Overview
- The Bundesrat, acting on a proposal from Lower Saxony and Hamburg tied to the 2025 Tax Amendment, passed a resolution to require restaurants and cafés to offer a digital payment option.
- The federal coalition agreement commits to preserving cash and requiring at least one digital choice for everyday purchases, with a cash-register obligation from January 1, 2027 for businesses with annual turnover above €100,000.
- A new Allensbach survey reports 47% of people paid their last purchase by card versus 41% with cash, and mobile payments have more than doubled since 2022 to 25%, with under‑30s showing the strongest preference.
- Half of respondents favor a legal requirement for card acceptance, support is notably higher among younger people, and many view Germany as lagging other countries on payment options.
- Hospitality groups warn of added costs and administrative burden, tax officials argue digital trails curb fraud, cash still accounts for about half of transactions per the Bundesbank, and banks are shifting issuance from Girocard to Mastercard and Visa debit.