Spain Introduces New Laws for Taxation of Crypto Assets
In an effort to regulate the taxation of virtual assets, Spain has implemented new laws that require residents to declare their crypto holdings on non-Spanish platforms by March 31, 2024.
Spanish Tax Authorities Set Threshold of $55K
The Spanish Tax Administration Agency has announced that individuals and corporations must disclose the amount of funds stored in their foreign crypto accounts if they exceed 50,000 euros (approximately $55,000). The submission period for these declarations is from Jan. 1 to the end of March 2024.
If you hold your crypto in self-custodied wallets, you will need to report through the standard wealth tax form 714.
This move comes after reports emerged that the Spanish Tax Administration Agency planned to issue over 300,000 warning notices to taxpayers in 2022, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
Despite the increased scrutiny, major crypto exchanges like Crypto.com are expanding in Spain, indicating continued interest and presence in the country.
International Push for Tax Compliance
Other governments around the world are also focusing on combating underreporting of taxable transactions in the crypto sector. The IRS in the United States began sending letters to taxpayers with crypto transactions in 2019 to raise awareness of tax obligations.
In a joint statement, 48 countries expressed their commitment to combat offshore crypto tax evasion. The UK-led Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) has been positioned as the OECD’s new tax transparency standard, requiring crypto platforms to share taxpayer information with tax authorities.
This global push for tax compliance aims to enhance international collaboration and address the current lack of information exchange.
Hot Take: Spain Cracks Down on Crypto Taxation
With the introduction of new laws, Spain is taking a proactive approach to regulate the taxation of crypto assets. The requirement for residents to declare their holdings on non-Spanish platforms is part of a global trend towards tax compliance in the crypto industry.
By setting a threshold of $55,000, the Spanish Tax Authorities are targeting individuals and corporations with significant crypto balances. This move aligns with efforts by other countries, including the United States, to ensure that taxable transactions in the crypto sector are properly reported.
While regulatory scrutiny increases, major exchanges like Crypto.com are still expanding in Spain, indicating that there is continued interest and growth in the country’s crypto market.