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Cash in Uruguay: the 2026 cash payment ceiling, how it works in deals and companies, and declaring cash at the border
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Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Status: Changing
Since 20 April 2026 any payment in cash, pesos or foreign notes, is allowed only up to UI 200,000 (about US$33,081 in October 2026), or 5 percent of the deal up to UI 450,000 (about US$74,432); the rest must go by transfer or other non cash means (Ley Nº 19.210 art. 35 as rewritten by Ley Nº 20.469, Decreto Nº 238/026). The ceiling covers capital contributions, refunds and profit payments in companies, split payments are added together, and breaches cost 25 percent of the excess cash, with registries refusing definitive registration. Carrying more than US$10,000 in cash or monetary instruments across the border must be declared to Customs; undeclared amounts are fined 30 percent of the excess (60 percent of the total on repetition) and can be seized.
USD figures use UYU 40.214 per US dollar, the BCU quotation for DLS. USA BILLETE on 26 October 2026, retrieved from the BCU quotations service on 27 October 2026. Amounts in Unidades Indexadas (UI) use UYU 6.6516 per UI (BCU quotation for 1 October 2026) where the norm fixes the UI of the first day of the month, and UYU 6.6792 per UI (27 October 2026) otherwise. Conversions are for orientation only.
Key facts
| Cash payment ceiling | 200000 UILey Nº 19.210 art. 35 a), as of 2026-10-27 · in force |
|---|---|
| Alternative cash ceiling as share of the operation | 5 % (max UI 450,000)Ley Nº 19.210 art. 35 b), as of 2026-10-27 · in force |
| Fine for paying above the cash ceiling | 25 % of excess (minimum UI 1,000)Decreto Nº 238/026 art. 9, as of 2026-10-27 · in force |
| Cash border declaration threshold | 10000 USDLey Nº 19.574 art. 29, as of 2026-10-27 · in force |
| Fine for undeclared cash at the border | 30 % of excess over US$10,000 (60% of total on repetition)Ley Nº 19.574 art. 29, as of 2026-10-27 · in force |
| Deadline to give a certain date to pre 20 April 2026 cash payments | 2026-12-31 dateDecreto Nº 238/026 art. 7, as of 2026-10-27 · in force |
The rule
1. Payment and delivery of money in any operation or legal transaction may be made in cash only up to UI 200,000, or up to 5 percent of the total value of the operation as long as that amount does not exceed UI 450,000; either test is enough and the balance must be paid by other means. Cash means local or foreign paper money and coins. The UI value is the one on the first day of the month in which the operation is made, and operations in foreign currency are converted at the interbank rate for notes of the last business day before the operation.
Cost to do it: No cost if the balance goes by transfer; bank transfer fees apply.
Example: October 2026: UI 200,000 = UYU 1,330,320; UI 450,000 = UYU 2,993,220. On a UYU 30,000,000 asset purchase, 5 percent is UYU 1,500,000, so up to UYU 1,500,000 may be paid in cash. / About US$33,081 or 5 percent up to about US$74,432; on a deal of about US$746,009, cash up to about US$37,300.Ley Nº 19.210 (Financial Inclusion Law), as worded by Ley Nº 20.469 art. 3; Decreto Nº 238/026, Ley 19.210 art. 35; Decreto 238/026 art. 1 and art. 8, 2026-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: Ley Nº 20.469 (19 March 2026) replaced the UI 1,000,000 ceiling set by Ley Nº 19.889 art. 221; Decreto Nº 238/026 (promulgated 1 October 2026, published 8 October 2026) applies it from 20 April 2026 and repealed Decretos Nº 350/017 and 351/017.
Cost to do it: No cost if the balance goes by transfer; bank transfer fees apply.
Example: October 2026: UI 200,000 = UYU 1,330,320; UI 450,000 = UYU 2,993,220. On a UYU 30,000,000 asset purchase, 5 percent is UYU 1,500,000, so up to UYU 1,500,000 may be paid in cash. / About US$33,081 or 5 percent up to about US$74,432; on a deal of about US$746,009, cash up to about US$37,300.Ley Nº 19.210 (Financial Inclusion Law), as worded by Ley Nº 20.469 art. 3; Decreto Nº 238/026, Ley 19.210 art. 35; Decreto 238/026 art. 1 and art. 8, 2026-04-20 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: Ley Nº 20.469 (19 March 2026) replaced the UI 1,000,000 ceiling set by Ley Nº 19.889 art. 221; Decreto Nº 238/026 (promulgated 1 October 2026, published 8 October 2026) applies it from 20 April 2026 and repealed Decretos Nº 350/017 and 351/017.
2. The ceiling also applies in commercial companies to money in or out for capital contributions (with or without premium), irrevocable contributions, advances of funds, capital refunds, profit payments and payments on exclusion, withdrawal, reduction, redemption or amortization of shares, and to loans and the payments that create or perfect covered operations. All payments into which an operation is split are added together; for monthly services each document counts separately.
