Cryptocurrency is still a new term to most of the world, but it is becoming more and more well-known. Many people are wondering if they need to pay taxes on Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other cryptocurrency.
The short answer is yes.
The long answer is that the government wants you to pay the correct amount of taxes on all income you earn. This income can come in many forms such as employment income or investment income. Cryptocurrency falls under investment income and must be treated as capital gains on your tax return.
A capital gain is any time you sell an asset for more than you bought it for. For example, if you bought 1000 shares of Company X at $2 each and sold them at $10 each, then your capital gain would be $8000 – $2000 = $6000. In addition, there are two types of capital gains: long-term and short-term gains. Long-term gains are any assets that have been held for over one year before being sold, while short-term gains are any assets that have been held for less than one year before being sold. Long-term capital gains are taxed more favorably than short-term capital gains.
Cryptocurrency is treated much like a
In the U.S., cryptocurrency is treated as an asset, and therefore it is subject to capital gains tax.
If you bought BTC for $1,000 a few months ago and sold it at $10,000, you would owe taxes on that $9,000 in capital gains. You can deduct $3,000 of your capital losses (not more than your capital gains), but if you have leftover losses, they can be carried forward to future years.
The IRS is not clear on bitcoins held in retirement accounts such as 401(k)s or IRAs. However, the SEC ruled that bitcoins are “a cash equivalent” and the “transaction should likely be reported as both a sale and a distribution” if they are used to pay for services or goods. These transactions will likely fall under the 1099-B form category.
If you are wondering how to file your cryptocurrency taxes, you are not alone. The IRS is reporting that only 800 people reported their cryptocurrency earnings between 2013 and 2015. Since there are over 2 million users who have bought bitcoins or altcoins, it’s safe to say that 95% of cryptocurrency holders aren’t reporting their earnings.
It doesn’t matter if you hold on to your cryptocurrencies for weeks or days, if you earn money from the transaction, you need to report your profit on your tax return.
Here’s what you need to know about filing your cryptocurrency taxes.
The IRS declared that anyone who pays for goods and services with Bitcoin are subject to paying taxes.
The IRS also said that anyone who sells or uses virtual currencies could be held responsible for reporting any gains or losses in the value of their cryptocurrency.
It’s that time of year again. You’re ready to file your taxes by the April deadline, but before you do, here are some things you should know about cryptocurrency:
1. Cryptocurrency is property and subject to capital gains tax.
2. Tax rules apply whether you mine, use or receive cryptocurrencies as payment for goods and services.
3. Cryptocurrency investors should keep detailed records as well as report their earnings and losses on tax returns.
4. Using crypto exchanges that don’t offer 1099s could be risky if the IRS comes knocking on your door.
5. When you sell or exchange a cryptocurrency, you must calculate the cost basis and capital gain or loss to determine how much tax to pay (or if any). This can be done by using the first-in-first-out cost basis method or average cost basis method.
The IRS has issued guidance on the tax treatment of virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin. Below, we outline the basics of what you need to know about paying taxes on your virtual currency transactions.
As with other forms of property (e.g., stock, bonds, real estate), you have a taxable gain or loss when you sell or trade Bitcoin or other virtual currency. Gains are taxed at the special capital gains rate, which is lower than the rate for ordinary income. You calculate your gain or loss when you dispose of the cryptocurrency. Gain or loss generally is determined by comparing the amount realized on the disposition with your adjusted basis in the cryptocurrency.(For more information about basis, see below.)
Your basis in cryptocurrency is generally the amount you paid to acquire it plus any costs to acquire it (such as commissions). If you received cryptocurrency (rather than bought it), your basis is generally its fair market value on the date of receipt plus any costs to dispose of it (such as commissions). If you mine crypto currency, your basis is generally equal to its fair market value on the date of receipt minus any expenses incurred to mine it.
If you receive virtual currency as payment for goods or services, then under current law and IRS guidance, you must include its fair market
Online trading and investments have become a popular way of making money today. Cryptocurrencies are one of the most popular and trending options for online trading. However, this kind of trading is very risky, with high chances of losing your money. But if you are looking for a high risk-high gain type of investment then cryptocurrency is for you.
But how much do you really know about cryptocurrencies? What makes it different from other forms of currency? How is it taxed? If these questions are bothering you, then you have come to the right place. Here we will tell you everything you need to know about cryptocurrencies and taxes on them.
What Is Cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency is basically an encrypted digital currency created by solving complex mathematical algorithms. This digital currency can be used to purchase goods and services; this means that it has value just like fiat currency does.
It was first launched in 2009 under the name Bitcoin which remains the most popular among all cryptocurrencies today. The number of cryptocurrencies that exist today has increased tremendously in the past few years with some countries even considering creating their own versions.
Below is a list of some of the popular cryptocurrencies:
Bitcoin (BTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
Ripple (XRP)
Litecoin