ID and Cash Limits for Buying Gold in Egypt
Egypt has no legal cap on paying cash for gold as a private buyer. Tax rules require a shop's receipt to show your national ID number once it exceeds EGP 150,000, and gold dealers fall under anti-money-laundering rules (customer checks and suspicious-transaction reports) for cash deals of US$15,000 or the pound equivalent.
Facts checked 31 October 2026 · Not financial, legal or tax advice
At a glance
| Situation | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buying | National ID number on the receipt above EGP 150,000. | Foreigners give a passport number. Below that, your name goes on the receipt. |
| Paying cash | No legal cap for individuals. | The 2019 non-cash payments law sets cash limits for companies' payments, not for consumer purchases. |
| Selling | No published ID threshold found. | Tax experts say selling used gold is not taxed; deductions some shops make aren't a tax. |
| Reported | Suspicious transactions to the EMLCU. | Dealers' AML duties apply to cash deals of US$15,000 or more, including linked ones. |
The rules in detail
- Receipts: under Article 37 of the Unified Tax Procedures Law, receipts to consumers must show the buyer's name and, when the value exceeds EGP 150,000, the buyer's national ID number (passport for foreigners). The Tax Authority restated this in July 2024.
- Anti-money laundering: the executive regulations of AML Law 80/2002 make precious metal and stone dealers obliged businesses when they carry out cash transactions with a customer of US$15,000 or more (or the equivalent in pounds or another currency), including linked transactions that reach that total. The earlier threshold was EGP 200,000.
- For those deals the dealer must identify you and report any suspicion to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Combating Unit (EMLCU). No fixed-amount cash report for dealers was found.
- Cash law: Law 18/2019 on non-cash payments caps cash for certain payments by companies (for example EGP 5,000 to suppliers), but doesn't limit what an individual can pay in cash for jewellery or bullion.
When you sell
- No legal ID threshold for selling was found; shops may still ask for your national ID.
- Payment in cash is allowed.
- The Egyptian Tax Experts Association says there's no tax on selling used gold, and called the 2% some traders deduct unlawful.
Silver and travel
- Silver is a precious metal under the same AML rules.
- Travel: bringing gold in or out is covered on our travel-allowance page.
Gold ID and Cash Limits in Egypt: FAQ
Do I need ID to buy gold in Egypt?
For receipts above EGP 150,000, the shop must write your national ID number (or passport number) on the receipt. Below that, your name is enough.
Is there a cash limit for buying gold in Egypt?
No. Egypt's non-cash payments law limits cash for certain company payments, not purchases by individuals. Large cash deals of US$15,000 or more bring the dealer's anti-money-laundering checks into play.
Is there tax when I sell old gold in Egypt?
The Egyptian Tax Experts Association says selling used gold isn't taxed. New jewellery carries 14% VAT on the making charge, not on the gold.
Sources (5)
General information for individuals buying or selling gold, checked October 2026. Rules change and dealers may ask for more than the legal minimum; check with the dealer or the regulator. Not legal advice.