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Government officials strive and quite often struggle, to limit the use of cryptocurrency as a tax haven as their popularity grows. The IRS, for example, has struggled to determine the appropriate approach to tax cryptocurrencies ownership and activities.
The IRS has been keeping a close eye on tax regulations, crypto tax rates, and tax collection. But a recent study on the crypto tax gap portrays a different picture. Apart from this, if you are someone who has an interest in cryptocurrencies, there are some great conferences you can attend, such as attending a blockchain event, to increase your knowledge!
Crypto Tax Gap in the USA
As per recent research, cryptocurrency investors apparently aren’t even paying the Internal Revenue Services minimum half of the taxes that they owe on their digital exchanges. Joseph Abate, an MD at Barclays, stated that the IRS Service is straining to keep up with a booming new industry.
The IRS has not yet released an updated estimate of the difference between owed levies and personal payments. According to Abate, the current tax gap is around $50 billion per year, accounting for around 10% of all unpaid taxes, based on a 2017 IRS analysis.
Crypto Tax Rate in the USA
Cryptocurrency is not considered a currency in the United States. Therefore, it’s treated like any other property, such as a stock or equity.
In the United States, you’ll have to pay taxes on cryptocurrency gains as per the crypto tax rate set by the IRS. Short-term capital gains and crypto income are subject to a 37% crypto tax rate, while long-term capital gains are taxed at a rate ranging from 0% to 20% crypto tax rate.
Crypto Tax Gap Address by the Infrastructure Act
Even after the IRS’ repeated efforts to cease bitcoin from being used for tax avoidance, IRS Commissioners continue to blame crypto for the growing $1 trillion tax gap. Congress has finally acted in reply to the IRS’s urgent request for assistance in combating tax fraud.
In order to curb this tax gap, President Joe Biden, in November 2021 issued a bipartisan infrastructure plan of $1.2 trillion. This includes some new crypto laws that investors should be aware of.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021
Crypto exchanges will be required to produce a 1099-B under the new law. Implying, crypto exchanges will now be compelled to report crypto transactions to the IRS immediately. Many crypto investors will no longer be able to hide their winnings as a result of the measure.
As a consequence, many crypto traders will encounter tax reporting concerns. Since the exchanges documenting trading activity will only have a limited understanding of what these investors spent for crypto in the first place, the details available to the IRS on the 1099 form for individuals who are using their own crypto wallet may be inaccurate.
Cryptocurrency: Security or Cash?
The Infrastructure Act, apart from treating bitcoin as a security, imposes reporting obligations that consider cryptocurrency as cash. Taxpayers who get over $10,000 in bitcoin per year must now file Form 8300, just as if they would with cash transfers.
Will This Impact the Existing Crypto Tax Rates?
The consequence of this current reporting law will be felt instantly by the expanding wide range of companies that receive bitcoin payments instead of more conventional paper or plastic. It will also affect individual taxpayers who may be involved in cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
The Road Ahead
While all activities may be public on blockchains, the IRS will have a tough time determining who owes taxes when all participants are anonymous.
The crypto issues are a portion of a larger, and ever-increasing, problem. The total tax deficit is much greater than prior agency investigations have revealed. The IRS has already started cracking down on tax avoidance among crypto investors, and starting in 2023, brokers will be required to record deals worth roughly $10,000 to the IRS.
The intense emphasis on taxing cryptocurrency transactions is basically an attempt to regulate the sector.
Ever since a popular virtual currency lost its anchor to the US currency, exposing speculators and the marketplace more widely at risk, policymakers and authorities reiterated calls for tougher laws.
FAQs
#1 What are the crypto tax rates in the USA?
In the United States, you’ll have to pay taxes on cryptocurrency gains. Short-term capital gains and crypto income are subject to a 37% crypto tax rate, while long-term capital gains are taxed at a rate ranging from 0% to 20% crypto tax rate.
#2 What is the current crypto tax gap?
The Internal Revenue Service of the United States has not yet issued a current estimate of the gap between the levies owed and those paid on a self-reported basis. So Joseph Abate, a managing director at Barclays, derived from a 2017 IRS analysis to estimate that the current tax gap is over $50 billion per year, comprising around 10% of the total unpaid taxes.
#3 Will the crypto tax gap affect the crypto tax rate in the US?
The consequence of this current reporting law will be felt instantly by the expanding wide range of companies that receive bitcoin payments instead of more conventional paper or plastic. It will also affect individual taxpayers who may be involved in cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
