IRS Postpones Enforcing Crypto Tax Rules, Exempts Over $10k Transactions from Tax Obligations
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in an announcement on Tuesday, January 16, confirmed the suspension of the enforcement of tax rules obligating businesses to report crypto transactions exceeding $10,000. The announcement detailed the decision to step back from implementing the regulations that compelled US businesses to report crypto-related transactions above $10,000 to the IRS.
IRS Suspends Crypto Tax Rules
The Tuesday statement indicated that the IRS suspends the crypto tax rules until the tax agency releases the necessary regulatory framework. The decision arises from the revisions jointly executed by the Treasury and IRS to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJ Act).
Notably, the crypto tax rules related to the law requirerequire businesses to furnish the tax agency with details of crypto transactions exceeding $10,000. The law became effective on January 1, though now suspended from enforcement.
IRS noted that digital assets are exempt from inclusion when ascertaining whether the cash receipts in single or more related transactions satisfy the reporting threshold.
Jerry Brito, who serves as the executive director of the crypto advocacy group Coin Center, decried the new rules, making them unpopular among crypto users. The lobby group executive illustrated that most businesses would encounter challenges to comply with the directive, particularly in the absence of proper guidance by the IRS on the reporting requirements.
Brito speculated that the poorly formulated laws could encourage filers who would attempt to comply by deploying tricks. Such risked suffering guilty experience of felony charges.
The IIJ Act mandates taxpayers to always report cash receipts exceeding $10,000 within five days of the initial transaction. The new rule classified digital assets as cash under the provisions in Section 60501 of the IIJ Act.
The revision of the provision to exempt digital assets transactions constitutes a big reprieve for the crypto community, given the likely struggle to comply with the new directive.
IRS Involving US Treasury in Reporting Framework Development
The IRS assured that it was jointly exploring the issuance of proposed regulations to guide digital asset reporting. Although indicating the involvement of the US Treasury, the IRS was noncommittal on the date of framework introduction.
The IRS indicated that it would invite the public for commentary on how to lay out the regulations.
Cryptocurrency advocacy group Blockchain Association hailed the news as a positive step forward. It cited that the suspension of the requirements will shield US businesses from the difficulties of reporting crypto transactions in the absence of proper guidance from the IRS.
The House Committee supported the stopgap action announced by the IRS, stressing that multiple underlying challenges to complying with such reporting requirements exist. In particular, the House Committee illustrated the urgency of resolving the poorly formulated reporting requirements for the crypto assets.
