In France, payment methods are governed by several laws that require acceptance of certain methods and sanction the refusal of others. Currently, there are many payment options for physical and online stores, including cash, bank cards, checks, instant bank transfers, and mobile payments.

Payment trends can change quickly. For example, digital payments are now the most common payment method in France. In 2024, the number of card payments made at convenience stores surpassed cash payments for the first time—with 48% of transactions by card versus 43% by cash. Even so, cash still has its place: 60% of customers feel it’s important to be able to pay in cash, and 94% of French brick-and-mortar businesses still accept it.

It is more important than ever for businesses to know which payment methods they are required to accept and which ones they can refuse. They must also be aware of the legal and commercial consequences. The choice of payment methods can directly affect a business’s liquidity, conversion rates, and in certain cases, legal liability.

In this article, we explain what businesses need to know about their rights and obligations regarding payment methods, including which payment methods are mandatory and which are optional. We also discuss potential sanctions for violations and best practices.

Key takeaways

• In France, cash in euros is the only legal tender. Physical stores must accept cash as a form of payment, except in specific cases provided for by law.
  
• Businesses can refuse bank cards, checks, or bank transfers or require minimum amounts to use those methods, as long as they inform customers before the transaction begins.
  
• Businesses cannot charge fees for specific payment methods, even to offset bank fees or commissions.
  
• For physical stores, businesses must prominently display the payment methods they accept or refuse and their terms for doing so. For online stores, businesses must inform customers of payment terms at the start of the ordering process.
  
• Failure to inform customers about payment methods can lead to heavy fines. In addition, accepting a variety of payment methods can reduce abandoned carts, ensure collection, and boost sales.
  

Are certain payment methods mandatory in France?

Cash in the form of euros is the only payment method in France considered legal tender. Physical stores cannot refuse payment in cash, except in certain cases provided for by law. Refusal of cash payments is punishable under Article R642-3 of the Criminal Code, which sanctions the refusal of banknotes or coins considered legal tender.

Though brick-and-mortar businesses are required to accept payment in cash, nothing requires them to accept bank cards, cheques, or bank transfers. The one exception to the rule involves taxi drivers. Article L3121-11-2 of the Transport Code states that taxi drivers are required to accept bank card payments in addition to cash. The rule is unique to the industry and is intended to ensure customers have access to accessible service. Article L3121-1 of the Transport Code also stipulates that taxis must be equipped with electronic payment terminals.

Until 2025, members of a certified tax assistance centre (centre de gestion agréé, or CGA) or certified tax assistance association (association de gestion agréée, or AGA) had to accept cheques or bank cards, in application of Article 1649 quater E bis of the General Tax Code. However, this programme no longer exists. On 16 February, Article 11 of Law No. 2025-127 of 14 February 2025 repealed all legal frameworks for certified tax assistance organisations.

Will cash acceptance rules change?

The European Commission has proposed a regulation that would clarify the obligation to accept cash payments in EU law and create stricter laws surrounding permitted reasons for refusal. Though France has laws that sanction the refusal of cash payments, there is no law that explicitly requires businesses to accept cash.

On 28 June 2023—as part of a single currency package and parallel to a proposal for digital euros—the European Commission presented a proposal related to the legal tender status of euro banknotes and coins. This law would define legal tender in terms of three cumulative effects: mandatory acceptance at full face value with the power to discharge debt.

Four items in the proposal affect businesses directly:

• Affirmative obligation of acceptance
  Physical businesses will not be able to refuse banknotes or coins in euros presented as payment. There are exceptions in certain cases and if the parties agree to other payment methods.
  
• Explicit ban on additional fees
  Article 4 of the proposal would prohibit charging additional fees for paying debts with banknotes or coins.
  
• Stricter reasons for refusal
  Article 5 of the proposal would permit cash to be refused only in good faith and for proportionate, legitimate, temporary reasons due to circumstances outside the business’s control. For example, a business can refuse a cash payment if the value of the banknote presented is clearly disproportionate to the debt or if the business cannot make change.
  
• Monitoring of refusal notices
  Article 7 of the proposal would require member states to monitor notices containing unilateral refusals of cash payments. These include terms such as “cash not accepted,” which would lead to corrective measures if the refusal didn’t follow the law.
  

Article 2 of the proposal exempts payments for goods or services purchased remotely, including online. Therefore, e-commerce sites would not be affected by the stricter rules on accepting cash payments.

The European Commission’s proposal is still being negotiated by the European Parliament and the European Council. In a speech on 3 June 2026, a member of the European Central Bank’s executive board called for negotiations to be finalised and the package to be adopted by 1 January 2027, exactly 25 years after the euro first went into circulation.

Can businesses refuse certain payment methods?

