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Published · 5 min read

NF525-certified restaurant POS: is it mandatory in France?

Your till must meet applicable French tax rules, but the law does not require the NF525 mark. These are different questions. In October 2026, an independent certificate or an individual publisher attestation can provide conformity evidence. Here are the documents to request before choosing your till.

What the law has required since 2018

Article 286 I-3° bis of the French tax code concerns VAT taxpayers using cash-register software for sales to individual customers. The software must ensure four conditions, known in French as “ISCA”: data inalterability, security, retention and archiving. It must prevent untraceable changes and preserve the data needed for tax inspections.

The law does not require you to own a till. It regulates the cash-register software or system when you use one. Businesses under the VAT exemption threshold scheme, and those carrying out exclusively VAT-exempt transactions, are among the exemptions. An entirely business-to-business activity subject to mandatory invoicing is also outside scope. Micro-entrepreneur status alone does not provide an exemption: your VAT regime matters.

A tolerance applies to certain payments entirely intermediated by a bank meeting the conditions in the BOFiP tax guidance. It must cover every payment for all sales or services. Accepting only cards through any payment provider does not, by itself, establish this exemption. If in doubt, ask your accountant to check your situation.

NF525 is a voluntary certification

NF525 is the “NF Logiciel de gestion d’encaissement” certification scheme. Its requirements are developed by INFOCERT with AFNOR Certification, which issues the certificate. The process assesses the software and its publisher, not the restaurant using it. Surveillance checks follow certification.

A separate certification follows the LNE standard, now provided by its subsidiary BYCYB. It is distinct from NF525. Do not confuse “meets French tax rules” with “NF525-certified”. A till without that mark is not automatically illegal. It must still meet the applicable requirements, supported by acceptable evidence.

Publisher attestations are accepted again in 2026

The 2025 Finance Act removed the individual publisher attestation as an accepted form of evidence. Administrative deadlines accompanied the transition to independent certificates, including an announced extension to 31 August 2026. But article 125 of the Finance Act of 19 February 2026 reinstated publisher attestations. The old timetable no longer describes the current rule.

Two documents are now accepted: a certificate from an accredited certification body or an individual software-publisher attestation. The attestation must use the tax administration’s prescribed template. It commits the publisher to its software’s conformity, but does not entitle it to claim NF525 certification. A marketing claim such as “NF525-compatible” replaces neither document.

The risk: €7,500 per software application concerned

Article 1770 duodecies sets a €7,500 fine per software application or cash-register system concerned for missing conformity evidence. Once the fine applies, you have 60 days to remedy the failure. The period starts on delivery or receipt of the inspection report, proposed tax adjustment or assessment notification specified in the statute. It does not remove the first fine. Continued noncompliance after that period exposes you to another fine. The penalty is not triggered simply by the absence of an NF525 logo.

Three checks before signing

  1. Request the document. Obtain the certificate or individual publisher attestation for the proposed software. Keep it for any inspection.
  2. Check its scope. Match the holder, software name and version to your offer. If NF525 is claimed, check the certificate’s validity in the official INFOCERT register.
  3. Distinguish issued from planned. Certification in progress is not an issued certificate. Ask what evidence will cover the version you use when service begins.

To compare subscriptions, read our restaurant booking and till price guide. Our restaurant reservation software guide covers the questions to ask about managing your dining room.

What this means for Plate

Plate is building one tool for bookings and the till, for €90 excluding VAT per month per restaurant, all in. Its NF525 certification is in progress: Plate is not NF525-certified today. Our launch decision is unchanged: no sales before certification is obtained, including bookings. To hear when it launches, you can join the waiting list.

Frequently asked questions

Is NF525 certification mandatory for a restaurant in France?
No. Article 286 I-3° bis of the French tax code requires relevant cash-register software to ensure data inalterability, security, retention and archiving. NF525 is voluntary. Conformity can be evidenced by a certificate from an accredited certification body or an individual software-publisher attestation using the tax administration’s template.
What is the fine for missing conformity evidence?
Article 1770 duodecies sets a €7,500 fine per software application or cash-register system concerned. Once the fine applies, a 60-day period allows the taxpayer to remedy the failure. It does not remove the first fine. Continued noncompliance after that period exposes the taxpayer to another fine.
How can I check whether a till is NF525-certified?
Ask the publisher for the NF525 certificate. Check the holder, software, covered version and certificate validity in the official INFOCERT register. A publisher attestation can provide evidence of tax conformity, but it is not NF525 certification.

Official sources

The core statutory rules were checked on 23 October 2026; the related guidance was checked for the French edition on 21 October. The linked sources are in French. This guide explains general rules, not advice on your individual tax situation.

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