IRS Says Fewer Than 100 People Have Reported Bitcoin Holdings So Far | Investopedia
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By Nathan Reiff 
One of the biggest questions this tax season has been the impact that last year's cryptocurrency boom would have on filers across the U.S.
In 2017, cryptocurrencies became among the very trendiest investment (or speculation, depending upon your perspective) opportunities. Now, after months of debate and questions about exactly what the implications of digital currencies are for U.S. tax filers, tax day is approaching. The IRS suggested that fewer than 100 individuals have reported capital gains investments associated with cryptocurrency holdings as of April 13.
According to the IRS, which has provided guidance on bitcoin (BTC) transactions for more than four years, cryptocurrency is considered to be property. As such, the purchase, sale, trade, and mining of digital currencies could be considered taxable events, according to Coin Telegraph.
Credit Karma, the popular credit score site which maintains a tax platform as well, has documented information by the IRS which has detailed the individuals reporting capital gains from cryptocurrency investments. According to the report, just under 100 people have reported these taxable events to the IRS out of the 250,000 most recent tax filers, just days ahead of the deadline to file.
(Related: How to Prepare Your Bitcoin Tax Filing)
The low figure, which amounts to about 0.04% of tax filers, is not far off from previous figures as well. For the 2015 tax filing year, the IRS indicated that only 802 people had included cryptocurrency gains or losses in their tax filings. While this is almost certainly smaller than the actual number of people experiencing these events, it may not be an accurate comparison for the 2017 tax year because of the vast differences in popularity of the cryptocurrency space between those periods.
Credit Karma Tax general manager Jagjit Chawla explained that there is a "good chance that the perceived complexities of reporting cryptocurrency gains are pushing filers to wait until the very last minute.
" Elsewhere, analysts have estimated that the dip in cryptocurrency prices in the first quarter may have been due to a larger sell-off by digital currency investors interested in holding fiat currency heading into tax season. On the other hand, cryptocurrency holders may just be underreporting their activity.
As K&L Gates partner Elizabeth Crouse suggested, "most of the people in the cryptocurrency world tend to have a pretty high risk tolerance."Investing in cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings ("ICOs") is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or ICOs.
Since each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein. As of the date this article was written, the author owns bitcoin and ripple.
Read more: IRS Says Fewer Than 100 People Have Reported Bitcoin Holdings So Far | Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/news/irs-says-fewer-100-people-have-reported-bitcoin-holdings-so-far/#ixzz5Cgk5c8Bh
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One of the biggest questions this tax season has been the impact that last year's cryptocurrency boom would have on filers across the U.S. In 2017, cryptocurrencies became among the very trendiest investment (or speculation, depending upon your perspective) opportunities. Now, after months of debate and questions about exactly what the implications of digital currencies are for U.S. tax filers, tax day is approaching. The IRS suggested that fewer than 100 individuals have reported capital gains investments associated with cryptocurrency holdings as of April 13.
IRS Treats Cryptocurrency Investments as Property
According to the IRS, which has provided guidance on bitcoin (BTC) transactions for more than four years, cryptocurrency is considered to be property. As such, the purchase, sale, trade, and mining of digital currencies could be considered taxable events, according to Coin Telegraph.
Credit Karma, the popular credit score site which maintains a tax platform as well, has documented information by the IRS which has detailed the individuals reporting capital gains from cryptocurrency investments. According to the report, just under 100 people have reported these taxable events to the IRS out of the 250,000 most recent tax filers, just days ahead of the deadline to file.
(Related: How to Prepare Your Bitcoin Tax Filing)
The low figure, which amounts to about 0.04% of tax filers, is not far off from previous figures as well. For the 2015 tax filing year, the IRS indicated that only 802 people had included cryptocurrency gains or losses in their tax filings. While this is almost certainly smaller than the actual number of people experiencing these events, it may not be an accurate comparison for the 2017 tax year because of the vast differences in popularity of the cryptocurrency space between those periods.
Cryptocurrency Filers Could Be Waiting
Credit Karma Tax general manager Jagjit Chawla explained that there is a "good chance that the perceived complexities of reporting cryptocurrency gains are pushing filers to wait until the very last minute.
" Elsewhere, analysts have estimated that the dip in cryptocurrency prices in the first quarter may have been due to a larger sell-off by digital currency investors interested in holding fiat currency heading into tax season. On the other hand, cryptocurrency holders may just be underreporting their activity.
As K&L Gates partner Elizabeth Crouse suggested, "most of the people in the cryptocurrency world tend to have a pretty high risk tolerance."Investing in cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings ("ICOs") is highly risky and speculative, and this article is not a recommendation by Investopedia or the writer to invest in cryptocurrencies or ICOs.
Since each individual's situation is unique, a qualified professional should always be consulted before making any financial decisions. Investopedia makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or timeliness of the information contained herein. As of the date this article was written, the author owns bitcoin and ripple.
Read more: IRS Says Fewer Than 100 People Have Reported Bitcoin Holdings So Far | Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/news/irs-says-fewer-100-people-have-reported-bitcoin-holdings-so-far/#ixzz5Cgk5c8Bh
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Francisco Gimeno - BC Analyst Taxes are coming in many countries for reported capital gains investments associated with cryptocurrency holdings. IRS in USA published some numbers three days ago, showing a small amount of people having filed them. Tax filings related to cryptocurrencies are new everywhere and most people will find them complicated. Regulations on how a crypto coin or a token is considered is also an important factor mixed in this new tax environment.