Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, was introduced a little over a decade ago, and has become a household name. Today, taxpayers from all walks of life with a wide range of investment experience trade in virtual currencies. Because cryptoassets are still considered a fringe investment, some individuals invest before considering how it will affect their taxes.
This poses a problem. Not reporting cryptoasset transactions is a violation of US tax law.
Reporting cryptoasset transactions to the IRS can be difficult unless you understand how those transactions are taxed.
First things first: what are cryptoassets?
Cryptoassets are digital representations of value that are stored using data encryption technology known as cryptography. Cryptoassets include non-fungible tokens (NFTs), utility coins, and security tokens, but the most common is cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that operate independently of a central bank. Transactions in cryptocurrencies (and most other cryptoassets) are recorded and managed through an open-source, peer-to-peer network that relies on blockchain technology. Because blockchain technology makes a permanent record of each transaction, cryptoasset ownership is verifiable even without a central authority.
How are cryptoassets taxed?
The first few year’s cryptocurrencies were on the market, it felt like the wild west — taxpayers had no formal tax guidance to follow. But in 2014, the IRS released Notice 2014-21 which detailed how to report the sale and exchange of virtual currency and other cryptoassets. Since then, the IRS has expanded its guidance with Revenue Ruling 2019-24 and in their website’s FAQ section. In these releases, the IRS makes it clear that cryptoassets are treated as capital property for federal tax purposes, even when they are used as currency.
Sale or exchange of cryptocurrencies:
Gains or losses recognized from a cryptoasset transaction will be taxable as a long-term capital gain if held greater than 12 months, or as short-term capital gain if held less than 12 months. Because cryptoasset earnings are investment income, many individuals will also be subject to a 3.8% net investment income tax.
To calculate the gain or loss from a cryptoasset transaction, you must first determine your investment’s tax basis. Tax basis is generally what you initially paid to acquire the asset. If you received a cryptoasset as payment for goods or services, your cost basis would be the fair market value of the crypto the day you acquired it.
A transaction’s gain or loss is then determined by subtracting the cost basis from the sales price. The treatment would be the same when using a cryptocurrency to pay for goods or services as part of one’s daily life.
Mining cryptocurrency:
Mining is the process of creating and validating cryptocurrency transactions on a blockchain by solving complex mathematics problems. The “miner” solving the equations is paid in cryptocurrency.
Mining cryptocurrency is considered ordinary income, earned at the fair market value of the cryptocurrency at the time it was mined. Net profits from mining may be subject to self-employment tax is the mining activity constitutes a trade or business.
Airdrops & Staking:
An airdrop is a means of distributing units of a cryptocurrency. Staking is locking crypto out of circulation and not withdrawing it for a set period of time in which the investor earns rewards or interest. In both instances taxpayer would have ordinary income on the distributed units and interest received.What crypto roadblocks should we avoid?
As cryptoasset transactions become more common, there are a few important things to remember.
Blockchain technology encrypts cryptoasset transactions, keeping the identities of traders anonymous, but the IRS has ways of finding out who you are. A few years ago, the IRS filed a lawsuit to obtain the identities of Coinbase’s customers who sold or traded assets over a specific period. The IRS cross-checked Coinbase transactions with the traders’ tax returns, and those who failed to report their activity were required to pay back taxes, penalties, and interest on those unreported gains.
This article was featured in Crain's Cleveland Business on November 15, 2021.
