With more and more businesses refusing to accept cash, you want to know: If you walked into an Apple store in the U.S. with a bathtub full of pennies — or dollar bills, for that matter — do they have to take coins or bills as payment?
Under the Coinage Act of 1965, all U.S. coins or bills are considered a valid form of payment — but there's no law that says a business has to accept it. That's why businesses are allowed to say they won't take cash or coins.
But because it's harder for poorer people to get a credit card, the state of New Jersey and cities like Philadelphia and New York are considering banning businesses from refusing to accept cash.
Before those laws are passed, maybe a word to the wise: If a group of Russians walk into your store with a bathtub of coins, accept it.