Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (2024)

You Are Here:Home » Personal Finance » Don’t Let Them Get Your Money! Where to Hide Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS

Published or updated by Miranda

Are you worried that someone might be coming for your money?

Whether it’s a potential lawsuit, or even if it’s the IRS or a creditor, you probably want to protect your assets.

If you want to protect your assets, you need to know where to hide your money, and know how to properly structure certain accounts in order to avoid having someone drain your financial well dry.

Here are some places that you can hide your money:

Retirement Account

One of the best places to hide your money is an ERISA-qualified retirement plan.

Not only can you keep some of your money safe, but you can also earn a tax-advantaged return on the money. The money in your retirement account is protected from liability lawsuits. Additionally, your retirement account might have some protection from bankruptcy and creditors (not always, though).

Even the IRS is reluctant to levy against your retirement account.

The IRS does have the ability to access any money that you have access to (so if you can’t withdraw from your account for whatever reason, the IRS can’t require the assets in the account), but in many cases officers are slow to move against your retirement account, even if they could.

Transfer of Assets

Consider transferring some of your assets.

One place to hide your money is in a business — just make sure that you set everything up properly. If you keep assets in your business, they can be protected from liability lawsuits, and they even might be protected from different creditors.

Your can also use your business as a shield for other assets. Guru Robert Kiyosaki did this not too long ago. One of his many business declared bankruptcy as a result of a lawsuit, but that business only represented a small fraction of his assets. His personal fortune remained unaffected.

You can transfer ownerships of your assets to someone else, or even transfer ownership to a trust. That way, you no longer own the assets, and it is harder for others to come after your money.

The Use of Trusts

If you really want to figure out where to hide your money, you can make use of certain types of trusts.

You can use different asset protection trusts to help you protect your money from lawsuits, creditors, and even from the IRS. However, if you hide your money in a trust, you need to be aware of some of the downsides.

First of all, the kind of trust that is most likely to protect your assets is an irrevocable trust. Now, you no longer own the assets; the trust does. The trust can use the money for the benefit of your beneficiaries (including yourself). However, you lose a measure of control over your money when you put it in a trust like this. The reason that your money is protected to some degree — aside from the fact that it is no longer technically yours — is that you don’t have ready access to it in many cases. Even with the IRS, the rule is that you have to be able to access your money. If you can’t get at it, neither can the IRS. Of course, the downside to this setup is that you don’t always have the right to access your own money.

Be Careful of How You Proceed

As always, you need to be careful of how you proceed. Whether you are organizing a business, setting up a trust, or transferring assets in some other way, you should consult a knowledgeable estate planner or attorney. Make sure you understand the process, as well as the restrictions related to your money.

Also, realize that putting all of your money into these types of accounts as a response to an impending problem is not an acceptable solution.

Creating a trust after the creditors come calling, or after you are served with a lawsuit, can negate the effects of the operation. You need to be making asset transfers and retirement contributionsbefore someone comes after your assets. Figuring out where to hide your money is more about long-term planning and asset protection than it is about stop-gap measures when an emergency presents itself.

Have you ever had to hide your money? How did you do it?

Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (2)

About Miranda

Miranda is a freelance writer and professional blogger specializing in financial topics. Her work appears on numerous financial sites, including Wise Bread and Huffington Post. Miranda's blog is Planting Money Seeds.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (3)Abigail @ipickuppennies says

    In general, this sort of thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Just pay what you owe.

    That said, my in-laws lost their house and had to move in with us. They were living on my MIL’s disability: $1,100 a month. Yet they were still making payments on their credit card and keeping their cell phone! I told them to knock it off. So what if they’re hit with an early termination fee? Their income is protected from creditors.

    Reply

  2. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (4)Tim Moore says

    I agree most people are in debt because they choose not to change their lifestyles. If you are in debt and have a negative cash flow every month you need professional help, that’s the bottom line.

    Reply

    • Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (5)Chandra says

      You know I use to think just like you. I’m very ambitious and resourceful. I always find a way to make money and I’m strong good character honest. But I realized everyone does not have my drive and ambition. I would try to push others to be like me and I realized that they can’t. For different reasons because I realized everyone is different and everyone’s situation is different. Some of no fault of there own. Mentally physically academically (not because they didn’t go to school) maybe they struggled and couldn’t finish.aybe dialectic or a brush with the law (falsely accused) and given a break but not with income that they can support themselves on. I like people we are all different from different backgrounds and lifestyle and personalities and abilities. That is what makes us human. So instead of putting people down because there not like us let’s help them. But not to be us but to be the best them they can be.

