An amendment to Italy’s upcoming budget law proposes raising the ceiling for cash payments in the country. While some lawmakers are pushing for more ‘consumer freedom’, others fear the potential effect on tax evasion and criminal activity.

An amendment to Italy’s upcoming budget law proposes to double the maximum limit for cash payments for individuals and businesses.

Critics are notably concerned that the policy, which raises the cap from the current €5,000 to €10,000, could worsen Italy’s already-high level of tax evasion and facilitate money laundering.

The government and its parliamentary majority insist, however, that the measure will have no such impact on tax evasion.

The amendment to the 2026 Budget Law has been tabled by the Brothers of Italy party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. It was, in fact, Meloni herself who introduced a first increase of the limit from €2,000 to €5,000 in 2022.