Mississippi State Senator Chad McMahan of District 6, which covers Lee and Itawamba County, says that all businesses in the state must accept cash to pay for goods or services and if they don’t, you aren’t obligated to pay anything.
From McMahan:
Notice to businesses not accepting cash, Legal Tender, in Mississippi.
I’ve had several people reach out to me about an issue taking place in our state. Scott, thank you for the email.
It is my understanding several companies in Mississippi are refusing to take cash as payment.
Take a look at the photos attached. This is a Federal Reserve Note, a $20 bill. This paper money, this note, is Legal Tender for all debts, public and private.
Business owners, if you refused to take cash, the debt is paid in full. If you are a business owner and you refuse to take cash, you are breaking the law.
Here is an example, if I stop by your store and I purchase $44 worth of fuel, and I try to pay you with a $100 bill and you refuse payment of cash, the debt is paid in full. There is nothing you can do to prosecute me because you have refused payment of Legal Tender, unless the business suspects counterfeit bills.
I’m asking residents of Mississippi to make me aware of companies who will not receive or take your cash. They will be receiving a call from my office, the Department of Revenue, and the Attorney General’s office.
SEPARATE ISSUE We are experiencing a coin shortage. Due to this event, some companies are requesting correct change. That is understandable and you should be able to work out any change issue since we are talking about less than .99 cents on any transaction.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
3 thoughts on “Mississippi Senator says that businesses can’t refuse you paying with cash”
The Senator might want to actually check into the laws talking about it. According to the Federal government, no business or person is obligated to accept cash as a payment. https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm
Most of Mississippi State offices will not accept cash for payments so I guess the Ag will have to address this first and correct every town that will not take cash for water bills and gas bills and such
The Senator might want to actually check into the laws talking about it. According to the Federal government, no business or person is obligated to accept cash as a payment. https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm
If there is a state law that states different than the federal law, the business in that state is held to the state law not the federal.
Most of Mississippi State offices will not accept cash for payments so I guess the Ag will have to address this first and correct every town that will not take cash for water bills and gas bills and such