      Reply

  3. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (6)Don says

    The problem as presented is, as working folk your at a disadvantage and being preyed upon by the irs whereas people with money pay insignificant amounts 14% and lower if any at all!
    whereas the working class has no access to the deductions loopholes etc etc.
    working class people pay 27% and upward and still have to pay some one else to figure and file the return. The other problem is where you take your taxes to be figured the person doing them gets paid by how many returns he files. So again you get taken by the system. The fear the IRS holds over us is criminal. their freehand at dealing out punishment without providing constititional rights and redress is un-american…

    Reply

  4. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (7)Laura Beth says

    I enjoyed the article. These are some good tips. Being proactive and changing your lifestyle and paying your taxes would go a long way to preventing this kind of situation in the first place.

    Just my thoughts.
    Thanks for the informative post!

    Laura Beth

    Reply

  5. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (8)Kevin McMillan says

    I get agree when someone says read the fine print and the duh, but it is great advice. I get irritated when someone says pay your bills, you created them you owe them! Those people don’t always know the circ*mstances even though they know everything! What if that person was injured on the job, the workers comp. Claim was denied, savings exhausted, interested and late fees piled up, the financial institutions only wait so long! It took 2 years to open my claim!

    Reply

  6. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (9)B Guzzo says

    People dont know others circ*mstances. Some of the people who wrote in are wrong. Some us get financially destroyed by divorces, theft by lawyers, and theft by corrupt judges especially here in NY. They put us in debt that we would have not had otherwise.

    Reply

    • Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (10)Megan Sorenson says

      YEEESSSS. My husband is dealing with family court now and they have thrown him in over $100,000 arrearages.

      Reply

    • Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (11)John says

      Very true!!! I’ve ALWAYS paid all my debts even if they are old debt from years ago!! I just believe that’s the right thing to do. But now I’m being financially destroyed because of a previous business associate that owes me over $1 million and purposely didn’t pay me!!! I’ve sued him but the courts have never taken my lawsuit seriously!! EVEN WORSE the crooked judge denied my lawsuit from being heard in court and actually dismissed the ring-leader crook from the lawsuit!!!

      Reply

  7. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (12)Stella says

    I need some advice…found this site. I am in early 60s….and a loser (NOT really, but had a lot of tragedies in life). I also have a felony conviction…..anyone know how that affects your ability to find work. Not to mention that I am now old.
    Due to not being able to find work…I live in USA…had to apply for many benefits…yes government benefits..It is a dichotomy…they charged me with felony …received probation only which I am still on, no former criminal record.
    My issue…I am having to re-apply for all kinds of benefits…heating, electricity, snap (foods stamps), even a tax abatement (property taxes).
    However,,,I inherited some money last summer..wont say how much, but if not careful it will of course run out. So its not that much for today’s standards.
    I am re-applying for those same benefits and going to move money from bank…l..
    Thoughts of where to hide money…not in the bank that is just too blatant.
    I do not feel like being charged with welfare fraud….BUT I am looking out for myself because no one ever did.
    Please do not judge as you do not know my story…..I have no husband or family or retirement….
    I am thinking about moving out of country but I am too old…and just applied for Soc. Sec benefits which I will report…just not the inheritance…
    I also have health problems…
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (13)Christy says

      I hope it went well for you and you’re doing ok.

      Reply

    • Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (14)Sonja says

      Call a fiduciary and ask for advice

      Reply

    • Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (15)Giggles says

      You can get gift cards to hide & save some of the money,. You can get them as Visa, Mastercard & AMEX, they work like a debit card difference is that you will only be able to spend the money you put on the card, there is a small purchase fee (usually $3 -$8). And with gift cards there are usually no other fees. IRS doesn’t know the you have them because you don’t use your social security # or anything that could identify you. This is just a suggestion hoping it may help you in your situation.

      Reply

  8. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (16)James says

    Screw the IRS. Taxation is theft! Hide your money any way you can! Definitely not in US bank accounts. Buy art, jewels and metals.

  9. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (18)betberry says

    Wonderful items from you, man. I have have in mind your stuff prior to and you’re
    simply extremely fantastic. I actually like what you have received right here, really like what you are
    stating and the way in which during which you say it. You’re making
    it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart.
    I can not wait to read far more from you. That is actually a great site.

    Reply

  10. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (19)www.maniagol.com says

    If you are going for best contents like me, just visit this web site all the
    time as it presents feature contents, thanks

    Reply

  11. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (20)F.Y. says

    Invest in precious metals of all kind. Silver, gold, palladium, copper and brass.

    Reply

  12. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (21)maha168 says

    Thanks for finally writing about >Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits,
    Creditors, and the IRS <Loved it!

    Reply

  13. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (22)daftardepobola.blogspot.com says

    Depobola is one of Indonesia’s greatest online soccer betting sites today.

    And why must you choose Depobola as your
    partner?, because Depobola is one of typically the agents that has an official license
    and it is authorized as a trusted company at the center, Depobola is also here
    because an agency that could be thought to have the complete game.

