Cryptocurrency is becoming popular in Pasadena, California. As cryptocurrency transactions are occurring every day, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) wants to be certain that taxpayers are properly reporting all of their cryptocurrency transactions on their tax returns. With the IRS paying more attention to cryptocurrency, Pasadena taxpayers who are involved with cryptocurrency have an increased threat of a tax audit (a “crypto tax audit”).
The increased focus of the IRS on cryptocurrency is exemplified in several ways.
First, earlier this year,the IRS announced “Operation Hidden Treasure”. “Operation Hidden Treasure” involves IRS criminal investigation and fraud enforcement personnel examining unreported cryptocurrency income cases.
Second, taxpayers, on the first page of their year 2020 tax returns, must answer the question – “At any time during 2020, did you receive, sell, send, exchange, or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?”.
Third, last year, the IRS sought to hire outside contractors who are experts in cryptocurrency to provide consulting services to help with crypto tax audits.