Form 8300: Reporting Cash Payments Over $10,000 in a Business
Published November 5, 2026
If your work brings in cash, you may need to report large cash payments to the IRS. Form 8300 is that report. It applies to each person engaged in a trade or business who receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction, or in two or more related transactions. Self-employed people are included. This guide is general information, not advice about your own case.
What counts as cash
Cash includes U.S. and foreign coins and currency. It can also include some cashier's checks, money orders, bank drafts, and traveler's checks. The instructions explain when those items count as cash, so read that section before you decide how to report a payment.
When to file
File Form 8300 by the 15th day after you receive the cash payment that brings the total over $10,000. The instructions also require a written or electronic statement to each person named on the form. Give that statement by January 31 of the year after the cash was received.
What the form asks
- Part I: the person who paid the cash, including name, taxpayer number, address, and occupation.
- Part II: the person the transaction was made for, if that is someone else.
- Part III: the date, the total cash received, the form of payment, the type of transaction, and a description of the item or service.
- Part IV: the business that received the cash, and the official who signs under penalties of perjury.
Do not split payments
Breaking up payments to avoid this report is called structuring. The instructions say that structuring, or trying to structure a transaction to avoid the reporting rules, is a violation. It can also be a crime. The instructions list prison terms of up to 5 years, and fines of up to $250,000 for individuals. If a payment is large, report it. Do not split it to stay under the limit.
Check your records every month
Review your cash receipts each month, and add up payments from the same customer over the year. Self-employed people who sell goods or services for cash should check this rule often. A monthly check helps you catch a reportable total before the 15-day window closes, not after.
Write down the date, the amount, and the customer's name as you receive each payment. Details are much harder to find months later.
Late or incomplete forms
The instructions say a late form is subject to penalty. Answer every part that applies, and keep a copy of what you file and of the statement you give. A complete record helps if the IRS asks about a payment later. If you are unsure whether a payment is reportable, ask a tax professional before the 15-day deadline passes.
Records to keep
The form asks for details that are easy to lose later. Keep the payer's name, taxpayer number, address, and occupation. Keep the date, the total cash, and a description of the item or service. Keep any serial numbers or details of money orders and other instruments. Keep a copy of the statement you gave to the payer, too.
Next steps
Track each cash payment you receive, and add up related payments for the same customer. If the total passes $10,000, gather the payer's details and the transaction records. Fill in the form, file it within 15 days, and give the statement by January 31. For records of business income and costs, see our guide to gig driver mileage and expense records.
Upload your documents and answer a few simple questions. Your preparer reviews every deduction and credit and lets you know when your return is ready to sign.
Sources: Sources: IRS, Form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business (Rev. December 2023) (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8300.pdf); Instructions for Form 8300 (Rev. December 2023) (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8300.pdf); IRS, About Form 8300 (https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8300) This is general information, not advice about your specific return.
