The United States sends more money to other countries than any other nation on earth. According to World Bank data, US outbound remittances totaled close to $80 billion in 2023. If you need to send money online using a debit card to family abroad, your card is the most direct tool you have. In 2026, it is also the most tax-efficient one.
Behind that $80 billion are millions of people who live here, work here, and have a family somewhere else that depends on what they send each month. If that is you, you already know what the process actually feels like. Comparing fees. Watching exchange rates. Checking whether the money arrived before your mom calls to ask.
This guide covers what to look for in a debit card transfer service, how ShareMoney handles the process, and a few habits that make a real difference when you send regularly.
The 1% tax, and why your debit card avoids it
Starting in January 2026, a federal 1% tax applies to remittances paid with cash, check, or money order. Digital payments, including debit cards, credit cards, and bank accounts, are exempt.
So if you send $500 to family using a debit card through the ShareMoney app, you pay no additional tax. If you hand $500 in cash to a counter agent at a retail service center, you pay an extra $5 for the exact same transfer.
Over a year of monthly transfers, that adds up. It is one of those rules that does not get posted in big letters anywhere, so a lot of people are still paying it without realizing there is a way around it.
How to send money through ShareMoney with your debit card
ShareMoney accepts Visa and Mastercard debit cards. Here is what the process looks like:
Download the app on iOS or Android. Account setup takes about three minutes. ShareMoney is licensed in 49 US states and uses the same identity verification process any regulated money transfer service requires.
Add your recipient. Enter their name and how they want to receive the money: bank deposit, cash pickup, or mobile wallet, depending on the country.
Enter the amount. You see the exchange rate and any fees before you confirm. The number on your screen is the number that moves.
Confirm. The transfer goes out immediately. Your recipient gets notified. You get a tracking number.
Your first transfer is free. New ShareMoney users pay zero commission and get a better than standard exchange rate on transfers up to $500 with a debit card.
Where you can send
ShareMoney sends money to more than 75 countries. In Latin America that includes Mexico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina. In Asia: Philippines, Vietnam, and Pakistan. In West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, and more.
How your recipient collects depends on the country. Bank deposit goes directly into their account, often within minutes. Cash pickup is available at a large partner network. In Mexico alone that includes OXXO, 7-Eleven, Walmart, Elektra/Banco Azteca, Farmacias Guadalajara, Soriana, HEB, and more. Across all countries, ShareMoney has more than 175,000 cash pickup locations. Mobile wallets are available in select countries in Africa and Asia. Home delivery is available in Vietnam.
What it costs
Fees depend on the destination country and the delivery method. ShareMoney shows you the complete cost before you confirm: fee and exchange rate together in one number. No deductions happen on the other end.
For new users, the first transfer is free: zero commission, favorable exchange rate, up to $500 with a debit card.
After that, the app shows you the exact cost before you send. If you want to compare, you can run a quick check in ShareMoney and see what the same transfer would cost elsewhere. The difference is usually visible in under a minute.
How fast transfers arrive
Bank deposit timing can vary by the recipient’s bank and country. Most debit card transfers through ShareMoney arrive the same day.
Five things that save you money when you send regularly
A single transfer is simple. When you are sending every month for years, a few small things start to compound.
- Save your recipient the first time. The first transfer takes a few minutes because you are entering everything fresh. Once a contact is saved, the next one takes seconds. Most people who send regularly do it through a saved recipient rather than starting over each time.
- Pay with a debit card, not cash. You already know the tax angle from earlier. But it is easy to forget at the moment you are sending: every cash transfer in 2026 now costs 1% more than it used to. That cost disappears when you pay digitally through an app like ShareMoney.
- Use the tracking. ShareMoney sends status updates as the transfer moves. When your family member is waiting at the pickup counter, you know where the money is before they call to ask. That matters more than it sounds when someone is standing in line.
- Use the first-transfer-free promotion on a real transfer, not a test. New users get zero commission and a better rate on their first transfer up to $500. Put it toward money you were going to send anyway.
- Check the rate before sending a larger amount. Exchange rates move daily. For a few hundred dollars, the difference is usually small. For larger amounts, it is worth checking the rate on the actual day you send rather than the day before.
What the fee comparison never shows you
Sending money home is not a transaction for most people who do it every month. It is the rent payment. The medicine. The school fee that was due last week. It is the thing you do because someone on the other end is counting on it, and you do not want to think about what happens if it does not arrive.
That is the real job of a money transfer service. Not the app design, not the referral bonus. The money getting there on time, without a surprise deduction the recipient discovers at the counter.
ShareMoney is operated by Omnex Group, a company that has been doing this since 1990. Over 30 years and more than $20 billion in transfers from people in the US to their families abroad. That history is why the service exists.
Is my debit card safe to use on ShareMoney?
ShareMoney is licensed as a money services business in 49 US states and operates under federal FinCEN registration (NMLS #899521). Your card information is encrypted and processed through a PCI-compliant payment system.
On Trustpilot, ShareMoney holds a 4.6-star rating from more than 4,000 verified reviews. On the App Store, it sits at 4.3 stars. Customer support is available 24/7 in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and French.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use any debit card on ShareMoney?
Visa and Mastercard debit cards work. Discover is not currently accepted. Prepaid card support may vary; contact support if you have one.
Do I owe the 1% remittance tax when I pay with a debit card?
No. The 1% federal remittance tax that took effect in January 2026 applies to cash, check, and money order payments only. Debit card transfers through ShareMoney are exempt.
How is ShareMoney different from Western Union or Remitly?
ShareMoney covers more than 75 countries through one app, with customer support in 5 languages and one of the larger cash pickup networks in Latin America and West Africa. The first transfer is free, and debit card transfers are exempt from the 1% tax.
What if my transfer is delayed?
Check the real-time status in the app. If it has been longer than the expected delivery window, reach ShareMoney’s 24/7 support directly from the app.
Are there transfer limits?
Limits vary by verification level and destination. They increase after identity verification is complete.
Can I send to the same person repeatedly without re-entering their info?
Yes. Once a recipient is saved, sending again takes a few seconds.
Send your first transfer free
Your debit card is the fastest, lowest-cost way to send money from the US right now. No extra tax, no counter lines, and the first transfer costs you nothing.
Download ShareMoney, add your recipient, and send.
