In Belgium, when a private individual sells gold to a professional, they may receive a maximum of €500 in cash. The balance must be paid by a traceable method, in practice a bank transfer or an exchange for investment values. This rule specific to precious metals is distinct from the general €3,000 ceiling and comes with mandatory identification of the seller. Gold & Silver Company, an approved Neo-smelter refinery in Dottignies (Mouscron), strictly applies this legal framework.
The essentials in brief
- Legal ceiling: a maximum of €500 in cash when precious metals are bought by a professional in Belgium.
- The balance must be paid by a traceable method, in practice a bank transfer or an exchange for investment values on invoice.
- Identification of the seller is mandatory: presentation of an identity document.
- The general Belgian rule of €3,000 in cash does not apply to the purchase of precious metals (source: FPS Economy), even though you may yourself buy investment values in cash up to €3,000.
- Splitting a sale to circumvent the ceiling is prohibited, but a staggered patrimonial settlement is tolerated.
What is the maximum amount of cash when selling gold to a professional?
Belgian law sets a specific ceiling for the purchase of precious metals by a professional: a maximum of €500 in cash, whatever the total amount of the transaction. Anything above those €500 must be paid by a traceable payment method, that is, in practice, a bank transfer to the seller's account or an exchange traced by invoice.
This ceiling applies to the transaction, not to the seller or to the day: a gold sale of €2,000, €8,000 or €20,000 entitles you, in all cases, to a maximum of €500 in cash. A professional offering to pay a gold sale of several thousand euros entirely in cash in the European Union would be placing themselves outside the law, and you with them.
Does the general €3,000 rule apply to the sale of gold?
No. Belgium has a general rule limiting cash payments to €3,000. Many sellers therefore think they can receive up to €3,000 in cash for their gold. That is inaccurate: the purchase of precious metals by a professional is subject to a stricter regime, with a ceiling lowered to €500, as the FPS Economy points out. The €3,000 rule therefore does not apply to the sale of gold, silver or other precious metals to a professional. Our entity outside the European Union allows you, after opening a documented file, to receive beyond the limit imposed in Europe. If you wish to open a file, please contact us by email at [email protected] or by telephone on +32 56 33 19 96.
| Situation | Cash ceiling | Settlement of the balance |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase of precious metals (gold, silver) by a professional | €500 | Bank transfer mandatory |
| General rule for cash payments in Belgium | €3,000 | Does not apply to the purchase of precious metals (source: FPS Economy) |
Concrete example: how much cash for a sale of €8,000?
Take a sale of gold jewellery estimated at €8,000 at a Belgian professional:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total sale price | €8,000 |
| Cash payment (legal maximum) | €500 |
| Payment by bank transfer | €7,500 |
The seller can therefore leave with a maximum of €500 in cash; the remaining €7,500 are transferred to their bank account. Conversely, a sale whose total amount is below €500, for example €450, can be paid entirely in cash, since the ceiling is not reached.
Can a sale be split to receive more cash?
No. Artificially splitting one and the same sale into several transactions, for example selling your jewellery in four lots to receive four times €500 in cash, is a circumvention of the legal ceiling and it is prohibited. A serious, approved professional will refuse this kind of arrangement.
For substantial estates, there is however a perfectly legal approach: the staggered patrimonial settlement, decided by mutual agreement with the client. The sale is recorded normally, the €500 cash ceiling applies once, and the balance is paid by transfers scheduled over time, when the client wishes, for reasons of wealth organisation. At Gold & Silver Company, this arrangement is discussed on site, at the time of the appraisal.
What are the identification obligations when selling gold?
The law requires the professional to identify every seller of precious metals. In practice, you must present an identity document (identity card or passport) at the time of the transaction. The professional records the sale and keeps a register of transactions.
These obligations protect the seller as much as the buyer: they guarantee the traceability of the items, keep out channels for stolen goods and assure you that you are dealing with a controlled operator. A shop that asks you for no identity document or offers you full payment in cash should alert you.
How does payment work at Gold & Silver Company?
Gold & Silver Company is a Neo-smelter refinery open to the public in Dottignies (Mouscron), approved by the Royal Mint of Belgium (MRB), controlled by an accredited assayer. The appraisal of your gold is free and the analysis is carried out on site. After your agreement on the proposed price, payment follows the Belgian legal framework: up to €500 in cash at the office, the balance by bank transfer to your account within 5 business days. Your identity document is requested at each transaction and the sale is recorded in our registers.
Contact details of Gold & Silver Company
Gold & Silver Company SRL
Rue Arthur Roelandt 22
7711 Dottignies (Mouscron), Belgium
Telephone: +32 56 33 19 96
VAT: BE 0669.720.761
Website: goldandsilvercompany.com
Neo-smelter refinery open to the public, approved by the Royal Mint of Belgium (MRB), controlled by an accredited assayer. Free appraisal, on-site analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be paid entirely in cash if my sale is below €500?
Yes. The legal ceiling concerns the amount paid in cash when precious metals are bought by a professional: a maximum of €500. If the total price of your sale is below this threshold, for example €300 or €450, payment can be made entirely in cash. Identification remains mandatory in all cases: you present your identity document and the transaction is recorded in the professional's register.
Why does the general €3,000 ceiling not apply to the sale of gold?
The general Belgian rule limits cash payments to €3,000, but the legislator has provided a stricter regime for the purchase of precious metals by a professional, with a ceiling lowered to €500. The FPS Economy points out this distinction. In other words, the €3,000 rule does exist, but it is set aside in the particular case of the sale of gold or silver to a professional: the €500 ceiling prevails.
Which documents must I present to sell my gold to a professional?
A valid identity document, identity card or passport. Identification of the seller is a legal obligation for any purchase of precious metals by a professional in Belgium, whatever the amount. The professional then keeps a register of transactions. At Gold & Silver Company, this formality is completed on site at the time of the sale, after the free appraisal of your items and your agreement on the proposed price.
How is the balance paid if my sale exceeds €500?
By bank transfer to your account or by an exchange for investment values on invoice: this is the traceable method required by law. For a sale of €8,000, you can receive a maximum of €500 in cash and the remaining €7,500 by bank transfer within 5 business days. If you wish, for reasons of wealth organisation, a staggered patrimonial settlement can be agreed together: the balance is then paid in several staggered transfers, without changing either the cash ceiling or the recording of the sale. These tailor-made solutions entail fees, presented in full transparency before the operation.
Updated on 7 August 2026. General information, not individualised tax advice.