Send money to the USA with XE
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How to send money to the United States
Secure, affordable ways to send money from overseas to the USA.
While your local bank branch might be the most obvious option for sending money across borders, you can save on fees and take advantage of more competitive exchange rates with an online money transfer company.
Compare services
Select your currency and transfer amount to compare the fees, rates and transfer times of different providers.
The “Rate” and “Amount Received” displayed are indicative rates that have been supplied by each brand or gathered by Finder Ireland.
Exchange rates are volatile and change often. As a result, the exchange rate listed on Finder Ireland may vary to the actual exchange rate quoted for the brand. Please confirm the actual exchange rate and mention “Finder Ireland” before you commit to a brand.
What's in this guide?
How to send money to the USA online
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
- Sign up for a free account. Pick a provider and sign up for a free online account using your contact information, proof of ID and your preferred payment method.
- Provide transfer details. Submit your recipient’s contact information and pick a delivery method. If you’re transferring to a bank, you’ll need your recipient’s US-based bank account details.
- Confirm transfer details. Double-check your payment method, expected fees and destination.
- Save your receipt. Record your receipt’s confirmation number to track the progress of your transfer to the US. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
What’s the best way to send money to the United States?
Online money transfer providers typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers to the US. Some offer transfers straight to US bank accounts, while others allow the money to be picked up in US dollars in person. Banks, PayPal and other options are available but come with high fees, weak rates and longer turnaround times.
Digital money transfer services
Companies like OFX and CurrencyTransfer specialise in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s US-based bank account, often in as little as a day or two.
Cash transfers
Services like MoneyGram and Western Union allow you to transfer cash for pickup at a local branch in the US — often in minutes. While it’s a fast way to send money, you’ll pay for the convenience in weak exchange rates and high fees. If a cash pickup is necessary, look to digital services like WorldRemit when possible.
Banks
US dollars are almost certainly carried by your bank. Although your local bank can convert your currency into US dollars, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate compared to digital and other options.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending €2,000 to the US
Let’s say you need to send €2,000 from Ireland to the US. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of 11 May 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | €3.99 | €1.90 | €20 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 EUR = 1.0723 USD | 1 EUR = 1.0505 USD | 1 EUR = 1.0495 USD |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | USD 2,140 | USD 2,099 | USD 2,078 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient. If you go with the cash transfer service, your recipient ends up with USD 41 more than the bank offers and arrives within minutes.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to the USA
Weigh costs and fees against convenience, and learn how to compare money transfer providers that send to the US to meet your needs:
- Exchange rates. The USD relationship with other currencies fluctuates daily, so using a service that allows you to lock-in exchange prices may help you save money down the line if exchange rates take a turn for the worse in the future.
- Transfer fees. Transferring money overseas nearly always requires fees, but they might be hidden in the exchange rate. When sending large amounts, it may be cheaper to pay a flat fee to secure a stronger exchange rate.
- Transfer limits. How much you can send varies by company, and different amounts can attract higher or lower fees. Shop around for the best deal on the number of US dollars you’re sending.
- Turnaround. Transferring money through a local bank can take a business week or longer. If you need the funds delivered quickly, seek out a digital specialist that offers instant transfers to the United States.
- Maximum limits. When exchange rates are favourable, sending more money can save you money in the future. If you plan to send large amounts of money to the US, be sure to pick a provider that won’t limit you.
- Transfer methods. Whether you want money sent to a US-based bank account or picked up as cash at a local agent, narrow down a company that matches your preferred delivery method.
Emergency cash transfer to the US
When it’s more important to get your money to the US quickly, look for money transfer companies that support cash pickup in minutes. You can pay with a credit or debit card for fast pickup, but fees are higher than other methods.
How to send money to the USA without a bank account
Cash transfer services can help you if you’re unbanked or marginally banked. If you don’t have a bank account, look for a local company that supports storefronts for cash payments. These services include agent locations in other countries that allow your recipient to pick up cash without a bank account.
How do I send money within the US?
Sending money within the US is easier to do than sending money from abroad. There are a number of different ways to send money online between people in the US including money transfers, cash transfer apps, bank apps and more.
Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in the US
To send money to the US from abroad, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in the US may be different by company.
Documents to send money to the US
To send money from Ireland to the US, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
- Identification. Most services require a driver’s licence, passport or other government-issued ID. Some services allow you to send transfers without ID.
- Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal checks.
- Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number, US bank account and routing number if sending to their bank.
Documents to receive money in the US
To pick up money in person, documentation can include:
- Transfer number. The person sending you money can forward the transfer’s confirmation details — called a PIN, a MTCN, a reference number or a tracking number, depending on the company.
- Government-issued ID. A US government-issued ID is almost always required to pick up cash, but you may be able to set a passphrase if your recipient doesn’t have any valid ID.
- Amount sent. You may need to know how much was sent, usually within 10% of the total.
- Sender’s information. Take along your sender’s full name, the sending country and their address, if known.
What to watch out for
If you’re sending a lot of money to the USA, your recipient will need to declare it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). US citizens and residents will need to fill in Form 3520 if the transfer is one of the following:
- A gift worth USD$100,000 or more from a non-resident.
- A gift of USD$15,601 or more from a foreign corporation or partnership.
While foreign gifts generally aren’t subject to income tax, your recipient will still need to file the form with their taxes or face penalties.
Bottom line
Sending your hard-earned money to the US shouldn’t cost a fortune. Compare transfer companies that specialise in foreign currencies for the strongest rates, lowest fees and flexible delivery. For a complete overview of international money transfers, check out our guide before diving into making a transfer.
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