Aside from specific cases, businesses are free to refuse any payment method except cash. They can refuse cheques, bank cards, or bank transfers or set a minimum or maximum transaction amount, as long as they clearly inform the customer before the transaction begins.

However, there are two constraints. Businesses are not allowed to do the following:

• Discriminate against customers
  Under Article 225-1–Article 225-4 of the Criminal Code, businesses cannot refuse payment methods based on a customer’s origin, place of residence, age, or any other protected class.
  
• Excessively divide cheque payments
  Article R163-1 of the Monetary and Finance Code imposes penalties on any business that, for a debt exceeding €15, demands or induces the issuance of one or more cheques in an amount of €15 or less.
  

Can brick-and-mortar businesses refuse cash payments?

No, physical businesses cannot refuse payment in cash, except in the following six cases: foreign currencies, damaged coins or banknotes, payments using more than 50 coins, suspicion of counterfeit currency, inability to make change, or general reasons.

Here are more details about each scenario:

• Foreign currency
  Only euro banknotes and coins are considered legal tender in France. Businesses can refuse payment in other currencies.
  
• Damaged banknotes
  Businesses can refuse banknotes that are torn or illegible or that might be rejected by banks upon deposit.
  
• Payment in more than 50 coins
  Businesses are not required to accept more than 50 coins in a single payment. The only exceptions are issuing authorities and specific persons designated by national legislation. Businesses have the option of refusing payment but are not required to do so.
  
• Lack of correct change
  It is the customer’s responsibility to present the correct change. Businesses that are unable to make change are permitted to refuse payment.
  
• Suspicion of counterfeit currency
  If a business suspects a banknote is not genuine, it can check the customer’s identity and refuse payment.
  
• General reasons
  The courts have ruled that certain refusals are permitted if the constraints on the customers are proportionate to the situation. For example, a town can accept payment for parking only via prepaid card—instead of cash—to circumvent theft from parking meters.
  

Cash payments are also subject to legal maximums. Articles L112-6 et seq. of the Monetary and Finance Code prohibit payment in cash of debts over €1,000 if France is the customer’s tax residence or if the customer is acting as a business. Payments are capped at €10,000 if the customer’s tax residence is outside of France, the customer is not acting as a business, or the payee is not subject to money laundering laws. The cap is €15,000 if the payee is subject to money laundering laws.

In 2024, only 6% of customers in France experienced one or more rejected cash payments.

Can businesses refuse bank card payments?

Yes, there is no law requiring businesses—other than taxi drivers—to accept bank cards. Businesses are free to refuse cards or to require a minimum charge, as long as the rules are prominently posted or appear in the general conditions of sale.

Businesses can require a minimum charge for card payments. This is common at convenience stores, where card commissions can deplete a significant portion of payments. If a minimum charge is required, it must be displayed prominently before checkout.

Businesses can also choose to accept only certain kinds of bank cards. For example, they can refuse corporate cards issued in a company’s name—because those cards charge higher fees—but accept card payments from individuals.

The European regulation on interchange fees prohibits card networks such as Visa and Mastercard from requiring acceptance of all card types from their brand. The decision of which cards to accept must be based on objective criteria—such as the card type and not the customer’s identity—and must be announced before checkout.

Can businesses refuse payment by cheque?

Yes, businesses can refuse payment by cheque, as long as the businesses inform customers ahead of time via clear, prominently displayed notices or include the information in their general terms of sale online. Businesses can also set minimum or maximum charges for each payment type.

Article L131-15 of the Monetary and Finance Code requires persons paying by cheque to prove their identities with official photo identification, such as national identification cards, passports, or driver’s licences.

Can businesses charge fees based on the payment method?

No, Article L112-12 of the Monetary and Finance Code prohibits businesses from charging fees for specific payment methods. However, businesses can offer discounts for certain payment methods, as long as they inform the customer before the transaction begins.

Businesses cannot charge customers fixed fees, additional percentages, or higher prices to cover commissions. Bank card fees and online payment fees are also prohibited. Although the Monetary and Finance Code contains exceptions for specific cases, such fees are completely prohibited in practice.

What information are businesses required to provide about payment methods they do or don't accept?

Before transactions begin, businesses must inform customers of the payment methods they do or don't accept and applicable conditions. At points of sale, the information must be displayed prominently. According to the Consumer Code, this information must appear before the online ordering process begins.

Businesses that refuse certain payment methods must state this up front. Refusal at the time of payment without prior notice violates the law, even if the decision is for legitimate commercial reasons. The same applies to any payment constraint, including outright refusals of specific payment methods or minimum and maximum charges.

Mandatory notices at points of sale

At points of sale, payment information must be prominently displayed. Notices must be placed at the payment area and must be easy to read. The phrasing must indicate the relevant payment methods and any minimum or maximum charges (e.g., "We do not accept cheques," "Cheques over €20 only," or "€10 minimum for bank card payments").

