Cryptocurrency tax filing

To make the process go more smoothly, gather all your paperwork before you file. Then, decide if you can file taxes on your own, perhaps with the help of do-it-yourself tax software, or if you need to call in professional help from a tax accountant. Shehan Chandrasekera, head of tax strategy at crypto tax software company CoinTracker. You can also rely on crypto tax programs to help you calculate your capital gains and losses on your crypto trading. If you receive cryptocurrency as payment for goods or services, you must report the fair market value of the crypto at the time it was received as taxable income. Your tax accountant should be able to help you review your transactions and determine what counts as income.

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Content:

• Investing in crypto? What to know about the new tax reporting requirements
• Cryptos and Their Taxation in the US
• Cryptocurrency drawing the attention of the IRS
• Cryptocurrency Tax Assistance
• Virtual Currencies
• How Does Bitcoin Impact Your Taxes? 10 Things To Know
• How Is Cryptocurrency Taxed?
• How Is Cryptocurrency Taxed? Here's What You Need to Know

WATCH RELATED VIDEO: Crypto Taxes 101: The Complete Step-by-Step Crypto Tax Guide

Investing in crypto? What to know about the new tax reporting requirements

Comments on these FAQs may be submitted electronically via email to Notice. Comments irscounsel. All comments submitted by the public will be available for public inspection and copying in their entirety. Note: Except as otherwise noted, these FAQs apply only to taxpayers who hold virtual currency as a capital asset.

For more information on the definition of a capital asset, examples of what is and is not a capital asset, and the tax treatment of property transactions generally, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Virtual currency is a digital representation of value, other than a representation of the U. Some virtual currencies are convertible, which means that they have an equivalent value in real currency or act as a substitute for real currency.

Regardless of the label applied, if a particular asset has the characteristics of virtual currency, it will be treated as virtual currency for Federal income tax purposes. Virtual currency is treated as property and general tax principles applicable to property transactions apply to transactions using virtual currency. For more information on the tax treatment of virtual currency, see Notice For more information on the tax treatment of property transactions, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Cryptocurrency is a type of virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure transactions that are digitally recorded on a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain. When you sell virtual currency, you must recognize any capital gain or loss on the sale, subject to any limitations on the deductibility of capital losses. For more information on capital assets, capital gains, and capital losses, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

If your only transactions involving virtual currency during were purchases of virtual currency with real currency, you are not required to answer yes to the Form question. If you held the virtual currency for one year or less before selling or exchanging the virtual currency, then you will have a short-term capital gain or loss. If you held the virtual currency for more than one year before selling or exchanging it, then you will have a long-term capital gain or loss.

For more information on short-term and long-term capital gains and losses, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets. Your gain or loss will be the difference between your adjusted basis in the virtual currency and the amount you received in exchange for the virtual currency, which you should report on your Federal income tax return in U. For more information on gain or loss from sales or exchanges, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Your adjusted basis is your basis increased by certain expenditures and decreased by certain deductions or credits in U. For more information on basis, see Publication , Basis of Assets. When you receive property, including virtual currency, in exchange for performing services, whether or not you perform the services as an employee, you recognize ordinary income.

For more information on compensation for services, see Publication , Taxable and Nontaxable Income. Generally, self-employment income includes all gross income derived by an individual from any trade or business carried on by the individual as other than an employee. Consequently, the fair market value of virtual currency received for services performed as an independent contractor, measured in U.

Generally, the medium in which remuneration for services is paid is immaterial to the determination of whether the remuneration constitutes wages for employment tax purposes. Consequently, the fair market value of virtual currency paid as wages, measured in U. The amount of income you must recognize is the fair market value of the virtual currency, in U. In an on-chain transaction you receive the virtual currency on the date and at the time the transaction is recorded on the distributed ledger.

If you pay for a service using virtual currency that you hold as a capital asset, then you have exchanged a capital asset for that service and will have a capital gain or loss. For more information on capital gains and capital losses, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets. Your gain or loss is the difference between the fair market value of the services you received and your adjusted basis in the virtual currency exchanged.

