IRS: Bitcoin Is Property, Not Currency 273
An anonymous reader sends this news from Bloomberg:
"The U.S. government will treat Bitcoin as property for tax purposes, applying rules it uses to govern stocks and barter transactions, the Internal Revenue Service said in its first substantive ruling on the issue. Today's IRS guidance will provide certainty for investors, along with potential income-tax liability. Under the ruling, purchasing a $2 cup of coffee with Bitcoins bought for $1 would trigger $1 in capital gains for the coffee drinker and $2 of income for the coffee shop. ... Under the IRS ruling, Bitcoin investors would be treated like stock investors. Bitcoins held for more than a year and then sold would pay the lower tax rates applicable to capital gains — a maximum of 23.8 percent compared with the 43.4 percent top rate on property sold within a year of purchase. For investors with losses, U.S. tax law allows taxpayers to subtract capital losses from any capital gains. They can also subtract up to $3,000 of capital losses a year from ordinary income.'"
Re:At last (Score:5, Funny)
Selling human beings, especially heroines is illegal and generally Frowned Upon. Sort of like selling heroin except worse.
Re:This seems like good news (Score:2, Funny)
I wonder if anyone is really stupid enough to base their retirement plans on bitcoin investment.