Cost to do it: Same 25 percent fine if exceeded.
Example: Three cash instalments of UYU 600,000 toward one UYU 1,800,000 capital contribution count as UYU 1,800,000 and exceed the UYU 1,330,320 ceiling. / About US$44,760 in cash across three payments breaches the ceiling of about US$33,081.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 1, art. 2 and art. 3, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
Cost to do it: Same 25 percent fine if exceeded.
Example: Three cash instalments of UYU 600,000 toward one UYU 1,800,000 capital contribution count as UYU 1,800,000 and exceed the UYU 1,330,320 ceiling. / About US$44,760 in cash across three payments breaches the ceiling of about US$33,081.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 1, art. 2 and art. 3, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
3. Excepted operations: those where one party is a financial intermediation institution, an electronic money issuer or a BCU regulated exchange, credit or domestic and international transfer firm; casino operations with clients; expropriations and housing ministry programmes; and lenders related to those entities whose main activity is money lending.
Cost to do it: Not applicable.
Example: Depositing UYU 2,000,000 in cash at a bank or buying dollars at a BCU regulated exchange house is outside the ceiling (bank anti money laundering checks still apply). / About US$49,734 deposited in cash at a bank is not caught by the ceiling.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 5, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
Cost to do it: Not applicable.
Example: Depositing UYU 2,000,000 in cash at a bank or buying dollars at a BCU regulated exchange house is outside the ceiling (bank anti money laundering checks still apply). / About US$49,734 deposited in cash at a bank is not caught by the ceiling.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 5, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
4. Deeds documenting covered operations must identify the payment means used (instrument number, amount, originating institution and, when payer or payee are third parties, their identity) for operations at or above UI 200,000. Public registries will not definitively register operations that breach the ceiling or lack this identification; omissions can be cured by an attached notarial certificate, and breaches by showing payment of the fine. A breach does not void the deal.
Cost to do it: Notarial certificate fees to cure omissions; fine where cash was over the ceiling.
Example: A share capital increase or property deed for UYU 30,000,000 must list each transfer's number, amount and bank, or the registry keeps the registration provisional. / Deal of about US$746,009: payment means must be itemized.Ley Nº 19.210 art. 35 BIS; Decreto Nº 238/026, Ley 19.210 art. 35 BIS; Decreto 238/026 art. 4 and art. 6, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
Cost to do it: Notarial certificate fees to cure omissions; fine where cash was over the ceiling.
Example: A share capital increase or property deed for UYU 30,000,000 must list each transfer's number, amount and bank, or the registry keeps the registration provisional. / Deal of about US$746,009: payment means must be itemized.Ley Nº 19.210 art. 35 BIS; Decreto Nº 238/026, Ley 19.210 art. 35 BIS; Decreto 238/026 art. 4 and art. 6, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
5. Breaches are fined at 25 percent of the amount paid or received by means not allowed, with a minimum of UI 1,000 (UI 10,000 on repetition); payer and recipient are jointly liable, the tax administration applies the fine and may request information from payment means operators, and the infraction prescribes after 5 years.
Cost to do it: 25 percent of the excess cash; minimum UYU 6,652 (UI 1,000) or UYU 66,516 (UI 10,000) on repetition in October 2026.
Example: Paying UYU 3,000,000 in cash on the UYU 30,000,000 deal puts UYU 1,500,000 over the limit: fine UYU 375,000. / About US$74,601 paid in cash, about US$37,300 over the limit, fine about US$9,325; minimum fines about US$165 and US$1,654.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 9, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
Cost to do it: 25 percent of the excess cash; minimum UYU 6,652 (UI 1,000) or UYU 66,516 (UI 10,000) on repetition in October 2026.
Example: Paying UYU 3,000,000 in cash on the UYU 30,000,000 deal puts UYU 1,500,000 over the limit: fine UYU 375,000. / About US$74,601 paid in cash, about US$37,300 over the limit, fine about US$9,325; minimum fines about US$165 and US$1,654.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 9, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
6. Transition: the ceiling applies to payments made from 20 April 2026 on preliminary or final operations made from that date. Payments on operations with a certain date before 20 April 2026 are not covered, and payments made before that date on covered operations that exceed the limits must obtain a certain date before 31 December 2026.
Cost to do it: Notarial cost of obtaining a certain date for earlier documents.
Example: A buyer who paid UYU 2,000,000 in cash in March 2026 under a private promise must give it a certain date before 31 December 2026. / About US$49,734 paid before 20 April 2026 needs a certain date by year end.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 7, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
Cost to do it: Notarial cost of obtaining a certain date for earlier documents.
