French Monetary and Financial Code
In forceI. - No payment may be made in cash or by electronic money in respect of a debt in excess of an amount set by decree, taking into account the debtor's place of residence for tax purposes, whether or not the transaction is for business purposes and the person for whose benefit the payment is made.
Above a monthly amount set by decree, the payment of salaries and wages is subject to the prohibition mentioned in the previous paragraph and must be made by crossed cheque or by transfer to a bank or post office account or to an account held by a payment institution or an electronic money institution that provides payment services.
When a professional buys metals from a private individual or another professional, payment must be made by crossed cheque or by transfer to an account opened in the name of the seller. Failure to comply with this obligation is punishable by a fifth-class fine.
II. - Notwithstanding the provisions of I, expenses for licensed services that exceed the sum of 450 euros must be paid by bank transfer.
II bis. - Notwithstanding I, payment for pawnbroking transactions may be made in cash or using electronic money, up to an amount set by decree.
III. - The preceding provisions do not apply to :
a) To payments made by persons who are unable to bind themselves by cheque or other means of payment, or by persons who do not have a deposit account ;
b) Payments made between natural persons not acting for business purposes;
c) Payment of the expenditure of the State and other public bodies;
d) Payments made in electronic money as part of the settlement of payments under Regulation (EU) 2022/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on a pilot scheme for market infrastructures based on distributed ledger technology and amending Regulations (EU) No 600/2014 and (EU) No 909/2014 and Directive 2014/65/EU.
