« Few people know this »: here is the maximum amount of cash you can keep at home

« Few people know this »: here is the maximum amount of cash you can keep at home

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Between persistent rumors of a €10,000 limit, the fear of attracting the attention of the tax authorities, and announcements from across Europe, many French people are wondering: Can you really keep as much cash at home as you want? Is it risky? And above all, what do the law and official institutions actually say? Spoiler alert: the answer is far more nuanced than a simple magic number.

Cash at home: what the law really says today

Good news to start with: there is currently no legal limit on the amount of cash you can keep at home. Yes, you read that right. In theory, keeping several thousand euros in cash in a drawer, box, or personal safe is not illegal. 

The real challenge lies in the origin of this money. If you are audited, you must be able to explain where these banknotes came from: bank withdrawals, proceeds from the sale of property, inheritance, accumulated savings, etc. Without a coherent justification that relates to your usual income, questions may arise, leading to potentially lengthy and unpleasant administrative procedures. The sensitive issue, therefore, is not the possession of the money, but its traceability.

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