    Depobola is also one of typically the Trusted Gambling Agents, inside addition we here provide the best service coming from all experienced customer service professionals who will directly serve you,
    besides that will here we keep typically the safety and comfort associated with members
    in playing on this website, Depobola’s website is wrong one website that holds interesting events plus promotions
    that are incredibly necessary for our loyal members, of course.

    To become Indonesia’s largest soccer dealer, is a great online gambling site of which already has
    licenses and licenses as well as becoming an online gambling site that provides the best support.

    The Advantages of Depobola Along with other Sites
    The official online gambling game of which we provide
    here will be Sportbook, Sportbook is a single of the online betting related to sports, in addition to Depobola here
    provides ID with the best market, besides Sportbook here we
    also offer Livecasino, Slots, Joker123 Species of fish Shoot, S128 co*ckfights, Togel Chicken Singapore,
    Hongkong Togel, Kuala Lumpur Togel, carry out not hesitate to
    register plus get an account through Depobola, to Register Depobola is very simple the particular security of your data is
    maintained with a security system which is assured.

    Here we provide items which have guaranteed safety, the merchandise we provide are SGD777, MAXBET (IBCBET).

    Both of these products have been tested from immunity towards cyber crime, phishing, ripoffs, and
    fraud, besides of which Depobola is also a single of the biggest online gamblers in Asia.

    Separate from friendly professional consumer service, here additionally,
    you will be given a very quickly deposit and withdrawal procedure, not later than 5 minutes.

    Depobola also provides backup data where a
    person can login Depobola with the website that we provide,
    it avoids the misuse of data and maintains typically the security of information members.

    In order to conduct transactions, here Depobola provides complete banks these kinds
    of as BCA, BNI, Mandiri, BRI, CIMB, and for dealings here
    Depobola serves day to day.

    And here Depobola likewise gives access to users who join our site to see the statements that have been successfully wager, besides members who have got joined our website may also get the possibility to
    take part in the sportbook tournament that we all have for free, the
    particular sportbook tournament is 1 of the facilities that Depobola provides to Depobola loyal members.

    Depobola Alternate Links
    To make this easier for players in order to play soccer
    gambling over a smartphone, the football betting
    agent also provides a link that can become accessed anytime and everywhere of course with the
    availability of an alternative depobola link.
    Considering that right now there will be
    a lot of positive internet in Indonesia, the particular
    provider always provides up to date alternative links in buy to smooth the members to the original site.
    In addition to the positive internet there are also other football agents sometimes ignorant on behalf of the depobola alternative site.
    So it makes us always advise that loyal members must really
    make certain that the website they visit is depobola.

    Reply

  14. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (23)FormerIRS Agent says

    As a IRS former agent I would say I’ve never worked for a more devious, international criminal (owner by Foreighn stockholders) and corrupt organization. Best advice from me is hide it in cash in a safe place. Buy physical gold at close to spot price. Silver at close to spot price and collectibles that are easy to transport so they can not be seized. Read up on jewelry and buy wholesale famous branded old jewelry and stones. Of all the the people we had extreme difficulty in getting paid from it was these nonfilers and tax evaders. If it’s well hidden the IRS can not seize it. Also please never work for the IRS like I did. See the light! I did finally:)

    Reply

  15. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (24)Etta says

    blargh?

    Reply

  16. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (25)agen sbobet online says

    The Importance Of Online Sbobet Agents For Soccer Gambling Gamers
    A number of land agents are offering actual cash playing bets, but for the reason that existence of on-line
    soccer playing video games it’s now very easy to do soccer betting.
    On-line gambling makes it easy for playing gamers to wager safely and comfortably.
    On-line Sbobet agent is the most applicable selection for you, as a result of the
    bettor directly place a wager straight with the biggest betting
    firm in Asia, even on the earth. This present day, the official Sbobet agent is here to alter the minds of the gamers that the web system can be
    performed effectively and practically.
    The Sbobet playing company started in 2004, Sbobet
    is underneath the PAGCOR license from the Philippine government which operates
    in Asia and likewise operates in Europe with the Isle of
    Man license. Because the Sbobet firm is a world
    site so it is not simple sufficient to provide companies to customers who are in Indonesia, Sbobet cooperates with
    Depobola brokers as its agents to facilitate the gamers in processing account creation and transactions.

    The next info will summarize how essential
    the presence of Sbobet on-line brokers, together with the
    following:
    – As a supplier of actual money on-line gambling
    betting
    Before online gambling, every player must go to an airport bookshop.
    However since the existence of a web-based soccer agent,
    typical players have switched to online betting methods.

    So the bettor can already place bets easily by means of Sbobet agents.

