“At any time during 2019, did you receive, sell, send, exchange or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?”
When you go to file your Form 1040 this year, you’ll notice this new line asking about virtual currency or cryptocurrency transactions.
In Internal Revenue Service Notice 2014-21, virtual currencies like Bitcoin are classified as property. The IRS is aware of the growing popularity of this medium of exchange and that it is not considered legal tender by any government. The IRS notice hopes to clarify how you must treat your use of this new technology.
The outcome for users is not good. Here is what you need to know;
- As property. Property is subject to gains and loses. So if you use a virtual currency like Bitcoin, you must keep track of the original cost of the coin and its value when you use it. As a capital asset you must also know whether your gain or loss on use of the virtual currency is a short-term or long-term.
- As income. Wages paid in virtual currency are taxable to the employee, must be reported on a W-2, and are subject to employment taxes. Income received as an independent contractor has self-employment rules applied and must follow Form 1099 reporting requirements.
- A currency? Per the IRS, no. Businesses have the ability to calculate foreign currency gains and losses on their financial statements. This foreign currency gain or loss calculation is not available for virtual currencies like Bitcoin.
- Determining value. If you purchase or sell something using a virtual currency, you need to determine the fair market value of the transaction using a valid virtual currency exchange and translating it into U.S. dollars.
- Miners have income. Miners are those who receive Bitcoins and other virtual currencies by validating transactions and maintaining public Bitcoin ledgers. If you are someone who “mines” virtual currency, you create income upon receipt of the currency. This is a taxable event.
As the technology of alternative methods to exchange goods and services evolves, so will your need to understand it. Should someone offer to provide you with Bitcoins for products and services, you will now know there are tax implications to saying yes.
