Slovakia Tightens Cash Payment Limits, Fines Up to €150,000 for Violations

From 1 January 2026 a new amendment to Slovakia’s cash‑payment law reduces the maximum amount that can be paid in cash. For transactions between two private individuals the limit remains €15,000, but any payment above that must be made by bank transfer, card or other electronic means. When a business, freelancer or other legal entity is involved, the cash limit drops to €5,000 and the same non‑cash requirement applies to both payer and payee.

Breaches are penalised heavily: private persons can be fined up to €10,000, while companies and other legal entities face fines that may reach €150,000. The law also warns against splitting large sums into multiple smaller cash payments, as the limit is assessed per contract rather than per individual receipt. Practical examples, such as the sale of a €12,000 car, illustrate how the rules differ for private‑private, dealer‑private and business‑business transactions.