If you exchange virtual currency held as a capital asset for other property, including for goods or for another virtual currency, you will recognize a capital gain or loss.

Your gain or loss is the difference between the fair market value of the property you received and your adjusted basis in the virtual currency exchanged. If you transfer property held as a capital asset in exchange for virtual currency, you will recognize a capital gain or loss. If you transfer property that is not a capital asset in exchange for virtual currency, you will recognize an ordinary gain or loss.

For more information on gains and losses, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets. Your gain or loss is the difference between the fair market value of the virtual currency when received in general, when the transaction is recorded on the distributed ledger and your adjusted basis in the property exchanged. A hard fork occurs when a cryptocurrency undergoes a protocol change resulting in a permanent diversion from the legacy distributed ledger.

This may result in the creation of a new cryptocurrency on a new distributed ledger in addition to the legacy cryptocurrency on the legacy distributed ledger. If a hard fork is followed by an airdrop and you receive new cryptocurrency, you will have taxable income in the taxable year you receive that cryptocurrency.

When you receive cryptocurrency from an airdrop following a hard fork, you will have ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the new cryptocurrency when it is received, which is when the transaction is recorded on the distributed ledger, provided you have dominion and control over the cryptocurrency so that you can transfer, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the cryptocurrency.

If you receive cryptocurrency from an airdrop following a hard fork, your basis in that cryptocurrency is equal to the amount you included in income on your Federal income tax return. The amount included in income is the fair market value of the cryptocurrency when you received it. You have received the cryptocurrency when you can transfer, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of it, which is generally the date and time the airdrop is recorded on the distributed ledger.

See Rev. If you receive cryptocurrency in a transaction facilitated by a cryptocurrency exchange, the value of the cryptocurrency is the amount that is recorded by the cryptocurrency exchange for that transaction in U. If the transaction is facilitated by a centralized or decentralized cryptocurrency exchange but is not recorded on a distributed ledger or is otherwise an off-chain transaction, then the fair market value is the amount the cryptocurrency was trading for on the exchange at the date and time the transaction would have been recorded on the ledger if it had been an on-chain transaction.

If you receive cryptocurrency in a peer-to-peer transaction or some other transaction not facilitated by a cryptocurrency exchange, the fair market value of the cryptocurrency is determined as of the date and time the transaction is recorded on the distributed ledger, or would have been recorded on the ledger if it had been an on-chain transaction. The IRS will accept as evidence of fair market value the value as determined by a cryptocurrency or blockchain explorer that analyzes worldwide indices of a cryptocurrency and calculates the value of the cryptocurrency at an exact date and time.

When you receive cryptocurrency in exchange for property or services, and that cryptocurrency is not traded on any cryptocurrency exchange and does not have a published value, then the fair market value of the cryptocurrency received is equal to the fair market value of the property or services exchanged for the cryptocurrency when the transaction occurs.

Your holding period begins the day after it is received. For more information on holding periods, see Publication , Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets. A soft fork occurs when a distributed ledger undergoes a protocol change that does not result in a diversion of the ledger and thus does not result in the creation of a new cryptocurrency. Because soft forks do not result in you receiving new cryptocurrency, you will be in the same position you were in prior to the soft fork, meaning that the soft fork will not result in any income to you.

If you receive virtual currency as a bona fide gift, you will not recognize income until you sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of that virtual currency.

For more information about gifts, see Publication , Survivors, Executors, and Administrators. Your basis in virtual currency received as a bona fide gift differs depending on whether you will have a gain or a loss when you sell or dispose of it. For more information on basis of property received as a gift, see Publication , Basis of Assets.

Your holding period in virtual currency received as a gift includes the time that the virtual currency was held by the person from whom you received the gift. If you donate virtual currency to a charitable organization described in Internal Revenue Code Section c , you will not recognize income, gain, or loss from the donation.

