Do you run a restaurant? You should know that having a cash register that complies with current standards is not just a matter of common sense, it's a legal obligation. In 2025, requirements are becoming more stringent, and it's crucial to ensure that your cash register solution complies with all existing regulations. Let's find out why this is essential, and how to check that your equipment is compliant.
Since the VAT Anti-Fraud Act of 2018, merchants subject to VAT are obliged to use a cash register cash register. Professionals in the restaurant, bakery, retail and other sectors must therefore ensure that their cash register solution is certified.
Until 2025, cash register software publishers had two options: obtain official certification from an accredited body(Afnor NF525 or LNE), or provide a self-certification attestation. However, the Finance Act 2025passed on February 5, eliminates this second option. From 2026, only software certified by an accredited organization will be authorized. Plan ahead now! Make sure your cash register software complies with the new requirements to avoid any infringements.
Using a non-compliant cash register can expose your business to heavy financial penalties. In the event of a tax audit, the absence of certified software can result in a fine of €7,500 per non-compliant cash register, with an obligation to comply within 60 days. There is also the risk of damage to your reputation and impact on your business.
👉 To find out more : Why a touch-sensitive cash register is crucial for your restaurant?
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This certification, issued by AFNOR, certifies that a cash register software complies with the principles of data inalterability, security, conservation and archiving. It remains a key benchmark for choosing a compliant cash register.
👉 Find out more about NF525-certified checkouts
The Laboratoire National de MĂ©trologie et d'Essais (LNE) also issues a certification guaranteeing that cash register software complies with legal requirements. Like NF525, it ensures that transactions cannot be altered without traceability.
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The first step is to ask your supplier if your cash register software is NF525 or LNE certified, and ask for a certificate of compliance issued by an accredited third-party organization (paper or digital) that you can present in the event of an inspection. These labels are a guarantee of compliance, and help avoid unpleasant surprises in the event of an inspection.
Compliant cash register software must include several essential functions:
Transactions must be recorded in such a way that they cannot be altered without justification. This prevents any attempt at fraud.
Every transaction must be secure and traceable, to guarantee total transparency of financial flows.
Data must be archived in a structured and secure way, with the possibility of restoring it in the event of a tax audit.
By law, data must be kept for a minimum of 6 years. Software that complies with this requirement guarantees optimal data storage conditions.
Please note: A "permissive" cash register is one that allows transactions to be modified or deleted without traceability. This type of practice is strictly forbidden by law, as it encourages tax fraud worth 17 billion euros every year, according to a report published on November 20 by the NGO Tax Justice Network.
In case of doubt, you can always call on a certifying body or tax expert to analyze your POS solution and ensure that it complies with existing requirements.
👉 Why is cash register certification essential?
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Check now with your cash register publisher whether it is self-certified or has official certification. If you need to change your cash register to comply with regulations, find out which publishers offer certified software. Please note that not all software is officially certified.
Innovorder cash register software has been NF525 certified since 2016. Contact us to find out more about our NF525-certified cash register software and get in compliance before the deadline.
