In recent years, the way Portuguese people make their payments has undergone profound changes. The pandemic led many consumers to move away from traditional notes and coins, giving preference to digital cards and applications to minimize direct contact. As a result, ‘live’ physical money lost its place in everyday purchases, including in supermarkets. Mercadona, taking this into account, started to apply maximum limits for cash payments.
Despite this trend, the use of cash continues to be permitted, but with well-defined rules. In the case of Mercadona in Portugal, the limits are clear and comply with current legislation: private consumers can make payments of up to 2,999 euros in cash for each purchase, while companies or professionals with organized accounting cannot exceed 999.99 euros, according to the Spanish digital newspaper Noticias Trabajo.
Law that defines the limits
The legal basis is provided for in article 63-E of the General Tax Law, included by Law no. 92/2017. This article determines that:
- It is prohibited to make payments or receive cash amounts equal to or greater than 3,000 euros;
- For IRC or IRS taxpayers with organized accounting (companies and professionals), the limit is reduced to 1,000 euros;
- For individuals not resident in Portugal, as long as they do not act as traders, the maximum limit increases to 10,000 euros.
- These provisions aim, according to the same source, to intensify the fight against money laundering and tax evasion, encouraging the use of payment methods that can be tracked.
What happens in Mercadona stores
In accordance with legislation, Mercadona in Portugal clarifies that:
- Private customers can pay up to 2,999 euros in cash for each transaction;
- Companies or professionals can only use cash up to a limit of 999.99 euros per invoice;
- Payment with coins is limited to 50 units per purchase, regardless of the value of each coin.
Additionally, stores accept banknotes of 200 and 500 euros, as long as the total purchase value does not exceed the maximum amount established by law.
Other payment methods available
In addition to cash, Mercadona accepts bank cards from the Visa, Mastercard and Maestro networks. It is also possible to make payments with digital solutions such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and banking applications associated with active cards.
However, methods such as PayPal or bank transfers remain unavailable as a direct form of payment in the chain’s stores, indicates the same source.
Why does this limit exist?
Setting limits for cash payments is not a decision exclusive to the retail sector, but rather a legal obligation that applies to all transactions in Portugal. The objective is to reinforce transparency, making high-value operations outside the financial system more difficult, says the .
With this framework, the State ensures that large amounts circulate preferably through banks, where they can be monitored. This measure protects both consumers and companies and contributes to reducing the parallel economy.
Curiosity
In Spain, the limit for cash payments is 1,000 euros when the transaction involves companies or professionals, and 10,000 euros in the case of non-resident individuals. In Germany and Austria there is no general legal limit, although identification of the payer is mandatory when the cash value exceeds 10,000 euros. In other European countries, restrictions are more stringent: in Greece, the limit is just 500 euros, and in France the maximum allowed for payments to merchants or professionals is 1,000 euros.
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