Example: A buyer who paid UYU 2,000,000 in cash in March 2026 under a private promise must give it a certain date before 31 December 2026. / About US$49,734 paid before 20 April 2026 needs a certain date by year end.Decreto Nº 238/026, Art. 7, 2026-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-27
7. Any person carrying cash, precious metals or other monetary instruments above US$10,000 or equivalent across the border, the primary customs zone or the special customs surveillance zone must declare it to the Dirección Nacional de Aduanas (BCU supervised entities report to the BCU). Non declaration is fined at 30 percent of the excess over US$10,000, or 60 percent of the total on repetition; Customs retains an amount equal to the fine as a guarantee and the rest goes to the prosecutor; the authority asks for judicial seizure when there are grounds to suspect criminal origin, and seized funds are forfeited after six months if no proof of lawful origin is offered.
Cost to do it: Declaration is free; fine for non declaration 30 percent of the excess, 60 percent of the total on repetition.
Example: Undeclared US$25,000: fine about UYU 180,963 (first time) or UYU 603,210 (repetition). / US$4,500 first offence, US$15,000 on repetition.Ley Nº 19.574 (Integral Law against Money Laundering), as worded by Ley Nº 20.469 art. 1, Art. 29, 2026-03-19 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: Ley Nº 20.469 art. 1 (19 March 2026) replaced the earlier fine of up to the undeclared amount with the 30 and 60 percent fines, extended the duty to customs zones, and added retention and six month forfeiture rules.
Cost to do it: Declaration is free; fine for non declaration 30 percent of the excess, 60 percent of the total on repetition.
Example: Undeclared US$25,000: fine about UYU 180,963 (first time) or UYU 603,210 (repetition). / US$4,500 first offence, US$15,000 on repetition.Ley Nº 19.574 (Integral Law against Money Laundering), as worded by Ley Nº 20.469 art. 1, Art. 29, 2026-03-19 official text · verified 2026-10-27 · changed: Ley Nº 20.469 art. 1 (19 March 2026) replaced the earlier fine of up to the undeclared amount with the 30 and 60 percent fines, extended the duty to customs zones, and added retention and six month forfeiture rules.
| Deal value | Maximum cash | Rule that applies |
|---|---|---|
| UYU 1,000,000 (about US$24,867) | UYU 1,000,000 (all) | Under UI 200,000 |
| UYU 10,000,000 (about US$248,670) | UYU 1,330,320 (about US$33,081) | UI 200,000 (5% is only UYU 500,000) |
| UYU 30,000,000 (about US$746,009) | UYU 1,500,000 (about US$37,300) | 5% of the deal |
| UYU 59,864,400 or more (about US$1,488,646) | UYU 2,993,220 (about US$74,432) | 5% capped at UI 450,000 |
Cash ceilings by deal size, October 2026 (UI UYU 6.6516 on 1 October 2026; USD at UYU 40.214); Ley Nº 19.210 art. 35, Decreto Nº 238/026 art. 1
Worked example
- Business purchase: a buyer acquires business assets for UYU 30,000,000 (about US$746,009) in October 2026. Up to UYU 1,500,000 (about US$37,300) may be cash; UYU 28,500,000 must go by bank transfer, and the deed must list each transfer. If the buyer pays UYU 3,000,000 in cash, buyer and seller are jointly liable for a fine of UYU 375,000 (about US$9,325) and the registry will not definitively register the deed until the fine is paid.
- Travel: a manager crossing from Argentina to Uruguay with US$25,000 in notes must declare it to Customs; if not, the fine is US$4,500 (30 percent of US$15,000), and US$15,000 on a repeat offence.
Step by step
- 1. Before closing any deal, check the UI value of the first day of that month and compute both tests (UI 200,000 and 5 percent up to UI 450,000).
- 2. Pay the balance by bank transfer, cheque or other non cash means and record the details in the deed (Decreto 238/026 art. 4).
- 3. For capital contributions, refunds and dividends, apply the same limit and add up split payments.
- 4. For deals signed before 20 April 2026 with cash payments above the limit, obtain a certain date before 31 December 2026.
- 5. When travelling with more than US$10,000 in cash or monetary instruments, declare it to Customs at the border.
Common traps
- Foreign currency notes count as cash; paying a seller in dollars in hand is caught exactly like pesos.
- Splitting a payment into several cash instalments does not help: the instalments are added together.
- The fine falls on payer and recipient jointly, and the 5 year prescription means past breaches can surface in later audits.
- A breach does not void the contract, but without fine payment the registry keeps the registration provisional, which blocks financing and resale.
- Undeclared cash at the border can be seized and forfeited after six months if lawful origin is not proven.
Sources
- Ley Nº 19.210, art. 35 (IMPO)
- Ley Nº 19.210, consolidated text including art. 35 BIS (IMPO)
- Decreto Nº 238/026 (IMPO)
- Ley Nº 20.469 (IMPO)
- Ley Nº 19.574, consolidated text (IMPO)
- Banco Central del Uruguay, quotations
Related pages
- fx/fx-and-capital-flows
- fx/capital-contributions-and-repatriation
- real-estate/buying-and-owning-property
- regulation/regulatory-compliance-essentials
- normal-abroad/what-works-differently-in-uruguay
- /country/uruguay/
- /calendar/
- https://theargentinethread.com/guide/
Related: Uruguay country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide