Overview
- The Finance Ministry has circulated Eckpunkte for inter‑ministerial review and aims to present a draft law to cabinet this year with a target start date in 2027.
- Under the proposal shops, restaurants and service providers must offer at least one digital payment option in addition to cash, with firms free to choose the method but required to accept at least one European payment procedure.
- The plan bans extra charges for card or mobile payments and does not set revenue thresholds for the rule, while explicitly keeping cash as an option for customers.
- Non‑commercial organisations such as amateur sports clubs and charities would be exempt and the ministry will consider hardship rules for very small operators before the final law is tabled.
- Trade and hospitality groups warn of added costs, terminal and fee burdens for small merchants, while the government argues more digital receipts will strengthen tax and anti‑money‑laundering enforcement and could boost European payment schemes.