Businesses must e

Aug 12, 2023

Certain businesses that receive payments of over $10,000 in cash must file Form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, electronically starting in 2024, the IRS said Wednesday in a news release (IR-2023-157). This new requirement applies to businesses that are required to file at least 10 information returns of one or more types other than Form 8300 in 2024.

Over 400,000 Forms 8300 were filed in calendar year 2022. An IRS representative said the Service was not immediately able to determine the number of Forms 8300 that were filed on paper versus electronically.

The IRS noted that although many cash transactions are legitimate, the information on a Form 8300 can help the government fight tax evaders and drug traders, along with those who finance terrorism.

Businesses can create an account with FinCen's BSA E-Filing System to e-file Forms 8300. A person generally must file Form 8300 within 15 days after the date the person received the cash.

A business must keep a copy of every Form 8300 it files, along with any supporting documentation and the required statement it sends to customers, for five years from the date filed. Merely retaining the email confirmation of the filing of a Form 8300 does not meet the record-keeping requirement, the IRS said. Filers also must save a copy of the form — either electronically or on paper — before they finalize the submission and should associate the confirmation number they receive with the copy.

A business may file a request for a waiver from electronically filing information returns, including Form 8300, because of undue hardship. However, a business may not request an e-filing waiver that would apply just to Form 8300. The business must include the word "Waiver" on the center top of each Form 8300 (page 1) when submitting a paper filed return.

Also, filers are automatically exempt from filing Form 8300 electronically if using the required technology conflicts with their religious beliefs. The filer must include the words "RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION" on the center top of each Form 8300 (page 1) when submitting the paper filed return.

The IRS issued a fact sheet, FS-2023-19, with details on the requirement.

— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Martha Waggoner at [email protected].

The Journal of Accountancy is now completely digital.