Taxation of virtual currency

Abstract

The Information Age has created a new concept of money – virtual currencies existing solely in the cyberspace in the form of intangible computer code. The most prominent virtual currency scheme, Bitcoin, grabbed the public attention as its value skyrocketed at the beginning of 2012. Whereas Bitcoin has many proper ties that could make it an ideal currency for mainstream consumers and merchants, its main drawback is lack of clarity regarding its legal status and tax treatment. The European Central Bank predicts that the use of virtual currencies will increase in the future. Therefore, it is important both tax authorities and taxpayers are prepared to deal with those currencies and to incorporate them into the existing legal framework. This book describes the phenomenon and nature of virtual currencies, and provides a detailed analysis of tax implications that result from trade in, and mining of, virtual currencies. It seeks to answer three questions: (1) how virtual currency should be taxed; (2) how it is actually treated under income and indirect tax laws of selected countries; and (3) how the current situation can be improved.

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