Cash Payments to the IRS Over $10,000: Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you plan to pay more with than $10,000 cash in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC), the information below may provide additional help.

We also provide a step-by-step guide to large cash payments that will help you prepare for the visit and help ensure a safe, secure and efficient process.

Setting appointments

Making an appointment is the only way we can accept cash payments in U.S. currency of any size. (Please note we have other ways to pay.) When you call, we'll gather information to help us better understand your needs, which will allow us to estimate more accurately your appointment length and provide additional details to help you prepare. We'll also be able to make sure we have the appropriate staff and equipment on-site to expedite your visit.

We'll try to set your appointment at a time that fits your schedule. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead 30 to 60 days. To ensure we can provide a high level of service, and for everyone's safety, we usually can't accommodate last-minute appointments for large cash payments. (Note: IRS TAC operations may be limited due to the COVID-19 crisis or other administrative issues. When you call, we can provide you with the most up-to-date details.)

We've prepared tips on how to prepare and what to expect at every step for an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center: before you call, when you call to schedule an appointment, before your appointment, during your appointment, and before you leave. View our guide on what to expect when you pay cash at an IRS office.

Yes, you can make recurring appointments up to 60 days out. When you are speaking with an IRS representative to schedule your appointment, let them know that you'd like to set up your next appointment(s). Or, when you attend your appointment, let the IRS staff there know that you'd like to schedule your next visit.

Locations

We try to locate IRS TACs so that all taxpayers are within a few hours' drive to an appropriate facility. To find an IRS TAC that is near you and can accept your cash payment, call our appointment line at 844-545-5640. When you call, an IRS employee will ask you if you'd like schedule an appointment.

Not all IRS TACs can receive cash payments. And not all IRS TACs that take cash are equipped to receive large cash payments of $10,000 or more. When you call our appointment line at 844-545-5640 and we know more about how much you plan to pay, the tax period(s) you want to pay for, and the type(s) of taxes you want to pay, we will schedule you at the nearest IRS TAC that can best serve you.

For your safety and for the safety of our staff, we don't make this information public, and locations are often changing. Not all IRS TACs are equipped to receive large cash payments, which we consider to be $10,000 or more. Once you call us at 844-545-5640, and we know more about how much you plan to pay, the tax period(s) you want to pay for, and the type(s) of taxes you want to pay, we can schedule you an appointment at the nearest IRS TAC that can best serve you.

Cash payments and costs

If you're unsure how much your business needs to pay, we recommend talking to a tax professional.

A currency bundle, band or cash strap is a paper device that holds a specific quantity of bills of one denomination. To help us quickly count your cash, you can band together 100 bills of the same value. For example, a bundle of 100 $20 bills contains $2,000. One-dollar bills can be bundled to contain 25, 50, 100, 200 or 250 bills. Color-coded paper bands made specifically for this purpose are available at banks and office supply stores. The IRS can only accept payments in U.S. currency.

All taxpayers, whether individuals or businesses with a federal tax liability, are required to pay federal taxes. The IRS does not treat payments by cash taxpayers any differently than those who use other payment methods.

All businesses are required to make federal tax deposits via the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System and face a 10 percent penalty if they don't. However, penalty relief is potentially available on a case-by-case basis for taxpayers without access to a bank account based on reasonable cause. It's your responsibility to request a penalty reduction or an abatement. Click here for information on penalty relief.

If you and your business do not pay your required federal taxes, you may be contacted by the IRS. A payment plan (including installment agreement) may be an option to pay your balance due, including related interest and penalties. Options available are dependent on the facts of your case. You may be required to provide additional information to resolve unpaid amounts due.

Additional information

Call 844-545-5640. An IRS representative will help you schedule an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) that accepts large cash payments. View our guide on what to expect when you pay cash at an IRS office.

You can sign up to receive e-News Subscriptions for periodic email updates and reminders from the IRS about many tax topics.

IRS.gov is the most convenient way to get more information. The Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center provides information for businesses with less than $10 million in assets. Otherwise, give us a call at the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, and an IRS representative will help you. Our help lines are open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific Time).