Bitcoin and Taxes: What You May Not Know

You might be aware that your Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency transactions have a possible taxable impact. However, you might not know exactly how to report them. You can use this bitcoin tax calculator or read on for more guidance on cryptocurrency taxes.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a worldwide payment system where users buy virtual currency using an exchange. The Bitcoins are stored in a digital wallet and can be transferred using a mobile app. No bank or other intermediary institution is involved.

Bitcoins can be used as a digital currency to send or receive funds, pay for goods or services, or simply for investment. Transactions are anonymous and are tracked only via the digital wallet identifiers on a public ledger. Originally used by illicit operators, mainstream companies such as Overstock.com now accept Bitcoin as payment.

Enter the IRS

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) isn’t blind to Bitcoin and provided guidance about “convertible virtual currency” in its Notice 2014-21.

The IRS defined convertible virtual currency as virtual currency that has an equal value in real currency, or that is a substitute for real currency.

The IRS specifically referred to Bitcoin as a type of convertible virtual currency that can be digitally traded. In addition, you can buy or exchange virtual convertible currencies into U.S. dollars or other real or virtual currencies. However, the virtual currency itself does not have legal tender status in the U.S.

Tax Liability

“Though cryptocurrencies seem like a brand-fangled new investment, one with which is, by comparison, antiquated tax system can’t compete, they are actually taxed like pretty much any other mundane item,” emailed Mark Durrenberger, Certified Financial Planner®, Enrolled Agent and author of The Modern Day Millionaire.

If you sell, exchange, or use convertible virtual currency to pay for goods or services, you might have a tax liability. For tax purposes, the IRS treats convertible virtual currencies as property. If you receive Bitcoin as payment for goods or services you provide, then when you compute your gross income, you must include the fair market value of Bitcoin in U.S. dollars as of the date you received the Bitcoins.

Durrenberger gave the following example:

“If you buy Bitcoin for $100, and later sell it for, say, $1,000, [y]ou would owe capital gains taxes on that $900 gain. If you held that Bitcoin for less than one year, the tax rate would be whatever rate you pay on your regular income. If you held it for longer than one year before you sold, you are taxed at the more favorable (i.e., lower) long-term capital gains rates,” Durrenberger said.

Fair Market Value

How would you determine the fair market value of Bitcoin? “It can get a bit tricky as the value of Bitcoin jumps and dips constantly and those changes can be quite drastic at times,” emailed David Hryck, a tax lawyer, and partner at Reed Smith in New York City. “You will have to convert the Bitcoin value to U.S. dollars as of the date each payment is made.”

In this world of anonymous payments, recordkeeping of your transactions might be a challenge. “Make sure you keep careful records of the dates and value,” Hryck said.

Independent Contractors

If a company or individual pays you in Bitcoins for services you performed as an independent contractor, you might wonder if it constitutes self-employment income.

According to the IRS, self-employment income includes all gross income from any trade or business you engage in, other than as an employee. The fair market value of Bitcoins you receive for your services (measured in U.S. dollars as of the date you receive payment) is self-employment income and consequently is subject to self-employment tax.

Reporting to the IRS

You might wonder how to report your Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency transactions on your annual tax return.

The basic tax rules that are applicable to property transactions apply to transactions using virtual currency. The IRS has made it clear that Bitcoin is a type of property and your transactions must be reported.

You should file Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets and Schedule D (1040), Capital Gains and Losses, with your annual tax return to reflect your cryptocurrency transactions.

Failure to Report

What will happen if you skip reporting your Bitcoin or other digital currency transactions on your tax returns? Will the IRS know?

The fact that in 2014 the IRS issued a comprehensive notice including a Q&A section shows that the IRS is well aware that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency transactions are more than a passing fad. As with any tax law or IRS rules, you assume certain risks if you fail to comply.

This article by Valerie Rind first appeared on TaxAct.