"Structuring" risks

logger7 · August 9, 2025 5:32PM

I was talking to a dealer today concerned that another dealer he does a lot of business with wrote him a $13K or so check for gold bullion. I mentioned to him that even smaller amounts especially in cash that appear designed to circumvent the reporting requirements can raise some red flags.

Years ago I was at the Baltimore coin show and got over $10K in cash for and went by a local Bank of America to deposit it. One of the bankers realized the requirements and I believe filled out an 8300 form.

Downtown1974 · August 9, 2025 6:27PM

You are much better off depositing the whole check in full all at once.
Doing it in small increments (structuring) not only raises red flags, but it looks deliberate. Don’t kick the IRS hornet nest.

derryb · August 9, 2025 6:45PM

@logger7 said:
I was talking to a dealer today concerned that another dealer he does a lot of business with wrote him a $13K or so check for gold bullion. I mentioned to him that even smaller amounts especially in cash that appear designed to circumvent the reporting requirements can raise some red flags.

Years ago I was at the Baltimore coin show and got over $10K in cash for and went by a local Bank of America to deposit it. One of the bankers realized the requirements and I believe filled out an 8300 form.

bank tellers are required by anti-laundering law to report anything 10K or greater. Also required to report anything lower that is suspicious. Unfortunately they err on the side of over reporting to protect themselves and their job.

bigjpst · August 9, 2025 10:00PM

Structuring laws and reporting usually apply to cash transactions.
I’m pretty sure checks and electronic transfers don’t typically require reporting.

jmski52 · August 10, 2025 3:22AM

Structuring laws and reporting usually apply to cash transactions.
I’m pretty sure checks and electronic transfers don’t typically require reporting.

I'm pretty sure this ^ is correct.

blitzdude · August 10, 2025 4:13AM

@bigjpst said:
Structuring laws and reporting usually apply to cash transactions.
I’m pretty sure checks and electronic transfers don’t typically require reporting.

This is correct. I have deposited checks well north of $10K without ever filling out any forms for the IRS.

For that matter I have deposited north of $10K cash without having to fill out any forms but have also had to on multiple $10K cash transactions. RGDS!

Downtown1974 · August 10, 2025 4:17AM

@blitzdude said:

@bigjpst said:
Structuring laws and reporting usually apply to cash transactions.
I’m pretty sure checks and electronic transfers don’t typically require reporting.

This is correct. I have deposited checks well north of $10K without ever filling out any forms for the IRS.

For that matter I have deposited north of $10K cash without having to fill out any forms but have also had to on multiple $10K cash transactions. RGDS!

You wouldn’t have to fill out any form. The bank would.
Just an FYI, not all banks use 10k as the threshold. One of my banks is anything over 8k.

blitzdude · August 10, 2025 5:21AM

@Downtown1974 said:

@blitzdude said:

@bigjpst said:
Structuring laws and reporting usually apply to cash transactions.
I’m pretty sure checks and electronic transfers don’t typically require reporting.

This is correct. I have deposited checks well north of $10K without ever filling out any forms for the IRS.

For that matter I have deposited north of $10K cash without having to fill out any forms but have also had to on multiple $10K cash transactions. RGDS!

You wouldn’t have to fill out any form. The bank would.
Just an FYI, not all banks use 10k as the threshold. One of my banks is anything over 8k.

Yes the bank fills it out but there are several questions you are required to answer so they can fill out the form. RGDS!

logger7 · August 10, 2025 12:34PM

If you check out the US DOJ press releases there are lots of indictments for "structuring"; but most are connected to criminal activity, drug money laundering, major fraud where "structuring" is a tool in the hands of the prosecutors to tack on charges, fines and penalties.

derryb · August 10, 2025 4:21PM

@blitzdude said:

@Downtown1974 said:

@blitzdude said:

@bigjpst said:
Structuring laws and reporting usually apply to cash transactions.
I’m pretty sure checks and electronic transfers don’t typically require reporting.

This is correct. I have deposited checks well north of $10K without ever filling out any forms for the IRS.

For that matter I have deposited north of $10K cash without having to fill out any forms but have also had to on multiple $10K cash transactions. RGDS!

You wouldn’t have to fill out any form. The bank would.
Just an FYI, not all banks use 10k as the threshold. One of my banks is anything over 8k.

Yes the bank fills it out but there are several questions you are required to answer so they can fill out the form. RGDS!

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are strictly confidential, and the individual involved in the suspicious activity is not notified that a report has been filed. Banks are required to also report possible "structuring," which is an attempt to avoid triggering suspicion by breaking up cash transactions into smaller, spread out transactions.

"Structuring" risks

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