Form 8300
Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business
What is Form 8300?
Cash may be king, but when it comes to large business transactions, it also comes with mandatory paperwork. Form 8300 is a joint form issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Its purpose is to track large cash transactions to combat money laundering, tax evasion, and other financial crimes.
In plain language: If your business receives more than $10,000 in cash from a single buyer—whether in one lump sum or multiple related payments—you are legally required to report it to the federal government using this form.
Who Must File This Form?
Any "person" operating a trade or business who receives over $10,000 in cash in a single transaction (or related transactions) must file. In this context, a "person" can be an individual, company, corporation, partnership, estate, or trust.
Common Examples
- Car, boat, or RV dealerships
- Jewelers and luxury goods retailers
- Real estate brokers and title companies
- Attorneys and legal representatives
- Pawn shops and antique dealers
What Counts as "Cash"?
- U.S. and foreign currency/coins
- Cashier's checks, bank drafts, traveler's checks, or money orders (if under $10,000 individually but totaling over $10,000 together in specific scenarios)
- Note: Personal checks and wire transfers do NOT count as cash.
Section-by-Section Walkthrough
Form 8300 is divided into four main parts. Here is what you will need to complete each section:
Identity of the Individual
You must identify the exact person who handed you the cash. You will need their full name, address, Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or ITIN), and details from a government-issued ID (like a driver's license or passport number).
Person on Whose Behalf Transaction Was Conducted
If the person in Part I is an agent or employee acting on behalf of someone else (or another company), you must detail the actual buyer or entity here, including their EIN or SSN.
Description of Transaction
Detail the exact date of the transaction, the total cash amount received, and how much of that was in $100 bills or larger. You must also categorize the transaction (e.g., personal property, real property, debt payment).
Business That Received Cash
Enter your business information, including your Employer Identification Number (EIN), business address, and the signature of an authorized official.
Deadlines & Important Rules
Timing is critical when dealing with FinCEN and the IRS. Missing these deadlines can result in severe financial penalties.
- Filing Deadline: Form 8300 must be filed within 15 days after the date the cash transaction occurs that pushes the total over $10,000. (Always check with the Internal Revenue Service / FinCEN for the current year's exact rules).
- Customer Notification: By January 31 of the year following the transaction, you must provide a written statement to every person named on the Form 8300, letting them know you reported the transaction to the IRS.
How to Complete Form 8300 on AmendSign
Enter Details
Input the buyer's ID info, transaction dates, and cash amounts into our secure online form.
Review
Double-check the SSNs, EINs, and totals. Accuracy is critical for IRS compliance.
Sign
Apply your legally binding digital signature as the authorized business representative.
Download
Export your completed PDF to retain for your records or to e-file with the BSA E-Filing System.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Personal checks, wire transfers, and credit card payments do not count as "cash" for the purposes of Form 8300. Only physical currency, coins, and certain monetary instruments (like cashier's checks under specific conditions) apply.
Yes, you must file. Multiple cash payments for the same transaction (or related transactions) within a 12-month period that total over $10,000 must be reported. The 15-day filing clock starts the day you receive the payment that pushes the total over the $10,000 threshold.
No. While the bank will file its own Currency Transaction Report (CTR) when you deposit the cash, your business is still independently legally required to file Form 8300 to report who gave you the cash in the first place.
Failing to file, filing late, or intentionally disregarding the filing requirements can result in severe civil penalties. If the IRS determines the failure was intentional, the penalty can be the greater of $33,000 or the amount of cash received (up to $130,000), along with potential criminal prosecution.
You must still file the form. You should explain to the customer that the law requires you to collect this information. If they still refuse, you must file the form with the information you have and attach a statement explaining why the identifying information is missing. You should also keep records showing you attempted to obtain the information.