is burning money legal?

Answer 1

It is illegal to destroy or deface US currency. It costs the government money to replace it.

Defacement of currency in such
a way that it is made unfit for circulation comes under the
jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service:

United States Code
TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 17 - COINS AND CURRENCY
§ 333. Mutilation of national bank obligations

“Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or
unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill,
draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking
association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System,
with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence
of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”
FINDLAW
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/17/sections/section_333.html
or
http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/search/display.html?terms=defaces&url=/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000333----000-.html

Answer 2

You can't, but more important is the reason why. The government has to keep a very balanced amount of cash in circulation throughout the country. Too many $1 bills will make them worth less, or vice versa. It isn't as simple as make money and send it out to be distributed. If people are out there just buring it, it has an effect on the economy.

Think about this. If every person in the country, on the same day, burned one $1 bill, that would be $300 million in currency removed from circulation. It would effect the value of the dollar and the price of goods.

Money is like you driver's license. You keep your license, but it belongs to the state that issued it to you. If you have $100 in your possession, you own the concept of being worth that much money. The actual paper money does not belong to you. It still belongs to the government, but shows others you are currently worth that amount.

Keeping the balance has become more challenging since the inception of the debit card, online bill pay, etc. Currently there is more money changing hands everday across the country, but there is actually less paper money moving around these days.

Answer 3

Even though you may have money to burn, turning cash into ashes is a no-no, according to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which makes all U.S. paper currency.
Specifically, this is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, which says that “whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” The law is enforced by the Secret Service.

Answer 4

You can burn money, as long as it is yours. It is your property to do with as you wish.
Edit:
I stand corrected....
Specifically, this is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, which says that “whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” The law is enforced by the Secret Service.

Answer 5

Burning money is illegal because it is destroying public property and is punishable under the Penal Laws.

Answer 6

If you live in the united states,it is against the law to deface or destroy money.I believe it falls under the destruction of government property.

Answer 7

MONEY GOSH I THINK MONEY MIGHT DISAPPEAR THEN WE BETTER LEARN ANOTHER FORM GOLD IS NEXT BIG THING ...WHO HAS THE RIGHT THE PEOPLE IT NOT RIGHT BUT WHAT HAPPEN WHEN IT GONE THINKING IT MIGHT CAUSE US TO RETHINK BURNING YA MONEY WE MIGHT NEVER UNDERSTAND BUT MONEY HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR YR S
HELP THE US GOV TO SAVE US FROM WHAT ..PEOPLE COME FIRST MONEY CAME INTO PLAY BUT WHO GOING TO BURN MONEY WHEN THIER NONE LEFT TO FIGHT BUT HELP ME IF GOD DOES NOT COME BACK WE ARE LOST IF MONEY PLAY IN YA HAND WHO GOING TO TAKE OUR RIGHTS IT A COUNTRY FREEDOM RIGHT STATE I LOST HERE WHO GOING TO BURN WHO RIGHT OR WRONG I LOST HERE I HAVE A QUESTION WHEN THE TREES DIE IT WAS FIRST MONEY CAME FORM FROM CUTTING IT IT PAPER
PAPER BURN
LOST NOW WHO TO BLAME WHEN EARTH DIES COMMON SENSE WE TRY TO SAVE THE EARTH PEOPLE LIFE WILD AS MONEY IT CAME FROM EARTH MONEY AND PEOPLE WE FORGOT THE WAY

Answer 8

If you have money to burn - send it to me, I'll take it off your hands.

Answer 9

Actually, no it's not legal.

But, why would you want to?

All money has value, even the demonitized currency. Try selling that on eBay. You will find somebody who would buy it.

Answer 10

Actually no you cannot damage your money. It is the law altthough many people think that it is okay!