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Prohibition of Cashless Establishments
NYC businesses must accept cash unless they have a machine to convert cash to a prepaid card. They cannot charge more for paying in cash.
Consumers
You can file a complaint about a retail or food store, including a food cart, in New York City that refuses cash payments. Cash means U.S. currency and coins*.
Businesses
Your store may refuse cash payments for telephone, mail, or internet-based transactions, unless the transaction takes place in the store. Read Guidance for Food Stores and Retail Establishments Regarding Telephone and Internet-based Transaction Exceptions to the Cashless Establishment Ban.
Read Inspection Checklist: General Retail.
*Penny Rounding Policies
The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is aware that the U.S. Mint has discontinued the production of the penny as of November 12, 2025, and that a shortage of those coins may affect how businesses accept or provide change to cash-paying consumers. DCWP issued this advisory, applicable only to cash transactions, for businesses and consumers..
Businesses in NYC may choose, but are not required, to implement a policy of:.
- Rounding down the cost of the final total paid by the consumer to the nearest nickel; and/or
- Rounding up the change owed to a consumer to the nearest nickel.
Please note: The discontinuation of penny production does not exempt compliance with existing federal, state, and local laws. For example, businesses may not enact the following policies or practices which could violate New York City’s Cashless Ban or other laws:
- Refusing consumers’ penny payments;
- Charging consumers more for paying in cash or pennies; or
- Providing little or no disclosure of any adopted price rounding policy prior to the consumer incurring any charge.
For information on how to calculate and remit taxes, please contact the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.