Can I accept more than 3.000 € in cash from a customer?
In short
No. A business may accept at most 3.000 € in cash for goods or services. Anything above that must be paid by bank transfer or card.
Video transcript
A customer wants to pay cash for a car they're buying from you. The amount is over 3.000 €. Not allowed: A business can accept at most 3.000 € in cash per sale. Splitting the payment into parts is against the rules too. The right way: Take anything above 3.000 € by bank transfer or card. Consequences: Fine: Up to 10% of the cash; Maximum: 1.800.000 €; Liable: Both payer and receiver.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- The cash limit a business can accept when selling goods or services is 3.000 €.
- Any amount above the limit must be paid by bank transfer, card or another electronic method.
- Splitting a payment into parts to stay under the limit is also against the rules.
- Be especially careful with large sales such as cars, gold or wedding services.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- A fine (through a criminal case): up to 10% of the cash paid against the rules, with a maximum of 1.800.000 €. Officials of the Ministry of Economy can give a warning or propose a settlement amount.
Legal basis:Witwaswet 18.9.2017, art. 137, 1°
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence (a level 1 offence since 1 September 2026).
Legal basis:Witwaswet 18.9.2017, art. 137
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Both the person who pays and the person who receives can be held responsible
Legal basis:Witwaswet 18.9.2017, art. 67 §2
- A tax and money laundering investigation can be started
- A tax surcharge if undeclared sales are found
Legal basis:WIB 92, art. 444
Why does this rule exist?
The cash limit prevents money laundering and tax evasion. When large payments can be traced, honest businesses are protected from unfair competition.
Where can you go?
- Accountant or social secretariatDimona, e-invoicing and tax obligations
- Organisations for self-employed peopleFlanders: Unizo · Wallonia and Brussels: UCM
- Tax office (FOD Financiën / SPF Finances)Declaring foreign property and accounts
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 6 / 6 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 6 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
İşletme mal/hizmet karşılığı en fazla 3.000 € nakit kabul edebilir
FOD Economie – Cashbetaling? Maximaal 3.000 euro (01.03.2018); güncellik: Kamer DOC 56 0576/001 - Found in an official source
Ödemeyi bölmek kurala aykırı
FOD Economie - Corrected according to the source
İdari ceza: kurala aykırı nakit tutarın en fazla %10'u; ödeyen ve alan birlikte sorumlu tutulabilir
Witwaswet 18.9.2017, art. 137, 1° - Found in an official source
Nakit sınırı ihlali 1 Eylül 2026'dan beri niveau 1 straf ile cezalandırılır; para cezası ödemenin %10'unu aşamaz
Witwaswet 18.9.2017, art. 137 - Found in an official source
3.000 € üstü nakit ödeme ne yapılabilir ne kabul edilebilir
Witwaswet 18.9.2017, art. 67 §2 - Found in an official source
Beyan edilmeyen gelir için %10–200 vergi artırımı
WIB 92, art. 444
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?