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Tax guidelines and regulations for large money transfers into US
Failing to file could land you in hot water with the IRS.
If you’re planning to transfer more than $10,000 from overseas, a money transfer service can help you save on fees — but you still need to report the transfer to the US government. Read on to familiarize yourself with the tax implications and what you need to do when transferring large amounts of cash – and what the penalties could be if you don’t.
Do I have to report large transfers into the US?
Yes. No matter where you’re from, if you’re receiving more than $10,000 in the US, you’ll need to abide by US laws put in place to both protect both your money and the interests of the government.
By law, banks report all cash transactions that exceed $10,000 — the international money transfer reporting limit set by the IRS. In addition, a bank may report any transaction of any amount that alerts its suspicions. Money transfer businesses, which often solely send money between countries, sometimes have reporting thresholds as low as $1,000.
US law requires banks and money transfer companies to report:
- Your name and contact information.
- The name and contact information of the person who sent you the money.
- If it’s a bank transfer, the financial details of the recipient, including SWIFT code.
- Your banking details, including your bank account number.
- The amount you received.
Documents specific to sending large amounts into the US
If you are living in the US and received foreign gifts of money or other property, you’ll need to report it on Form 3520 — Annual Return to Report Transactions with Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts.
US citizens and residents are required to use Form 3520 for:
- Gifts or bequests valued at more than $100,000 from a non-resident alien individual or foreign estate.
- Gifts of $17,339 or more from foreign corporations or foreign partnerships (including from people related to these corporations or partnerships).
Form 3520 is considered an “information return,” rather than a tax return, because foreign gifts generally are not subject to income tax. However, you are subject to stiff penalties for failing to submit Form 3520 when it is required.
Who is responsible for filing Form 3520 — me or the person who sent the money?
As the recipient of the transfer, you are solely responsible for reporting the amount you received during the current tax year with your annual tax filing.
The penalties for failing to file Form 3520 on time are equal to the greater of $10,000 or the following:
- 35% of the gross value of the distributions received from a foreign trust.
- 5% of the gross value of the portion of the amount treated as owned by you.
- A separate 5% penalty if you fail to furnish correct required information.
Who is most likely to be researching receiving a large transfer from outside the US?
Finder data suggests that men aged 35-44 are most likely to be researching this topic.
| Response | Male (%) | Female (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 65+ | 5.70% | 3.81% |
| 55-64 | 7.67% | 5.37% |
| 45-54 | 11.44% | 6.85% |
| 35-44 | 14.59% | 8.74% |
| 25-34 | 14.00% | 7.98% |
| 18-24 | 8.52% | 5.31% |
Source: Finder sample of 18,091 visitors using demographics data from Google Analytics
Why is the US government interested in how much I receive?
Laws are in place to protect you and the government from fraudulent activity. By monitoring transactions in and out of the US, authorities are able to:
- Protect your sensitive information.
- Lower the risk of illegal and fraudulent transfers.
- More clearly identify money laundering schemes.
- Inhibit the ease of sheltering taxes in untraceable offshore accounts.
Since 9/11, the US government has put even more stringent laws in place. For example, the Patriot Act allows the government to track money more carefully due to terrorism.
International money transfers that won’t break your business
What should I expect when receiving money from overseas?
To prevent the US government from delaying or canceling your money transfers into the country, you’ll need to provide proof of a government-issued photo ID — a driver’s license or passport, for example — and proof of your address.
If you already own an account with the bank or money transfer company, you may not need to provide ID each time you receive money. However, online money transfers may have stricter rules when it comes to proof of ID and could ask for additional documentation or to verify your identity by phone.
What other steps should I take to avoid legal or tax problems?
To avoid the penalties that come with a failure to report large sums of money into the country, it may be worth it to speak to a tax lawyer to make sure that everything is above board and complies with the laws of all countries involved.
Sending a lot out of the country? Know what the IRS expects of you
Bottom line
Receiving large money transfers while in the United States almost always need to be reported to the IRS, failing to do so could lead to a fine or worse. It may be tempting to think you can slip through the cracks and save money, but the fines far outweigh the benefits. Instead, learn how to save money on your next transfer to help offset the overall cost of the taxes you may owe.
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Ask a question
My wife is receiving an inheritance from her late mother’s estate in the amount of approximately US$50,000 , from Canada. Who do we have to report this to?
Hi David,
Thank you for your inquiry. I’m very sorry to hear about your loss.
Form 3520 is not required until gifts or bequests are valued at more than $100,000 USD and should be submitted with a yearly tax return. However, there are exceptions to when this form should be filled out depending on the situation. I recommend visiting the IRS page on this topic and speaking with a professional to guarantee everything is compliant.
I have an inheritance in the UK. Do I have to file a Form 3520 prior to transferring the fund to my US bank? If so, to what IRS agency should I forward the Form 3520?
Hi Graham,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
If you already have an active US bank account where your inheritance will be sent to, you do not have to do anything as the bank will be asking you more info on this large sum of money and will be reporting this to the IRS. However, you are responsible for reporting the amount you received during the current tax year with your annual tax filing – that’s when you need to submit form 3520 to the IRS.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I sold my cottage in Canada and intend to bring the already taxed proceeds to my home state of Ohio. Any problem?
Hi Ted,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
If you are receiving more than $10,000, then you would need to report that transfer to the IRS. To know more information, it would be a good idea to check with IRS and know more which form you should use and how to go about reporting your transaction.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Suppose that a real estate developer secured a multi million $ loan from an overseas lender/fund, how would such transfer into the US be managed and regulated?
Hi Rodney,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
The page we are on offers guides and articles that could assist you in making the transfer possible. The IRS regulates and manages large transfers of money into the US and this is in collaboration with the US bank where the money would be transferred to. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I have a significant amount of inheritance money that I’d like to transfer out of Europe into the US that is beyond all US reporting thresholds. I understand all of the forms I need to fill out for the government.
From what I can gather, it sounds like my best option is to go through one of these money transfer services. Are there any guarantees that these services are legitimate? This is my first and only experience with this type of service. Am concerned that it would be relatively easy for the money to get stolen.
Any guidance would be most appreciated
Hi Tony,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
You may check some government pages to check the legitimacy of your chosen provider like BBB. In addition, you may read some reviews or check online forums of your chosen provider/s to help you decide which to go with. If you are still undecided, you may consider bank to bank transaction directly as it is safe. However, banks have lower exchange rates and higher fees.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni