Receive More than $10,000 in Cash at Your Business? Meet Form 8300

• Learn about the requirements for Form 8300.
• Find the definitions of “cash” and “cash equivalents.”
• Learn the reasons for reporting with Form 8300.
• Find out if you can file Form 8300 electronically.
• Learn how long you should keep Form 8300 records.

Does your business receive large amounts of cash or cash equivalents? If so, you must report these transactions to the IRS — and not just on your tax return. You’ll need to fill out Form 8300 as well.

The requirements for Form 8300

Each person who, in the course of operating a trade or business, receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction (or two or more related transactions), must file Form 8300. Who is a “person”? It can be an individual, company, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or estate. How do we define “related transactions”? Any transactions conducted in 24 hours. Transactions can also be considered related even if they occur over more than 24 hours if the recipient knows, or has reason to know, that each transaction is one of a series of connected transactions.

To complete Form 8300, you’ll need personal information about the person making the cash payment. This information includes a Social Security or taxpayer-identification number.

The definition of “cash” and “cash equivalents”

For Form 8300 reporting purposes, cash includes U.S. currency and coins, as well as foreign money. It also includes cash equivalents such as cashier’s checks (sometimes called bank checks), bank drafts, traveler’s checks, and money orders.

Money orders and cashier’s checks under $10,000, when used in combination with other forms of cash for a single transaction that exceeds $10,000, are defined as cash for Form 8300 reporting purposes.

Note: Under a separate reporting requirement, banks and other financial institutions report cash purchases of cashier’s checks, treasurer’s checks and/or bank checks, bank drafts, traveler’s checks, and money orders with a face value of more than $10,000 by filing currency transaction reports.

The reasons for reporting on Form 8300

Although many cash transactions are legitimate, the IRS explains that the information reported on Form 8300 “can help stop those who evade taxes, profit from the drug trade, engage in terrorist financing and conduct other criminal activities. The government can often trace money from these illegal activities through the payments reported on Form 8300 and other cash reporting forms.”

Failing to comply with the law can result in fines and even jail time. In one case, a Niagara Falls, NY, business owner was convicted of willful failure to file Form 8300 after receiving cash transactions of more than $10,000. In a U.S. District Court, he pled guilty and was recently sentenced to five months home detention, fined $10,000 and he agreed to pay restitution to the IRS. He had received cash rent payments in connection with a building in which he had an ownership interest.

Taxpayers can send forms electronically

Businesses required to file reports of large cash transactions on Forms 8300 should know that e-filing is an option. The form is due 15 days after a transaction and there’s no charge for the e-file option. Businesses that file electronically get an automatic confirmation of receipt when they file.

Effective January 1, 2024, you may have to e-file Forms 8300 if required to e-file other information returns, such as 1099 and W-2 forms. You must e-file if required to file at least 10 information returns other than Form 8300 during a calendar year.

The IRS also reminds businesses that they can “batch file” their reports. This is especially helpful to those required to file many forms.

Record retention

You should keep a copy of each Form 8300 for five years from the date you file it, according to the IRS. “Confirmation receipts don’t meet the recordkeeping requirement,” the tax agency added.

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