< Back to IRS

Giovanni Marino

Will depositing a large check and withdrawing it in a few days affect my taxes?

My partner and I are in the process of buying our first home and I'm trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to handle our closing costs. I'm thinking about having my husband transfer his portion of the funds to my account so I can just get one cashier's check for the entire closing amount instead of us each getting separate checks and paying double the fees. Basically, he would deposit a pretty large sum (around $45,000) into my checking account, then I'd get one cashier's check the following day for our entire closing amount (about $90,000). I'm worried this might raise flags with the IRS or create some kind of tax issue since it's a substantial amount moving in and out of my account within a short timeframe. Would this temporary large deposit and quick withdrawal cause any problems on our tax return? Or is this completely fine since it's just consolidating funds for a home purchase? Should I just avoid the hassle and have us each get our own cashier's checks? Anyone with banking or tax experience dealt with something similar? Really trying to save every penny in this crazy housing market!

This shouldn't cause any tax issues since it's just moving money between accounts for a legitimate purpose. The IRS doesn't tax money transfers between spouses, and they don't automatically flag large deposits unless there's a pattern of suspicious activity. Banks are required to report cash transactions over $10,000, but a transfer between accounts or a check deposit isn't the same as a cash deposit. Even if the bank does file a Currency Transaction Report, it's just informational and doesn't trigger taxes or audits by itself. The important thing is that you're using the money for its intended purpose (home purchase) and it's properly documented. Keep records of where the money came from and what it was used for in case of questions.

0 coins

Dylan Hughes

•

But doesn't the bank still have to file some kind of suspicious activity report for large amounts even if it's not cash? I had a relative transfer me $20k once for a car purchase and my bank froze my account for like 3 days while they "investigated.

0 coins

Banks might file a Suspicious Activity Report if they think something looks unusual, but this is different from the mandatory Currency Transaction Reports required for cash. A transfer between spouses for a documented home purchase is completely normal banking activity. If a bank places a temporary hold, that's just their internal policy to verify funds - it's not a tax issue and doesn't generate any tax liability. Once the funds clear and you use them for the closing, there's no ongoing concern.

0 coins

NightOwl42

•

I used taxr.ai when I was in a similar situation last year. My parents gifted us $30k toward our down payment, and I was freaking out about potential tax implications or if I needed to report it somewhere. I kept getting conflicting info online about gift taxes and reporting requirements. I uploaded our bank statements and the gift letter to https://taxr.ai and their AI analyzed everything and explained exactly how to document it properly. They clarified that I didn't need to worry about taxes on the gift since my parents were under the reporting threshold, but gave me specific advice about documentation I should keep for mortgage underwriting. Sounds like your situation is even simpler since it's just between you and your spouse, but their system can review your specific scenario and give you personalized guidance.

0 coins

Does this taxr thing actually work with complicated tax situations? I have rental income, crypto, and a side business and my taxes are a nightmare every year.

0 coins

Dmitry Ivanov

•

How much does it cost? Most of these services end up being like $200+ for anything actually useful.

0 coins

NightOwl42

•

It absolutely handles complex tax situations. The AI is specifically trained on tax regulations and can analyze multiple income streams, investments, and business structures. It helped me sort out issues with my rental property depreciation and home office deductions for my consulting work. The pricing is actually really reasonable compared to what I was paying my accountant. They have different tiers depending on what you need, but it was significantly less than what I paid for traditional tax help. I don't remember the exact amount, but definitely worth checking their site for current pricing.

0 coins

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after asking about it. I finally got around to trying it with my complicated tax situation (rental properties, crypto trading, and side business income). I was honestly surprised by how comprehensive the analysis was! I uploaded my previous tax returns, bank statements, and some investment docs, and it identified several deductions I had missed in previous years. The AI explained exactly which forms I needed to file for my various income sources and even suggested some legitimate strategies to reduce my tax burden next year. Way better than the generic advice I was getting from random internet forums. Definitely keeping this for next tax season!

0 coins

Ava Thompson

•

If you're worried about potential tax issues, you might want to talk directly with an IRS agent about your specific situation. I had a similar concern last year about a large deposit and tried calling the IRS for weeks without getting through. I finally used a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed that transfers between spouses for a home purchase aren't taxable events and don't need to be reported as income. They also explained exactly what documentation I should keep in case of questions later. Totally worth it for the peace of mind before making such a big financial move.

0 coins

Wait, so this service somehow gets you past the IRS phone queue? How is that even possible? The IRS phone system is notoriously terrible.

0 coins

Zainab Ali

•

This sounds like a scam. Why would I pay a third party when I can just keep calling the IRS myself? They're probably just using bots to autodial or something anyone could do.

