Another Signal from IRS that it is focusing on virtual currencies.
New Question on Individual Income Tax Returns
This year’s individual income tax returns have a new question: At any time during 2021, did you receive, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any financial interest in any virtual currency? The taxpayer needs to check either the “Yes” or “No” box. All taxpayers must check one box answering either “Yes” or “No” to the virtual currency question. The question must be answered by all taxpayers, not just taxpayers who engaged in a transaction involving virtual currency in 2021.
Who Can Answer “No”
Taxpayers who merely owned virtual currency at any time in 2021 can check the “No” box when they have not engaged in any transactions involving virtual currency during the year, or their activities were limited to:
- Holding virtual currency in their own wallet or account.
- Transferring virtual currency between their own wallets or accounts.
- Purchasing virtual currency using real currency, including purchases using real currency electronic platforms such as PayPal and Venmo.
- Engaging in a combination of holding, transferring, or purchasing virtual currency as described above.
Who Must Answer “Yes”
When taxpayers must check “Yes”
The list below covers the most common transactions in virtual currency that require checking the “Yes” box:
- The receipt of virtual currency as payment for goods or services provided;
- The receipt or transfer of virtual currency for free (without providing any consideration) that does not qualify as a bona-fide gift;
- The receipt of new virtual currency as a result of mining and staking activities;
- The receipt of virtual currency as a result of a hard fork;
- An exchange of virtual currency for property, goods, or services;
- An exchange/trade of virtual currency for another virtual currency;
- A sale of virtual currency; and
- Any other disposition of a financial interest in virtual currency.
Other Virtual Currency Reporting Requirements
If a taxpayer disposed of any virtual currency that was held as a capital asset through a sale, exchange or transfer, they must check “Yes” and use Form 8949 to figure their capital gain or loss and report it on Schedule D (Form 1040).
If a taxpayer received any virtual currency as compensation for services or disposed of any virtual currency that they held for sale to customers in a trade or business, they must report the income as they would report other income of the same type (for example, W-2 wages on Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, line 1, or inventory or services from Schedule C on Schedule 1).
Tax Tip
If a taxpayer responds with a “No” and is found to have been required to respond with a “Yes”, the IRS can interpret an inadvertent mistake to be intentional act to mislead the IRS. Accordingly, if a taxpayer has any type of virtual currency activity, or is unsure as to how to answer this question, the “safe” approach may be simply to respond with a “Yes”.
If you would like to discuss your business or personal tax planning, tax preparation and other financial concerns with an experienced tax professional, we invite you to call 610-594-2601 today to make an appointment at our Exton PA CPA office to discuss your situation. You can also schedule a consultation at Click Here.
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About F. Bryan Haarlander, EA, CTRS:
Bryan Haarlander is an IRS licensed Enrolled Agent and who owns and operates a specialized tax services firm serving clients in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, which includes the cities of Chester Springs, Coatesville, Collegeville, Devon, Downingtown, Exton, Frazer, King of Prussia, Paoli, Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Radnor, Reading, Wayne, West Chester in Berks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, as well as clients in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and throughout the continental USA.
A Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, Bryan is well-known for his IRS tax resolution expertise and his book How to Resolve Your IRS Tax Debt Problems.
