The cash reporting obligation

Cash, bearer negotiable instruments (checks, traveler's checks, money orders, promissory notes...),, gold and prepaid cards¹ of an amount equal to or greater than EUR 10 000 (or their equivalent in foreign currency), transported by a person, must be declared to the customs administration, in order to combat money laundering from illicit trafficking, including trafficking in narcotic drugs.

The French system for monitoring the physical movement of cash comprises two components:

• A European strand based on Regulation (EU) 2018/1672 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on controls of cash entering or leaving the Union and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005;
• A national component based on Article L.152-1² of the Monetary and Financial Code for intra-EU movements of cash.

In the event of non-declaration, false declaration or non-presentation of the money, the person is liable to sanctions provided for in Article L152-4** of the Monetary and Financial Code, including a fine of up to 50% of the amount to which the offense or attempted offense related and the temporary withholding of cash.

¹ Articles L721-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, L741-4 of the Monetary and Financial Code for New Caledonia, L751-4 of the Monetary and Financial Code for French Polynesia, L761-3 of the Monetary and Financial Code for Wallis and Futuna and L771-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code for Saint Barthélemy.

² Articles L721-2-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, L741-4-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code for New Caledonia, L751-4-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code for French Polynesia, L761-3-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code for Wallis and Futuna and L771-1-2 of the Monetary and Financial Code for Saint Barthélemy.

What do you have to declare?

You must report cash, bearer negotiable instruments, endorsable instruments and certain other securities to customs, such as:

• banknotes and coins;
• bearer checks;
• traveler's checks;
• checks for which the drawer is not the beneficiary;
• non-domiciled bills of trade;
• non-domiciled letters of credit;
• anonymous cash vouchers;
• mandates;
• transferable securities, capitalization vouchers and other negotiable bearer or endorsable debt securities.

• gold: gold coins, non-monetary metal such as ingots, nuggets or other agglomerates of native gold containing at least 99.5% gold

Only where cross-border transport is carried out from or to a country of the European Union or from or to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna or Saint Barthélemy:

• prepaid cards.

Which movements are subject to the reporting obligation?

Transport from France to:

• from a third country (outside the European Union)
• of the European Union

Transport to France from:

• from a third country (outside the European Union)
• of the European Union

This obligation also applies to the transport of cash that you carry out from or to Monaco.

Transfers and transfers between banks or made through companies specializing in dematerialized transfer of money, are not subject to declaration, with the customs, under this regulation

Who is subject to this obligation?

Any person (French resident or not) is subject to the reporting obligation.

Case of the transport of cash for a third party:
Your declaration must be completed by the identification of the owner of the cash transported (natural or legal person).

How to declare?

The report must be made using the DALIA remote reporting service 

Or by using one of the following forms:

EU harmonized declaration form for movements of extra-EU cash to or from mainland France, the French overseas departments (DOM) and Saint Martin (EU form)

• Harmonized cash declaration form - EU[PDF]
• EU Supplementary Sheet [PDF]

National reporting form for intra-EU cash movements
to or from mainland France, the overseas departments (DOM) or Saint-Martin (FR form)

• Cash Declaration Form - EN [PDF]
• Additional sheet FR [PDF]

Declaration form applicable to movements between Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna or Saint-Barthélemy and abroad (COM form)

• Cash Declaration Form - COM [PDF]
• COM Supplementary Sheet [PDF]

In particular, it shall contain information on:

• the first and last names of the declarant, his date and place of birth, his civility and his nationality;
• the amount, nature, source and intended use of the cash;
• the business name, VAT number and full address of the recipient of the sums in the case of a legal person;
• the route and means of transport.

Where and when to file your return?

The declaration must be subscribed by the person carrying the cash:

• electronically, via the DALIA online remote declaration service, at the earliest 30 days before the date of transport of the cash and at the latest before the border crossing on the day of travel;
• with the customs service, at the time of entry or exit from French territory.

Preferably use the DALIA remote reporting service!

 

References

• Monetary and Financial Code
• Decree 2012-1182 of 23 October 2012 amending books I and VII of the regulatory part of the Monetary and Financial Code.
• Order of 7 November 2012 authorizing the creation of an automated processing unit called « DALIA » and amending the Order of 1 July 2003 establishing a computerized system for combating fraud
• Order of 7 November 2012 made pursuant to Articles R. 152-9, R. 721-6, R. 731-7, R. 741-9, R. 751-9 and R. 761-9 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.