Cryptocurrencies & Digital Assets

Selling, exchanging, or using cryptocurrency triggers capital gains and losses for traders.

The IRS treats cryptocurrencies as intangible property.

The realization method applies to short-term vs. long-term capital gains and losses.

Wash sales and Section 475 MTM do not apply to cryptocurrency because it’s not a security or a commodity in the eyes of the IRS.

Tax reporting includes cryptocurrency-to-fiat-currency sales, crypto-to-alt-crypto trades, and purchases of goods or services using crypto.

See the IRS page: Frequently Asked Questions on Virtual Currency Transactions (https://tinyurl.com/virtual-currency)

Digital Asset Trading Explained: Tax Rules For Crypto, ETFs, Futures, Options, And Tokens

For more information, see Green’sTraderTax Guide Chapter 3 Tax Treatment of Financial Products.