For more information on charitable contributions, see Publication , Charitable Contributions. Your charitable contribution deduction is generally equal to the fair market value of the virtual currency at the time of the donation if you have held the virtual currency for more than one year.

For more information on charitable contribution deductions, see Publication , Charitable Contributions. The signature of the donee on Form does not represent concurrence in the appraised value of the contributed property.

The signature represents acknowledgement of receipt of the property described in Form on the date specified and that the donee understands the information reporting requirements imposed by section L on dispositions of the donated property see discussion of Form in FAQ See Form instructions for more information.

See Publication , Charitable Contributions , for more information. Tax-exempt charity responsibilities include the following:. If you transfer virtual currency from a wallet, address, or account belonging to you, to another wallet, address, or account that also belongs to you, then the transfer is a non-taxable event, even if you receive an information return from an exchange or platform as a result of the transfer. You may choose which units of virtual currency are deemed to be sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of if you can specifically identify which unit or units of virtual currency are involved in the transaction and substantiate your basis in those units.

This information must show 1 the date and time each unit was acquired, 2 your basis and the fair market value of each unit at the time it was acquired, 3 the date and time each unit was sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, and 4 the fair market value of each unit when sold, exchanged, or disposed of, and the amount of money or the value of property received for each unit. If you do not identify specific units of virtual currency, the units are deemed to have been sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of in chronological order beginning with the earliest unit of the virtual currency you purchased or acquired; that is, on a first in, first out FIFO basis.

You must report income, gain, or loss from all taxable transactions involving virtual currency on your Federal income tax return for the taxable year of the transaction, regardless of the amount or whether you receive a payee statement or information return. You must report most sales and other capital transactions and calculate capital gain or loss in accordance with IRS forms and instructions, including on Form , Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets , and then summarize capital gains and deductible capital losses on Form , Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses.

You must report ordinary income from virtual currency on Form , U. Many questions about the tax treatment of virtual currency can be answered by referring to Notice PDF and Rev. The Internal Revenue Code and regulations require taxpayers to maintain records that are sufficient to establish the positions taken on tax returns. You should therefore maintain, for example, records documenting receipts, sales, exchanges, or other dispositions of virtual currency and the fair market value of the virtual currency.

More In File. What is virtual currency? How is virtual currency treated for Federal income tax purposes? What is cryptocurrency? Will I recognize a gain or loss when I sell my virtual currency for real currency? The Form asks whether at any time during , I received, sold, sent, exchanged, or otherwise acquired any financial interest in any virtual currency.

During , I purchased virtual currency with real currency and had no other virtual currency transactions during the year. Must I answer yes to the Form question? How do I determine if my gain or loss is a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss? How do I calculate my gain or loss when I sell virtual currency for real currency?

How do I determine my basis in virtual currency I purchased with real currency? Do I have income if I provide someone with a service and that person pays me with virtual currency?

Does virtual currency received by an independent contractor for performing services constitute self-employment income? Does virtual currency paid by an employer as remuneration for services constitute wages for employment tax purposes? How do I calculate my income if I provide a service and receive payment in virtual currency? Will I recognize a gain or loss if I pay someone with virtual currency for providing me with a service? How do I calculate my gain or loss when I pay for services using virtual currency?

Will I recognize a gain or loss if I exchange my virtual currency for other property? How do I calculate my gain or loss when I exchange my virtual currency for other property?

Cryptos and Their Taxation in the US

The new year is upon us and we all need to start gathering tax documents. Fun stuff, right? The below list of items is meant to help you understand the most critical aspects for tax filing when it comes to bitcoin. And it should be noted that this specifically covers U. Although often used as currency, it is not treated like a currency for tax purposes. Every single time you sell, spend or exchange bitcoin, you have executed a taxable transaction. You have a capital gain or less every time you dispose of your bitcoin, unless it is by gifting it to someone.

