Moldova’s Ministry of Finance set out how Law No. 34/2024 on cash settlements will apply from 1 April 2025, establishing the core framework for cash payments on Moldova’s territory, including caps by transaction type, monitoring arrangements and applicable sanctions. The rules cover legal entities (excluding public authorities and institutions), non-resident legal entities’ permanent establishments and branches, non-profits, entrepreneurs, certain justice and health professionals, and private individuals buying real estate or vehicles from other private individuals. Cash payments between economic agents are capped at MDL 100,000 cumulatively per month, and cash payments from an economic agent to a non-entrepreneur individual are also capped at MDL 100,000 cumulatively per month, subject to specific annual limits for certain purposes such as scrap and recyclable waste purchases, dividends, loans and some agricultural procurement. Cash receipts by an economic agent from a non-entrepreneur individual are capped at MDL 100,000 per payment, while cash receipts by justice and health professionals for services are capped at MDL 100,000 cumulatively per year per beneficiary. For real estate and vehicle sale and purchase transactions between non-entrepreneur individuals, cash payment is allowed only if the contract price does not exceed the equivalent of 100 forecast average monthly salaries for real estate or 50 for vehicles, including instalment payments, while above those thresholds payment must be made by bank transfer except for up to MDL 200,000 that may still be paid in cash. For 2025 the forecast average monthly salary is MDL 16,100, and such transactions may be settled in foreign currency subject to the same thresholds; the law also caps cash withdrawal fees on proceeds from these transfers at 0.1% if the withdrawal is made at a bank counter with supporting documents. The framework also limits the period for issuing cash from an entity’s cash desk for operational and administrative expenses to a maximum of 30 days (except for travel outside Moldova) and requires unused cash to be returned within five working days after the authorised period ends. Compliance checks will be carried out by the State Tax Service in planned tax audits, with specified penalties including 3%–10% of the amount paid in cash above the MDL 100,000 monthly business-to-business cap, 10%–18% of unreturned cash, and 0.1% per day for late return capped at 5%, alongside a 50% reduction in the fine if paid within three working days of notification.

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