0 coins

Ava Thompson

•

The service uses a combination of technology and timing to connect with the IRS phone system during optimal windows. It's not about "cutting the line" but rather navigating the system efficiently during periods when call volume is manageable. They've analyzed patterns in IRS call center activity to identify the best times to connect. It's definitely not a scam. I was skeptical too, but it's just a tool that saves you time. Yes, you could keep trying to call yourself, but after spending literally days trying to get through with no success, the time savings was absolutely worth it to me. I got my questions answered in one day instead of weeks of frustration.

0 coins

Zainab Ali

•

I need to apologize and correct myself here. After dismissing Claimyr as a potential scam in my previous comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks about a letter I received. I'm shocked to admit it actually worked. I was connected to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes, which is incredible considering I had spent hours on multiple days trying to get through on my own. The agent was able to explain the discrepancy notice I received and helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to submit. I'm still not sure exactly how their system works, but it definitely delivered on what it promised. Just wanted to set the record straight since my skepticism was completely wrong.

0 coins

Connor Murphy

•

Former bank employee here. One thing nobody's mentioned yet - you might want to give your bank a heads-up about the large deposit and withdrawal before doing it. Many banks have daily limits on withdrawals or might place a hold on newly deposited funds, especially large checks. Even though it's not a tax issue, you don't want to be surprised by a hold that delays your closing. Call your bank and explain what you're doing so they can note your account and possibly waive any holds.

0 coins

That's a really good point I hadn't considered! About how far in advance would you recommend letting the bank know? Our closing is scheduled for 3 weeks from now.

0 coins

Connor Murphy

•

I'd recommend giving them at least a week's notice. This gives them plenty of time to make notes on your account and process any special approvals that might be needed. While you're at it, ask about their process for obtaining a cashier's check of that size - some banks require advance notice for large cashier's checks too. Also, confirm whether your husband's transfer will be subject to any hold period. Even with prior notice, some banks still place automatic holds on large deposits, especially if they're coming from another financial institution. Better to know this upfront so you can time everything properly for your closing.

0 coins

Yara Nassar

•

Instead of worrying about tax implications (which there aren't any for what you're describing), you should look into whether your title company or attorney offers wire transfers for closing. Most do these days and it's often preferred over cashier's checks for large amounts. That way, you and your husband could each wire your portion directly from your individual accounts to the closing agent. No need to combine funds first and no cashier's check fees at all.

0 coins

StarGazer101

•

Wire transfers can be risky though! My friend almost lost her entire down payment to scammers who sent fake wiring instructions. At least with cashier's checks you're physically handing it to someone.

0 coins

Charlie Yang

•

That's a valid concern about wire fraud, but there are ways to verify wiring instructions safely. Always call your title company or attorney directly using a phone number you look up independently (not from the email) to confirm any wire instructions before sending. Most reputable closing agents also use secure portals now where you can verify details. The risk is mostly from email scams where fraudsters intercept communications and send fake instructions. If you follow proper verification procedures, wires are actually more secure than carrying around a $90k cashier's check. Plus, with a wire, the funds are immediately available and there's no risk of the check being lost or stolen.

0 coins

Sadie Benitez

•

Real estate agent here - I've helped dozens of clients through similar situations and can confirm this won't create any tax issues for you. Transfers between spouses are never taxable events, and consolidating funds for a home purchase is completely routine. That said, I'd strongly recommend calling both your bank and your husband's bank a few days before to let them know about the large transfer. Some banks automatically flag unusual activity patterns, and the last thing you want is a frozen account right before closing. Also consider asking your lender or title company about their preferred payment method. Many actually prefer wire transfers for large amounts since there's no risk of holds or processing delays like with cashier's checks. The wire fees are usually comparable to cashier's check fees, and you avoid the hassle of consolidating funds entirely. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready - bank statements showing the source of funds, transfer records, etc. Your lender will want to see a clear paper trail for underwriting purposes anyway.

0 coins

Emma Olsen

•

This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about asking the lender about their preferred payment method. Quick question - when you mention having documentation ready, should I also keep records of the temporary deposit and withdrawal from my account, or is that overkill since it's just between spouses? I want to make sure I have everything organized properly for underwriting.

0 coins

Joy Olmedo

•

Just went through this exact scenario six months ago! My wife and I consolidated our funds the same way for our closing - she transferred about $50k to my account so we could get one cashier's check instead of two. Zero tax implications whatsoever. The IRS doesn't care about money moving between spouses, and it's definitely not considered taxable income. We kept simple records (bank statements showing the transfer in and the cashier's check out) and our accountant confirmed we didn't need to report anything special on our tax return. The only "issue" we had was that my bank placed a 24-hour hold on the deposited funds even though it was a check from another major bank. A quick call to the branch manager got it released the same day once I explained it was for a home closing. Your plan is totally fine - just give your bank a heads up and maybe confirm there won't be any holds that could delay your timeline. Congratulations on the home purchase!

0 coins

Mei Lin

•

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same situation. Quick question - did your bank require any special documentation when you called to get the hold released, or was just explaining the purpose enough? I want to be prepared with whatever they might need when I make that call.

0 coins

IRS AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
20,087 users helped today