This obligation is part of a general requirement to inform customers of prices and special conditions of sale, as stated in Article L112-1 of the Consumer Code. The government has confirmed that this obligation applies to payment methods. Violations are punishable as stated in Article L131-5 of the Consumer Code.

Mandatory online notices

Article L221-14 of the Consumer Code requires e-commerce sites to indicate accepted payment methods and any shipping restrictions clearly and legibly and no later than at the start of the ordering process. Information must be displayed before the payment page.

Furthermore, the button used to confirm the order must be clearly labelled with "Place Order and Pay" or a similar, unambiguous phrase. Buttons simply labelled "Confirm" or "Continue" do not meet the requirement.

Before orders are placed, businesses must also provide customers with brief descriptions of the goods or services, prices, and contract lengths, if applicable.

Sanctions for violating payment method obligations

Sanctions for violating payment method obligations vary depending on the violation. These include fines of €150 for wrongful refusal of cash; €3,000–€15,000 for failure to notify customers of refusals; up to €375,000 for charging fees for specific payment methods; and three years in prison for discriminatory refusals.

Here are more details about these sanctions:

• Wrongful refusal of cash payments
  Article R642-3 of the Criminal Code stipulates a fine of €150 for refusals not permitted by law, no matter the commercial justification.
  
• Refusal of payment methods without notice
  Article L131-5 of the Consumer Code stipulates a fine of €3,000 for individuals and €15,000 for legal entities. Note: The fine is for failure to provide information, not for the refusal itself.
  
• Fees for specific payment methods
  Charging fees for specific payment methods is punishable by a fine of €75,000 for individuals and €375,000 for legal entities.
  
• Discrimination against customers
  Article 225-1–Article 225-4 of the Criminal Code stipulates three years in prison and a €45,000 fine for refusing a payment method based on a protected class, such as a customer’s place of residence or age.
  
• Division of payments into checks less than or equal to €15
  Article R163-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code stipulates a fine of €1,500 for individuals and €7,500 for legal entities.
  

Why do businesses need to accept a variety of payment methods?

Accepting multiple payment methods can increase sales, reduce lost opportunities, improve conversion rates, broaden potential customer bases by adapting to customer habits, reduce the risk of failed payments, and secure liquidity.

Reduce friction and abandoned carts

Checkout is the last point of friction before orders are finalised. Failure to offer a customer's desired payment method can turn a certain sale into an abandoned cart, when the cost of acquisition has already been paid. Offering a variety of payment methods reduces friction and prevents abandoned carts at the final step.

Adapt to growing trends

French customers are turning more to innovative payment methods, such as instant bank transfers and mobile payments. Payments by card via mobile device have risen by 53.6% in volume, accounting for 2.4 billion transactions. In addition, 10% of total payments are made by card and 15% by proximity card. Still, cash remains popular among French customers, representing 43% of transactions at points of sale.

It is important for businesses to adapt to customer payment habits and offer the payment methods that customers actually use.

Ensure continuous operations

Businesses that only accept card payments can have payments blocked if their terminal or internet connection goes down or there is an issue with a payment processor. Offering an alternative – such as cash or bank transfers – allows businesses to continue taking payments.

Reduce failed payments

Instant bank transfers and card payments with robust authentication are better than cheques at ensuring collections. By accepting a wider range of payment methods, businesses can guide customers towards the safest methods without refusing others.

Best practices for accepting payments

Here are the best practices to follow to avoid disputes and simplify collections:

• Post payment information where customers can see it
  At points of sale, post information prominently at the register where customers can see it before transactions begin. Online businesses need to clearly indicate accepted payment methods before the order funnel, not at the payment stage.
  
• Keep general conditions of sale up to date
  Any change in accepted payment methods must be reflected in the general conditions of sale. In customer disputes, discrepancies weaken a business’s stance.
  
• Always ask for identification for check payments
  Article L131-15 of the Monetary and Finance Code requires customers to show photo identification.
  
• Give cashiers tools to detect counterfeit banknotes
  If a banknote is accepted but found to be counterfeit, the payment is a loss. An automatic detector is inexpensive and verifies security features quickly. It also provides an objective basis for refusal. This protects the business if there is a customer dispute.
  
• Always retain payment confirmations for large transactions
  Receipts and transaction statements serve as proof if there is a dispute.
  
• Keep sufficient change on hand
  While it is the customer’s responsibility to provide exact change, a repeated inability to make correct change weakens the business’s argument for refusing cash.
  
• Review payment policies at least once a year
  Trends move quickly, and collection fees can change. In addition, the European regulations on accepting cash can become stricter.
  

How Stripe Payments can help

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Learn more about how Stripe Payments can power your online and in-person payments or get started today.

FAQs about accepting and refusing payments