ID and Cash Limits for Buying Gold in Ireland
Ireland has no legal cap on paying cash for gold until the EU's €10,000 cap applies from 10 July 2027. A dealer or jeweller that takes €10,000 or more in cash becomes a high value goods dealer and must check your photo ID and proof of address first; card and bank-transfer purchases have no fixed ID threshold in law.
Facts checked 31 October 2026 · Not financial, legal or tax advice
At a glance
| Situation | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buying | Photo ID and a recent utility bill for cash payments of €10,000 or more, single or linked. | Applies to high value goods dealers, supervised by the Department of Justice's Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit. |
| Paying cash | No legal cap until 10 July 2027. | Then the EU cap of €10,000 applies to all traders. |
| Selling | No national ID or licensing law for gold buyers found. | Cash payment is allowed today; €10,000 cap from July 2027. |
| Reported | Suspicious transaction reports to both FIU Ireland and the Revenue Commissioners. | No automatic report of large cash sales. |
The rules in detail
- Under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, as amended, a business trading in goods is a designated person for cash payments to or by it totalling €10,000 or more, in one transaction or a series that appear to be linked.
- For these cash sales, AMLCU guidance tells dealers to take the customer's photo ID and a recent utility bill before the sale, record the payment method, complete a cash transaction form and keep the records for five years.
- Suspicions must be reported as soon as practicable to FIU Ireland (via goAML) and to Revenue (via ROS), at any amount. Splitting a payment to stay under €10,000 doesn't avoid the rules, because linked payments count together.
- From 10 July 2027 the EU AML Regulation applies directly: a €10,000 cash cap for traders, and precious-metals dealers become obliged entities whatever the payment method, with ID checks for cash from €3,000 and full checks from €10,000.
When you sell
- We found no Irish law that requires gold buyers to be licensed or to record the seller's ID for every purchase.
- A buyer paying you €10,000 or more in cash falls under the high value goods dealer rules and must identify you.
- Buyers don't withhold tax; any Capital Gains Tax is yours to report.
Silver and travel
- The dealer rules cover all goods, so silver is treated the same.
- Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared when travelling directly to or from a non-EU country, including Great Britain but not Northern Ireland. Gold coins at least 90% gold and bars at least 99.5% gold count as cash.
Gold ID and Cash Limits in Ireland: FAQ
Can I buy gold with cash in Ireland?
Yes, there is no cap until 10 July 2027, when the EU limit of €10,000 starts. For cash payments of €10,000 or more the dealer must take your photo ID and proof of address.
Do I need ID to buy gold in Ireland?
Not by law for card or bank-transfer payments. For cash of €10,000 or more, single or linked, the dealer must identify you before the sale.
Do I have to declare gold at Irish customs?
Yes, if you carry €10,000 or more in cash or investment gold (coins at least 90% gold, bars at least 99.5%) directly to or from a non-EU country, including Great Britain.
Sources (4)
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.