AML threshold
AML thresholds are the order or cumulative-value amounts above which a precious-metals dealer is legally required to verify customer identity. Common triggers: €10,000 EU AMLD6, $10,000 US FinCEN, CHF 15,000 Switzerland, AED 55,000 UAE. Ounceo applies $5,000 per order, safely below every major threshold.
Bullion dealers are designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) under FATF Recommendation 22. Member jurisdictions implement AML obligations on dealers, typically with cash or cash-equivalent transaction thresholds.
EU AMLD6 sets the threshold at €10,000 per transaction (or linked transactions). The draft EU AMLR (effective 2027) explicitly extends to crypto-paid bullion. US FinCEN requires Form 8300 reporting at $10,000.
Ounceo applies $5,000 per order — conservative because precious-metals regulators have shown willingness to retroactively reinterpret thresholds. Cumulative aggregation prevents structuring: orders to the same address are summed across a 30-day window.
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Related terms
KYC is the identity-verification process required by AML law for transactions above the dealer threshold. Typical KYC: photo ID (passport or national ID) + a selfie matching the ID. At Ounceo, KYC is required for orders above $5,000, or cumulative orders above $10,000 in 30 days to the same address.
Structuring is the practice of splitting one large transaction into multiple smaller ones to stay below a reporting threshold. It is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions even if the underlying transaction is legitimate. Ounceo aggregates orders per shipping address across a rolling 30-day window to prevent inadvertent or intentional structuring.
Investment-grade gold is the legal category of gold bullion that qualifies for VAT exemption in the EU: bars and coins of ≥99.5% purity (gold) or ≥99.9% (specific silver products), in standard weights, minted after 1800. The category is defined by EU Directive 2006/112/EC, Article 346.