    – Gives transaction security and comfort
    In Indonesia you cannot gamble, as a result of there are legal guidelines which prohibit
    gambling. However the story is totally different should
    you play soccer betting by way of Depobola brokers. Depobola will maintain the privacy of
    members, all knowledge that you simply register at Depobola won’t be
    misused or leaked. And Depobola additionally offers
    transactions transparently, the place transactions you make shall be recorded into the system.

    Giving the perfect Betting Market
    For all players you must know that the Sbobet betting market
    in the big match is the most effective in comparison with other playing corporations.
    Additionally before the match will likely be given a schedule and also statistics of each match that
    has been accomplished.
    – Makes it easier for Players to Win A number of Prizes
    Official football agents such as Depobola will make it simpler
    for players to win tons of prizes which amount
    to a whole lot of thousands and thousands
    of rupiah. Even players who’re already very dependable, can profit from jackpot bonuses as much as billions provided by Sbobet organizers.
    Although the guess cash they put up will not be
    too huge, however because of the help of the agent they’ll get the prospect to win the most important jackpot prize.

    – Supplies a wide number of playing video games
    As a member you possibly can select freely what playing video
    games can be found. Many varieties of soccer betting
    options you can play but have many varieties equivalent to:
    Asian handicap, over / beneath, 1 x 2, odd / even, right rating, double likelihood, total rating and combine parlay.

    Those are some facts concerning the importance of online Sbobet agents for bettors, you will need to choose the
    most effective and most trusted agent, considered one of them like Depobola.

    Reply

  17. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (26)www.bukadepoxito.net says

    The best in class, Depoxito pay for you high-end experience that deliver the look and air of authenticated
    VIP standarts, we find the money for you the best glamorous to high-level experience of VIPs expect in any top stop casino,
    grand live casino royale give you the other studio design element including
    the grand blackjack, offering our VIP Customer the best experience of a Salon privee table.

    New style table afterward feature across the room behind grand roulette upgraded on our provider playtechs mini prestige
    roulette which delivering more engaging and richer playing experience.
    The supplementary experience contains a total of seven tables including five blackjack tables, one roulette table and one baccarat table.
    Grand live casino royale has been tall hand-engineered to fit
    the needs of our customer to using it, and contains unique elements that is specially
    designed to maximize the impact value we got from our customers and diversify
    it to the existing network.
    Soon, Depoxito will build an better authenticity technology on living casino for our VIP member, these most innovative technology ever seen in stir casino including this bigger reality.
    Which permit players to experience products on an entire other level which is never seen past
    literally leaping out of the game and taking the blackjack,
    baccarat, roulette and new game into the cumulative entire level.

    Depoxito VIP Baccarat, we come up with the money for you the definitely exclusive flesh and blood VIP Baccarat that is played
    similar to up to 7 players at the thesame table and our very trained
    beautiful bring to life baccarat dealer. And of
    course our VIP member will vibes as if they
    were truly sitting at one of the top casino baccarat table.
    This immersive gaming experience creates a hugely daring manner that our VIP players will locate hard to surpass.

    Here is the list of enliven casino game that depoxito provide, we offer
    the widest range of rouse casino games on the publicize including : blackjack unlimited, blackjack prestige, roulette,
    baccarat, poker, hi-lo, sic bo, and grand bring to life casino royale such as Grand Baccarat, Grand Blackjack and Grand Roulette for our VIP member.
    And of course as a devotee of Depoxito you can enjoy every the games that we have
    enough money to you, every you habit to pull off is just visit our site depoxito and
    register it forlorn takes taking place to 3 minutes and after that
    youre agreeable to feint any game that you want.

    Be our VIP, bodily our VIP devotee of course arranged you the best bolster you can acquire from us
    every you need to be a VIP enthusiast is completely easy.
    all you compulsion is just keep playing on our site,
    layer and feint once a VIP as soon as the
    amount that our company had written, save playing and our customer encouragement will admittance you that you are promoted to become a VIP enthusiast upon our site.

    Reply

  18. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (27)Www.Berrykitavip.com says

    This is a really good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere.
    Brief but very precise info… Thanks for sharing this one.

    A must read post!

    Reply

  19. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (28)Situsalternatif says

    Option Links to Established Online Gambling Internet sites
    Now in an all-sophisticated era, everyone can access the internet very easily.
    So far many online games which can be performed by everyone,
    one example is online gambling games. With the appointment of wagering
    that used to be only on land, now an online system has made it very easy for many betting players
    to channel their hobbies in the world of gambling online.

    Reply

  20. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (29)Karen says

    That is such a compassionate answer!
    Wish there were more with your attitude. ?

    Reply

  21. Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (30)ao sex says

    Visit ao sex for your own free sexy chat experience!

    Reply

Where to Hide Your Money from Lawsuits, Creditors, and the IRS (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6143

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.