Cryptocurrency drawing the attention of the IRS

If you invest in cryptocurrency and you are a U. Cryptocurrency investors need to be aware that failing to report income and pay tax on cryptocurrency investment returns can have severe tax implications. For federal income tax purposes, cryptocurrency holdings are treated similarly to other more-traditional types of investments. If you realize gain when you sell a stock, that is a taxable event. The same holds true when you sell cryptocurrency. As a result, if you have failed to report taxable cryptocurrency transactions to the IRS, then you could be at risk in the event of an IRS audit or a criminal cryptocurrency tax fraud investigation. What kind of risk are we talking about?

Cryptocurrency Tax Assistance

Find out if all your Bitcoin earnings need to be filed during taxing season. P erhaps a few years ago when cryptocurrencies weren't regulated and were going under the IRS ' radar, Bitcoin had a better appeal to people. Those who mine this cryptocurrency now know that they definitely have to file taxes of every earned Bitcoin they get. If you are a miner who just started in the cryptocurrency world, you should start getting ready for tax season and take prep seriously. Otherwise, the Internal Revenue Service might be out to get you if you ignore your responsibilities.

Virtual Currencies

Is there a cryptocurrency tax? If you've invested in Bitcoin or another form of cryptocurrency, understand how the IRS taxes these types of investments and what constitutes a taxable event. Interest in cryptocurrency has grown tremendously in the last several years. Whether you accept or pay with cryptocurrency, invested in it, are an experienced currency trader or you received a small amount as a gift, it's important to understand cryptocurrency tax implications. The term cryptocurrency refers to a type of digital asset that can be used to buy goods and services, although many people invest in cryptocurrency similarly to investing in shares of stock. Part of its appeal is that it's a decentralized medium of exchange, meaning it operates without the involvement of banks, financial institutions, or other central authorities.

How Does Bitcoin Impact Your Taxes? 10 Things To Know

After recent market dips, reporting last year's cryptocurrency profits on your tax return may be less appealing. But hiding taxable activity may lead to IRS trouble, experts warn. While values dropped in December, many investors still had sizable gains. And the IRS has made it clear they are watching with a yes or no question about "virtual currency" near the top of the first page of your tax return. More from Advice and the Advisor: Tax filing season kicks off. Cryptocurrency may be subject to capital gains when exchanged or sold at a profit. Swapping digital coins, cashing out for U. The gain or loss is the difference between your purchase price, known as basis, and the value when selling or exchanging, and your tax rates depend on the length of ownership.

How Is Cryptocurrency Taxed?

Taxing Cryptocurrency is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. This includes analysis, planning, goal setting and execution. The success of the firm is derived from education, preparation and experience.

How Is Cryptocurrency Taxed? Here's What You Need to Know

File your tax return in under 20 minutes. Learn how to reduce your taxes for next year. No credit card required. Free tax reports. Have you bought or sold crypto on different exchanges?

The House is not expected to vote on the legislation until later this month, but at this point the language seems to be finalized. The IRS has long sought such information, filing so-called John Doe summonses against cryptocurrency exchanges in an effort to uncover tax evasion by their customers. But it would be a lot easier if crypto exchanges were just given the same reporting obligations as regular investment brokerages, that is, at year end, to report a detailed B equivalent to investors that shows all of the gains and losses, which the IRS gets a copy of, and that has always born more compliance by investors in any capacity. But, right now in the crypto community, there currently is no statutory requirement. There is little chance of the language changing when the House takes up the bill because of the tenuous bipartisan deal that negotiators struck in the Senate. There were amendments offered in the Senate to the cryptocurrency provision to narrow the definition of a crypto broker at the end of the day, in the most general terms, to exclude miners and software providers. Those amendments did not get passed.

The IRS considers cryptocurrencies to be property, which means a variety of taxes likely apply to your altcoin transactions, including capital gains. At this point, most people have heard of cryptocurrency, but many are still confused about what it is and how it works. We define cryptocurrency as any virtual currency that operates as a medium of financial exchange and uses the science of cryptography to secure the digital funds.