Frequently Asked Questions on Virtual Currency Transactions

n 2014, the IRS issued Notice 2014-21, 2014-16 I.R.B. 938 (PDF), explaining that virtual currency is treated as property for Federal income tax purposes and providing examples of how longstanding tax principles applicable to transactions involving property apply to virtual currency.  The frequently asked questions (“FAQs”) below expand upon the examples provided in Notice 2014-21 and apply those same longstanding tax principles to additional situations.

Note: Except as otherwise noted, these FAQs apply only to taxpayers who hold virtual currency as a capital asset.  For more information on the definition of a capital asset, examples of what is and is not a capital asset, and the tax treatment of property transactions generally, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.Use tab to go to the next focusable element

Q1.  What is virtual currency?

A1.  Virtual currency is a digital representation of value, other than a representation of the U.S. dollar or a foreign currency (“real currency”), that functions as a unit of account, a store of value, and a medium of exchange.  Some virtual currencies are convertible, which means that they have an equivalent value in real currency or act as a substitute for real currency.  The IRS uses the term “virtual currency” in these FAQs to describe the various types of convertible virtual currency that are used as a medium of exchange, such as digital currency and cryptocurrency.   Regardless of the label applied, if a particular asset has the characteristics of virtual currency, it will be treated as virtual currency for Federal income tax purposes. 

Q2.  How is virtual currency treated for Federal income tax purposes?

A2.  Virtual currency is treated as property and general tax principles applicable to property transactions apply to transactions using virtual currency.  For more information on the tax treatment of virtual currency, see Notice 2014-21.  For more information on the tax treatment of property transactions, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q3.  What is cryptocurrency?

A3.  Cryptocurrency is a type of virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure transactions that are digitally recorded on a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain.  A transaction involving cryptocurrency that is recorded on a distributed ledger is referred to as an “on-chain” transaction; a transaction that is not recorded on the distributed ledger is referred to as an “off-chain” transaction.

Q4.  Will I recognize a gain or loss when I sell my virtual currency for real currency?

A4.  Yes.  When you sell virtual currency, you must recognize any capital gain or loss on the sale, subject to any limitations on the deductibility of capital losses.  For more information on capital assets, capital gains, and capital losses, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q5.  How do I determine if my gain or loss is a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss?

A5.  If you held the virtual currency for one year or less before selling or exchanging the virtual currency, then you will have a short-term capital gain or loss.  If you held the virtual currency for more than one year before selling or exchanging it, then you will have a long-term capital gain or loss.  The period during which you held the virtual currency (known as the “holding period”) begins on the day after you acquired the virtual currency and ends on the day you sell or exchange the virtual currency.  For more information on short-term and long-term capital gains and losses, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q6.  How do I calculate my gain or loss when I sell virtual currency for real currency?

A6.  Your gain or loss will be the difference between your adjusted basis in the virtual currency and the amount you received in exchange for the virtual currency, which you should report on your Federal income tax return in U.S. dollars.  For more information on gain or loss from sales or exchanges, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q7.  How do I determine my basis in virtual currency I purchased with real currency?

A7.  Your basis (also known as your “cost basis”) is the amount you spent to acquire the virtual currency, including fees, commissions and other acquisition costs in U.S. dollars.  Your adjusted basis is your basis increased by certain expenditures and decreased by certain deductions or credits in U.S. dollars.  For more information on basis, see Publication 551, Basis of Assets.

Q8.  Do I have income if I provide someone with a service and that person pays me with virtual currency?

A8.  Yes.  When you receive property, including virtual currency, in exchange for performing services, whether or not you perform the services as an employee, you recognize ordinary income.  For more information on compensation for services, see Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.

Q9.  Does virtual currency received by an independent contractor for performing services constitute self-employment income?

A9.  Yes.  Generally, self-employment income includes all gross income derived by an individual from any trade or business carried on by the individual as other than an employee.  Consequently, the fair market value of virtual currency received for services performed as an independent contractor, measured in U.S. dollars as of the date of receipt, constitutes self-employment income and is subject to the self-employment tax.

Q10.  Does virtual currency paid by an employer as remuneration for services constitute wages for employment tax purposes?

A10.  Yes.  Generally, the medium in which remuneration for services is paid is immaterial to the determination of whether the remuneration constitutes wages for employment tax purposes.  Consequently, the fair market value of virtual currency paid as wages, measured in U.S. dollars at the date of receipt, is subject to Federal income tax withholding, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax, and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax and must be reported on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.  See Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide, for information on the withholding, depositing, reporting, and paying of employment taxes.

Q11.  How do I calculate my income if I provide a service and receive payment in virtual currency?

A11.  The amount of income you must recognize is the fair market value of the virtual currency, in U.S. dollars, when received.  In an on-chain transaction you receive the virtual currency on the date and at the time the transaction is recorded on the distributed ledger.

Q12.  How do I determine my basis in virtual currency I receive for services I’ve provided?

A12.  If, as part of an arm’s length transaction, you provided someone with services and received virtual currency in exchange, your basis in that virtual currency is the fair market value of the virtual currency, in U.S. dollars, when the virtual currency is received.  For more information on basis, see Publication 551, Basis of Assets.

Q13.  Will I recognize a gain or loss if I pay someone with virtual currency for providing me with a service?

A13.  Yes.  If you pay for a service using virtual currency that you hold as a capital asset, then you have exchanged a capital asset for that service and will have a capital gain or loss.  For more information on capital gains and capital losses, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q14.  How do I calculate my gain or loss when I pay for services using virtual currency?

A14.  Your gain or loss is the difference between the fair market value of the services you received and your adjusted basis in the virtual currency exchanged.  For more information on gain or loss from sales or exchanges, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q15.  Will I recognize a gain or loss if I exchange my virtual currency for other property?

A15.  Yes.  If you exchange virtual currency held as a capital asset for other property, including for goods or for another virtual currency, you will recognize a capital gain or loss.  For more information on capital gains and capital losses, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q16.  How do I calculate my gain or loss when I exchange my virtual currency for other property?

A16.  Your gain or loss is the difference between the fair market value of the property you received and your adjusted basis in the virtual currency exchanged.  For more information on gain or loss from sales or exchanges, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q17.  How do I determine my basis in property I’ve received in exchange for virtual currency?

A17.  If, as part of an arm’s length transaction, you transferred virtual currency to someone and received other property in exchange, your basis in that property is its fair market value at the time of the exchange.  For more information on basis, see Publication 551, Basis of Assets.

Q18.  Will I recognize a gain or loss if I sell or exchange property (other than U.S. dollars) for virtual currency?

A18.  Yes.  If you transfer property held as a capital asset in exchange for virtual currency, you will recognize a capital gain or loss.  If you transfer property that is not a capital asset in exchange for virtual currency, you will recognize an ordinary gain or loss.  For more information on gains and losses, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q19.  How do I calculate my gain or loss when I exchange property for virtual currency?

A19.  Your gain or loss is the difference between the fair market value of the virtual currency when received (in general, when the transaction is recorded on the distributed ledger) and your adjusted basis in the property exchanged.  For more information on gain or loss from sales or exchanges, see Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets.

Q20.  How do I determine my basis in virtual currency that I have received in exchange for property?

A20.  If, as part of an arm’s length transaction, you t

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