See what sending money across a border is actually costing you
We break down the FX spread that quietly sets the real cost of any international transfer, plus the US reporting rules that actually apply to cross-border money. We are not a transfer provider and we do not move money or file anything on your behalf.
What are you actually trying to do with money across a border?
Six routes into the same subject
Pick the one that matches what you're actually trying to decide.
I don't know what this transfer is really costing me
How the FX spread — the hidden markup on the rate — actually costs you money.
See the real cost →I might need to report this to the IRS
US reporting rules for money sent or received internationally: FBAR, Form 8938, and gift tax basics.
Check the thresholds →I'm not sure which country's rules apply
What a real jurisdiction comparison should include before you send anything.
Compare jurisdictions →I don't know which transfer method to use
Bank wire, online transfer service, or cash-pickup operator — compared on cost, speed and limits.
Compare methods →The terminology on the form doesn't make sense
Spread, mid-market rate, SWIFT, IBAN and correspondent banking, explained plainly.
Read the glossary →I want to avoid a costly mistake
The risks people underestimate — wrong details, delays, holds and scams — before a large transfer.
See the risks →Run your own numbers
Three small calculators that answer one specific question each — from what an exchange rate margin is really costing you, to comparing two transfer options, to checking how ready you are before you send.
Conversion cost check
Enter the amount and the exact rate a provider quoted you to see what the margin in that rate is actually costing you in dollars.
Assumptions this uses
- You supply the rate — this tool never fetches or quotes a live market rate
- The spread you enter should be the gap between the quoted rate and the current mid-market rate, checked separately
- The result shows the cost of the margin only, not any separate flat fee the provider may also charge
Limitations: Does not account for a separate flat transfer fee, correspondent bank deductions, or any change in the rate between quote and settlement.
Runs entirely in your browser.
Ask for the rate, not just the fee
A "$0 transfer fee" claim tells you nothing about the exchange rate you're being given. Ask the provider directly for the exact rate that will be applied, then compare it to the mid-market rate for that currency pair before deciding anything else.
Ask about a specific cross-border transfer question
A focused assistant for cross-border transfer terminology and structure, not a general chatbot — and not a source of live rates.
Get help with a specific question
If a guide or calculator didn't quite answer it, send us the specific situation — include the countries involved.
This goes to a real inbox, not a sales queue — there's no obligation and nothing is shared beyond answering your question.
Partner link — we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. How we make money.
See cross-border transfer options side by side
Once you know what you're trying to avoid — a wide spread, a slow corridor, a documentation gap — comparing real transfer options is the next practical step.
Compare transfer options →The Cross-Border Transfer Cost Worksheet
Work through the same math this site uses to spot the FX spread, compare transfer methods on your own numbers, and check whether your transfer might trigger a US reporting requirement — on paper, before you send anything.
Where to compare cross-border transfer options next
These are the places we point people once they know roughly what they're trying to avoid — a wide spread, a slow corridor, a documentation gap. They are partners, not endorsements of one provider over another.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
Wise international transfers
A cross-border transfer service that shows its exchange rate margin upfront, commonly used for routine transfers into a bank account.
See Wise transfer options →Cross-border money transfer questions, answered straight
No hedging, no upsell — where the honest answer is 'it depends', we say exactly what it depends on.
What is the FX spread, in plain terms?
It's the difference between the real mid-market exchange rate and the rate a bank or transfer provider actually gives you. It's usually the biggest cost in an international transfer, and it often doesn't appear anywhere as a stated fee — it's simply built into the rate you're quoted.
Do I have to report money I send to family overseas?
Generally no. Sending money to support family abroad is treated as a personal gift by the sender, and the US annual gift exclusion is large enough that routine remittances essentially never trigger a US filing requirement for the sender. This is general information, not personalized tax advice for larger or unusual transfers.
Do I have to report money I receive from overseas?
It depends on the amount and what it is. A gift or inheritance from a foreign individual or estate generally needs to be reported on Form 3520 if it exceeds $100,000 in a calendar year — as a reporting requirement, not a tax, since foreign gifts and inheritances are usually not taxable income to the US recipient.
What's the difference between FBAR and Form 8938?
Both report foreign financial accounts and assets, but they're filed with different agencies (FBAR with FinCEN, Form 8938 with your tax return), have different thresholds, and neither substitutes for the other. FBAR generally applies once foreign accounts total over $10,000 at any point in the year; Form 8938 thresholds are higher and vary by filing status and residency.
Is a bank wire or an online transfer service cheaper?
An online transfer service is usually cheaper for routine transfers into a bank account, because it typically applies a tighter exchange rate margin than a traditional bank wire. A bank wire is often still the more practical choice for very large transfers given higher limits and an established compliance trail.
How do I find the real mid-market exchange rate?
Independent financial data sites publish it for free, in real time, for most currency pairs. Compare that number to the rate any provider actually quotes you — the gap between the two is the spread, and it's the real number to shop on, not the stated fee alone.