How to answer the digital asset question on your tax return?

On your 2023 federal tax return, you must answer “Yes” or “No” to a digital asset question:

At any time during the tax year, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)?

If you didn’t have digital asset transactions, answer “No”

Check No in the digital assets box if you:

  • Didn’t own any digital assets
  • Only owned or held digital assets in a wallet or account, but did not engage in any digital asset transactions during the year
  • Purchased, but did not sell, digital assets using U.S. or other real currency, including through electronic platforms
  • Transferred digital assets from one wallet or account you own or control to another wallet or account you own or control ( unless you paid a transaction fee with digital assets). This would be a digital asset transaction.)

If you had digital asset transactions, answer “Yes”

Check Yes in the digital assets box if you:

Received digital assets for:

  • Payment for property or services provided
  • A reward or award
  • Mining, staking and similar activities
  • An airdrop as it relates to a hard fork

Disposed, sold, exchanged or transferred ownership of digital assets:

  • For another digital asset
  • For U.S. dollars or other currency
  • In exchange or trade for property, goods or services in any amount
  • By paying a transfer fee with digital assets
  • By a transfer of ownership or financial interest.

You have a financial interest in a digital asset if you:

  • Are recorded as the owner of a digital asset
  • Have an ownership stake in an account that holds one or more digital assets, including the rights and obligations to acquire a financial interest
  • Own a wallet that holds digital assets

Source: IRS, Modified by Zaher Fallahi

End of IRS Material

Zaher Fallahi, Tax Defense Attorney, CPA, assists taxpayers nationwide with Cryptocurrency Tax, Anti-Money Laundering, Foreign Gifts & Inheritance, Delinquent FBAR filing, IRS audits, Tax Preparation, Offer-In-Compromise, Undisclosed Foreign Bank Accounts, and other international tax matters. Tel.: (310) 719-1040, (714) 546-4272 and (877) 687-7558 toll free nationwide. Websites: zflegal.com and zfcpa.com E-mail taxattorney@zfcpa.com