New Zealand’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced that over 200,000 citizens failed to declare their cryptocurrency income in their tax returns. The tax authority emphasized that virtual assets are taxable and outlined plans to take stronger measures to track and ensure compliance among those not disclosing their digital asset earnings.

IRD Issues Letters to Crypto Taxpayers

The IRD is honing in on taxpayers who have not declared their crypto earnings, focusing particularly on those actively dealing with cryptocurrencies but omitting this income from their tax returns. New Zealand updated its guidelines on digital assets in 2020, treating cryptocurrencies as a form of property for tax purposes. Consequently, income from trading these assets is taxable.

The updated rules specify that digital assets and income earned from mining are taxable under certain circumstances. The IRD has identified over 227,000 unique crypto users in the country, with over 7 million transactions valued at NZD 7.8 billion (approximately USD 4.77 billion). This data has enabled the tax authority to pinpoint individuals who have not paid their taxes accordingly and those with significant holdings.

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Stepping Up Compliance Activities

Trevor Jeffries, an IRD spokesperson, highlighted that the current high values of crypto assets make it an opportune time for investors to consider their tax obligations. He stressed the importance of declaring all taxable activities and warned of the risks associated with non-compliance.

The IRD has provided extensive guidance on crypto taxes and last year notified high-risk customers, giving them a chance to rectify non-compliance issues before facing an audit. The department has sent a new round of letters to crypto investors who have yet to declare their income properly.

Jeffries noted that the IRD is stepping up compliance activities for taxpayers with digital assets and reminded users that the authority can identify them through blockchain analytics. The IRD collaborates with exchanges both domestically and internationally to gather relevant information and works with other tax jurisdictions to receive data on customers’ crypto assets and transactions outside New Zealand.

Need for Comprehensive Crypto Regulations

Despite the IRD’s efforts, New Zealand’s crypto regulations remain largely undeveloped. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) stated last year that a regulatory approach was not yet necessary but called for increased vigilance. However, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Andrew Bayly believes the government should adopt a more hands-on approach to regulating the sector. In April, Bayly suggested that New Zealand should take a proactive and innovation-friendly approach to digital assets and blockchain, supporting the industry’s growth and considering recommendations from a lawyer committee inquiry.

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New Zealand’s IRD is actively pursuing taxpayers who have not declared their cryptocurrency income, emphasizing the importance of compliance in light of updated guidelines. While the country’s regulatory framework for crypto remains in development, the IRD’s actions indicate a growing focus on ensuring that digital asset transactions are properly reported and taxed. As the crypto market continues to evolve, both investors and authorities must navigate the complexities of taxation and regulation to foster a fair and transparent financial environment.

Source: bitcoinist.com

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