IRS hunts Bitcoin and crypto investors who haven’t paid their taxes

The IRS is looking for Bitcoin and crypto investors who don’t have their taxes in order.

On the hunt for tax evaders, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service is forcing cryptocurrency exchanges to disclose their customers’ activities. Large, unreported profits of bitcoin, or other cryptocurrencies could translate into big trouble with the IRS.

U.S. tax liability and FATCA

Are you a taxpayer in the U.S.? Do you correctly file your FBARs each year? Do you own Bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies? Stay informed regarding American tax laws to avoid unpleasant surprises.

President Biden, as is well known, is looking for tax money to close the “Tax Gap”.

• How will Biden affect your U.S. tax return?

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) legislation ensures that banks and other financial institutions report banking information to the IRS each year, but does this also apply to crypto platforms?

U.S. tax authority IRS views cryptocurrencies as property

The IRS sees crypto coins as property, not assets, or foreign currency. This is an important point. Many countries see crypto coins as a form of currency.

After all, you can make payments with them, invest in them, and trade the coins. The IRS sees this differently: “Virtual currency transactions are taxable by law just like transactions of any other property. Taxpayers transacting in virtual currency may have to report those transactions on their tax returns.”

What this means in short, is that one should regard Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as property. If you sell the property at a profit, you may need to report it on your U.S. tax return, which could result in a “Capital Gains” tax.

Considering that more and more payments can be made online with cryptocurrencies, these transactions become tax-challenging for the person buying and selling them. The IRS indicates that the individual is responsible for reporting these transactions and the associated exchange rate.

Do crypto platforms report to the IRS?

Cryptocurrencies were initially set up as anonymous, untraceable money. However, many countries are trying to get a grip on this to uncover/prevent, for example, money laundering, and tax evasion. The IRS is also working on this.

According to the IRS, various studies show that many Americans are “hiding” money in the form of crypto coins. To combat this tax evasion, the IRS is now working on new rules to also require cryptocurrency exchange platforms to report annually and thus put an end to “banking secrecy.”

Experts expect it to be just a matter of time before the various exchange platforms start transmitting data to the IRS. The IRS can then match this data with individual tax returns and FBARs received.

Exemption for individuals

There is a bill in America as of the beginning of 2020: the Cryptocurrency Tax Fairness Act. Among other things, this bill affirms a $200 profit exemption for private transactions. At the time of writing, this bill has not yet become law.

For Americans overseas: make sure that this information in the knowledge center stays up to date; developments are shared through the newsletter and on social media.

Need more information about bitcoin and U.S. tax for Americans Overseas?

We, the founders of Americans Overseas, were born in the Netherlands and obtained our American nationality through our (American) mother.

When we heard about the US tax system for the first time around 2013, we were in total disbelief (it can’t be true!), anger (how can they do this?), fear (am I going to get fined or pick up other problems?), and panic (what should I do?). It is (unfortunately) true that there is an additional American tax levy. But there’s no information from the local government, and when approached, the consulate referred us to the IRS, and the IRS was impenetrable.

That’s why we started this initiative to help people from all over the world by providing proper information about the US tax system to avoid unnecessary panic and offering help free of obligation and free of charge. If needed, we have a network of affordable professionals (accountants) who can help you with your tax obligations.

Contact us for more information

Source:  The Internal Revenue Service Can Improve Taxpayer Compliance for Virtual Currency Transactions, Bitcoin IRS