Tax Implications when Buying and Selling Cryptos

[drbama]

I have done very little trading in my lifetime, but when I have I was utilizing Scottrade or Etrade or some other US-based company to buy and sell. These companies would provide the required tax forms to show any gains or losses (mostly losses) for tax reporting. I am now dabbling in the Crypto frenzy, and I have a couple of questions about how/if to report this activity.

1) While using Turbo Tax today, there was a question regarding whether I not I had foreign accounts. I have bought BTC with Coinbase, transferred to GDAX, then to Binance to trade for XRP and LEND (based on other members recommendations). I also have small BTC and ETH mining accounts via Hashflare. I think some of these companies are based overseas. All my buying and trading activity was after Jan 1, 2018. I have not yet sold back to USD. What and when do I need to report this activity to the IRS?

2) Will these exchanges report activity to the IRS and provide the requisite tax forms to me? I'm pretty sure know they asked for SSN during account activation.

3) How would any gains or losses in trading from USD-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto be treated by the IRS? Again, I am a novice at investing, so I have relied on Scottrade and Turbo Tax to properly report in the past.

Thanks

 

[evilanne]

Good question...I haven't a clue but I think the point of the question is whether on not you have a bank account or other financial account with signature authority, that you control, in another country--I doubt they ever considered crypto currency when reporting requirements were implemented. Usually the threshold for filing any type of form with your taxes is above $10K. See https://www.irs.gov/businesses/smal...t-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar Since you didn't start trading until this year, I think you would answer no for Tax Year 2017 but suggest you talk to tax lawyer or accountant to verify or ask TurboTax your question.

 

[userque]

Is Bitcoin or a Bitcoin Wallet Reportable for Purposes of FBAR, FATCA?
https://klasing-associates.com/bitcoin-bitcoin-wallet-reportable-purposes-fbar-fatca/

IS BITCOIN SUBJECT TO FBAR & FATCA REPORTING?
https://www.freemantaxlaw.com/blog/is-bitcoin-subject-to-fbar-fatca-reporting

Bitcoin Users Brace For IRS Audits From Coinbase Summons
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robert...rs-audits-from-coinbase-summons/#669f81021c77

IRS Attack Dog Will Target US Bitcoiners and Soon…
https://news.bitcoin.com/irs-attack-dog-target-us-bitcoiners/

I have done very little trading in my lifetime, but when I have I was utilizing Scottrade or Etrade or some other US-based company to buy and sell. These companies would provide the required tax forms to show any gains or losses (mostly losses) for tax reporting. I am now dabbling in the Crypto frenzy, and I have a couple of questions about how/if to report this activity.

1) While using Turbo Tax today, there was a question regarding whether I not I had foreign accounts. I have bought BTC with Coinbase, transferred to GDAX, then to Binance to trade for XRP and LEND (based on other members recommendations). I also have small BTC and ETH mining accounts via Hashflare. I think some of these companies are based overseas. All my buying and trading activity was after Jan 1, 2018. I have not yet sold back to USD. What and when do I need to report this activity to the IRS?

2) Will these exchanges report activity to the IRS and provide the requisite tax forms to me? I'm pretty sure know they asked for SSN during account activation.

3) How would any gains or losses in trading from USD-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto be treated by the IRS? Again, I am a novice at investing, so I have relied on Scottrade and Turbo Tax to properly report in the past.

Thanks

 

[userque]

... Usually the threshold for filing any type of form with your taxes is above $10K. See https://www.irs.gov/businesses/smal...t-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar Since you didn't start trading until this year, I think you would answer no for Tax Year 2017 but suggest you talk to tax lawyer or accountant to verify or ask TurboTax your question.

reporting foreign bank account of less than 10000 dollars
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3110308-reporting-foreign-bank-account-of-less-than-10000-dollars

"Yes, there is reporting requirement for foreign accounts even if the balance at any time during the year was less than $10,000. ..."

 

[evilanne]

Good question...I haven't a clue but I think the point of the question is whether on not you have a bank account or other financial account with signature authority, that you control, in another country--I doubt they ever considered crypto currency when reporting requirements were implemented. Usually the threshold for filing any type of form with your taxes is above $10K. See https://www.irs.gov/businesses/smal...t-of-foreign-bank-and-financial-accounts-fbar Since you didn't start trading until this year, I think you would answer no for Tax Year 2017 but suggest you talk to tax lawyer or accountant to verify or ask TurboTax your question.

reporting foreign bank account of less than 10000 dollars
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3110308-reporting-foreign-bank-account-of-less-than-10000-dollars

"Yes, there is reporting requirement for foreign accounts even if the balance at any time during the year was less than $10,000. ..."

drbama stated "All my buying and trading activity was after Jan 1, 2018" therefore, in doing taxes for 2017 the answer should be no but if in doubt check with a Tax lawyer or accountant.

see also https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-virtual-currency-guidance

 

[userque]

drbama stated "All my buying and trading activity was after Jan 1, 2018" therefore, in doing taxes for 2017 the answer should be no but if in doubt check with a Tax lawyer or accountant.

see also https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-virtual-currency-guidance

My post refers to owning the account; whether it was traded or not. If the account was owned in 2017, even if it wasn't traded, even if it had less than $10k; Uncle Sam may still want to know about it. That was the takeaway to the OP and other crypto traders here.

The OP is not clear as to whether he owned the account in 2017; so it wise that the OP should understand what I posted.