IRS Expects to See Spike in Crypto Tax Evasion Cases in the US: Report

In the US, approximately 40 percent of adults currently own cryptocurrency, leading to an expected increase in tax evasion cases. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US is gearing up to address these cases, as revealed by Guy Ficco, the chief investigating officer of the IRS. Ficco shared this information at the Chainalysis Links event in New York, stating that the agency has observed a rise in ‘pure crypto tax crimes’ unrelated to fraud, money laundering, or scams.

Long-term capital gains in the US are taxed between zero and 20 percent, while profits up to $44,626 from crypto activities in 2023 are exempt from long-term Capital Gains Tax. Short-term capital gains, on the other hand, can be taxed up to 37 percent based on profits earned in the US.

Individuals in the US who intentionally misrepresent their crypto profits when filing taxes are subject to charges under the Title 26 tax code. The IRS is actively working to identify and prosecute individuals falling into this category.

Prepared for the anticipated surge in crypto tax evasion cases, the IRS in the US is collaborating with various law enforcement divisions to enhance criminal identification processes. Additionally, the IRS has partnered with Chainalysis, a blockchain analysis firm, to identify potential vulnerabilities in Web3 protocols that cyber criminals could exploit.

While the US focuses on addressing crypto tax evasion, a report by Divly in 2023 revealed shocking information on international tax evasion cases. The report claimed that only 0.53 percent of global crypto holders paid taxes on their crypto earnings in 2022, with countries like the Philippines and India having notably low percentages of crypto taxpayers.

In India, where all crypto profits are taxed at 30 percent, crypto platforms are integrating taxation services to help users calculate and pay their taxes. The Indian Web3 community believes that compliance with government regulations could lead to increased support from authorities for the sector’s growth.

Last year, Taxnodes, a crypto taxation firm, announced that individuals paying their crypto taxes through its platform would receive complimentary NFTs.