ID and Cash Limits for Buying Gold in Italy
Italy bans cash payments of €5,000 or more, gold included. Gold dealers must declare investment-gold deals of €10,000 or more to the UIF, Italy's financial intelligence unit, and when you sell to a compro oro shop you must always show ID and be paid by traceable means from €500.
Facts checked 31 October 2026 · Not financial, legal or tax advice
At a glance
| Situation | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buying | Gold deals of €10,000 or more are declared to the UIF by the dealer. | Covers investment gold and raw gold; ordinary jewellery is excluded. |
| Paying cash | Cash must stay under €5,000. | Fines of €1,000–€50,000 for both payer and seller. |
| Selling | ID every time at a compro oro; no cash from €500. | The shop must be on the OAM register and keep a record with photos. |
| Reported | UIF gold declaration from €10,000; suspicious transactions to the UIF. | Same-counterparty deals of €2,500+ in a month are added up. |
The rules in detail
- The cash limit has been €5,000 since 1 January 2023, and the 2026 budget left it unchanged. Both payer and recipient can be fined: €1,000–€50,000 for amounts up to €250,000.
- Under Law 7/2000, as amended by Legislative Decree 211/2024, gold transactions of €10,000 or more must be declared to the UIF (the threshold was €12,500 until 17 January 2025). Deals of the same type with the same counterparty in a calendar month count if each is at least €2,500 and together they reach €10,000.
- When a bank or professional gold dealer is a party, the declaration is the dealer's job, even when it's selling to you. Jewellery is excluded unless it's going to be melted down.
- The EU's €10,000 cash cap from July 2027 doesn't raise Italy's lower €5,000 limit.
When you sell
- Shops that buy used gold (compro oro) must be on the OAM register and identify you with an ID document (Legislative Decree 92/2017).
- For each purchase they record your details, a description and two photos of the item, and the price and payment method, and they keep this for 10 years.
- Payment of €500 or more must be traceable (no cash), even if split into smaller amounts; the shop can't resell or alter the item for 10 days.
Silver and travel
- The cash limit and compro oro rules also cover silver; the UIF gold declaration covers gold only.
- Carrying €10,000 or more in cash, gold coins (at least 90% gold) or bars (at least 99.5%) into or out of the EU must be declared to Customs (ADM).
Gold ID and Cash Limits in Italy: FAQ
How much cash can I pay for gold in Italy?
Less than €5,000. Payments of €5,000 or more must be made by card, bank transfer or another traceable method.
Can a compro oro pay me in cash?
Only below €500. From €500, even if the payment is split into smaller amounts, the shop must pay by a traceable method such as a bank transfer.
Is buying gold reported in Italy?
Gold transactions of €10,000 or more, such as investment bars and coins, are declared to the UIF by the dealer. Jewellery isn't covered unless it will be melted.
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.