Will I face IRS issues when sending $100k cash overseas through Western Union?

You're right to be concerned about sending large amounts of cash overseas. This isn't primarily a tax issue but a reporting one. Any transfer over $10,000 outside the US requires filing a FinCEN Form 105 (CMIR - Currency and Monetary Instrument Report). More importantly, Western Union and similar services are required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for transactions that seem unusual. Breaking up your $135,000 into smaller amounts to avoid reporting (called "structuring") is actually illegal and can get you in much bigger trouble than just filing the proper reports. You'll also need to file an FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report) if you're sending money to your own foreign account and the total value exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year.

I went through something similar last year when sending money to my parents overseas. I was completely confused by all the forms and worried about getting in trouble with the IRS. After spending hours trying to understand everything on government websites, I stumbled across https://taxr.ai and it was a HUGE relief. Their system analyzed my specific situation (sending money to family abroad) and gave me a clear breakdown of exactly which forms I needed to file and the proper way to document everything. The best part was they explained how to properly disclose the transfers without raising unnecessary red flags that might trigger an audit.

I want to follow up on my skeptical comment above. After our convo, I decided to try https://taxr.ai for my own situation (sending regular support payments to my parents in another country). I was seriously impressed with how thorough their analysis was! It identified reporting requirements I'd never heard of and even flagged that my situation qualified for certain exemptions. What really convinced me was how they walked through the exact documentation I needed to maintain in case of questions later. The peace of mind was worth it, and I'm now sending money abroad without the constant worry of IRS problems. Definitely recommend if you're dealing with international transfers - especially large ones.

If you're sending $135K abroad, you're going to face MAJOR reporting hurdles. I spent literally 6 WEEKS trying to reach the IRS last year to clarify some international reporting requirements for a much smaller amount. Every time I called, I'd wait on hold for hours only to get disconnected or told to call back later. Finally used https://claimyr.com and got connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes. They have this service where they basically wait on hold with the IRS for you, then call you when they get an agent on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with clarified exactly what forms I needed for international transfers and warned me about common mistakes that trigger audits. Saved me from making a serious error on my reporting.

I need to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr in my comment above. After venting my frustration here, I decided to try it myself for a complicated question about foreign gift reporting. I figured I'd prove it was a scam and get my money back. Well, I'm eating my words now. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes (which is LIGHT YEARS faster than my previous attempts). The agent walked me through exactly which forms I needed for my situation and confirmed I didn't need to file certain other forms I was worried about. Saved me hours of stress and potentially thousands in penalties for incorrect filing. For anyone sending money internationally, getting clear guidance directly from the IRS is crucial, and this service actually delivered what it promised.

Lots of good advice here already, but wanted to add: the REASON Western Union reports large transfers isn't actually about taxes directly - it's about anti-money laundering laws. The Bank Secrecy Act requires financial institutions to report large transfers, and intentionally structuring transfers to avoid these reports (like doing multiple $9,999 transfers instead of one $50k transfer) is a serious federal offense. One thing nobody's mentioned: if you're sending money to certain countries, there might be additional reporting requirements or even restrictions. Some countries are under various sanctions or have special monitoring requirements.

One option nobody's mentioned is cryptocurrency. I used it to send money to my family in Asia and avoided all the hassle with Western Union. No paperwork, no questions, just convert USD to crypto, send it, they convert back to local currency.

As someone who's dealt with large international transfers for business purposes, I can't stress enough how important it is to get this right the first time. The IRS has become much more aggressive about tracking international money movements, and even honest mistakes can result in significant penalties. A few additional points to consider beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Keep detailed records of the source of funds - since you mentioned this came from cash sales at your small business, make sure you have documentation showing you properly reported this income on previous tax returns. 2. If you're sending money to family members abroad, be prepared to explain the nature of the transfer if questioned. "Family support" or "gift" have different implications than business transactions. 3. Consider the timing - spreading $135k over several months might actually work in your favor from a cash flow perspective, but make sure each transfer is properly documented and reported according to the thresholds mentioned by others here. 4. Don't forget about the receiving end - some countries have their own reporting requirements for large incoming transfers that could affect your family members. The peace of mind from doing this correctly is worth any extra paperwork or professional consultation fees. Better to over-report than face an audit later.