule
Legal basis	Art. 80 Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, applies from 10.07.2027 (Art. 90)
Who is bound	persons trading in goods or providing services
Limit	10,000 euros per payment; linked transactions are added together
Exceptions	payments between private individuals; payments on the premises of a credit institution
Stricter national limits	permitted; France and Spain already have 1,000 euros
Identification	obliged entities must verify identity for occasional cash transactions from 3,000 euros (Art. 19(4))

The regulation applies directly in all member states. How breaches are sanctioned is for the states to set; we have nothing conclusive on that for Germany and Austria.

What applies today in Germany and Austria?

Neither country has a general cash cap today. Both have duties tied to cash amounts, however.

Country	Today	From 10.07.2027
Germany	no cap; dealers in goods must identify customers for cash payments from 10,000 euros (for high-value goods from 2,000 euros); cash ban for property purchases since 01.04.2023 (§ 16a GwG)	EU cap of 10,000 euros
Austria	no cap; dealers identify customers for cash from 10,000 euros (§ 365m1 GewO)	EU cap of 10,000 euros

The Austrian entry rests on a summary; check it in the individual case. KPMG notes that dealers in goods will largely fall out of the Money Laundering Act because the regulation redraws who is obliged; we have not checked this against the text of the regulation. Korts (21.01.2026) doubts the EU's competence and does not regard Article 114 TFEU as a sound basis. Until a court decides otherwise, the regulation applies.

Which businesses are affected?

Businesses with individual cash payments above 10,000 euros. These are rarely consumer transactions, more often businesses with high-priced single items: car dealers, jewellers and precious metals traders, antiques, art, machinery and agricultural trade, boat sales. Construction work and trades with cash payment of the final invoice can also be reached.

For most businesses with cash takings practically nothing changes. A bakery, a hairdresser or a pub does not accept single amounts above 10,000 euros in cash. But anyone who regularly collects five-figure cash amounts will need a different payment route from July 2027.

How does this relate to the business sale?

Indirectly, through the buyer's review. On whether the cap applies to payment of the purchase price itself, we found no source. In practice, purchase prices in company sales run through a bank, a notary escrow account or a trustee anyway; cash payment is unusual and a point of scrutiny for buyer and seller alike. That is our assessment, not a rule.

More important is due diligence. For cash businesses buyers check particularly closely:

• Till records and cash revenue. Do the cash book, daily closings and bank deposits match? Irregularities lower the price or make buyers walk away. How buyers review is shown in the article What is due diligence.
• Origin of funds on the buyer's side. Banks and notaries check buyers and beneficial owners under harmonised rules. That takes time and belongs in the timetable; for foreign buyers especially.
• Payment routes in customer contracts. Anyone who has so far collected larger amounts in cash must be able to show how that will work from July 2027.

What should owners do now?

Analyse the cash revenue before a buyer does. Four steps are usually enough:

First: list individual payments above 10,000 euros over the last 24 months, including linked partial payments.

Second: change payment terms in general terms and quotations to bank transfer or card where cash was used so far.

Third: document the till procedure so that daily closings and bank deposits can be traced.

Fourth: keep a short description of the payment routes ready in the data room. What buyers usually request is shown in the articles on vendor due diligence and purchase price mechanics.

Which further changes in 2027 matter for sellers is summarised in the article tax changes in 2027 for business sellers.

Which further points buyers raise in 2027 is bundled in the article on due diligence 2027.

FAQ

When does the 10,000 euro cash cap apply?

From 10.07.2027 throughout the EU, including Germany and Austria.

Who is covered by the cap?

Persons who trade in goods or provide services. Payments between private individuals and payments on the premises of a credit institution are exempt.

Does it also apply to buying a business?

We found no source on that. In practice the purchase price is paid via a bank or notary escrow account; cash is unusual.

What changes for Germany and Austria?

Neither country has had a cap so far. There are identification duties for dealers above certain amounts and, in Germany, a cash ban for property purchases.

Can states set stricter limits?

Yes. France and Spain already have stricter limits at 1,000 euros.

What do buyers check in businesses with a lot of cash?

Till records, daily closings, bank deposits and the payment routes in customer contracts.

Sources: Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, Arts. 19, 80 and 90 (eur-lex.europa.eu); § 16a GwG; § 365m1 GewO (ris.bka.gv.at); KPMG, comments on the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation; Korts, article of 21.01.2026 on the competence basis. On effects on purchases of businesses and shares we have no reliable source. As of 26.10.2026. Overview, not legal advice.

Selling a company is the most important transaction of an entrepreneur's life. Get independent and discreet support — IGCP Capital Partners. → igcp.at