Is there a cash payment limit for scrap sales in Australia that I should know about?
Short answer: Australia has general cash transaction reporting thresholds that apply broadly across industries, and scrap metal specifically has additional state-based regulations in several jurisdictions restricting or banning cash payments for scrap transactions above certain thresholds, or in some cases entirely, aimed at reducing stolen metal resale — check your specific state's current scrap metal dealer regulations, since these vary and have changed over time.
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List Free →General cash reporting thresholds
Beyond anything scrap-specific, Australia has broader anti-money-laundering reporting requirements around large cash transactions that apply across many industries — these are separate from, but can overlap with, scrap-specific regulation.
Scrap-specific state regulations
Several Australian states have introduced specific regulations for the scrap metal industry restricting or banning cash payments for certain transactions, partly in response to metal theft concerns — these regulations vary by state and can change, so checking your specific state’s current second-hand dealer or scrap metal regulations is the reliable way to know what applies to you.
What this means practically
For any sizeable transaction, expect that a legitimate buyer may need to use a traceable payment method rather than cash, particularly for higher-theft-risk materials like copper — this is a sign of compliance, not an inconvenience to be worked around.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Transactions arranged through ScrapTrade use trackable payment methods by default, which sidesteps cash-limit compliance questions regardless of which state’s specific regulations apply to you.
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