US Senators Urge Swift Implementation of Crypto Tax Reporting Rules
Seven members of the United States Senate have called on the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to advance a rule imposing certain tax reporting requirements for crypto brokers “as swiftly as possible”. The senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, criticized the two-year delay in implementing the regulations, which are set to go into effect in 2026. They argued that the delay could result in the IRS losing approximately $50 billion in annual tax revenue and allow bad actors to evade taxes.
Concerns Over Delayed Implementation
In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, the senators expressed their concern that postponing the implementation of the rules would give crypto lobbyists more time to undermine efforts to impose basic reporting requirements on the largely unregulated crypto sector. They emphasized the urgency of taking action now.
Warren Links Crypto to Hamas Funding
Elizabeth Warren took to Twitter on October 11, referring to crypto as a “not-so-secret financial weapon” funding Hamas during its conflict with Israel. This came after Israeli law enforcement requested that Binance freeze accounts linked to Hamas. Binance complied with this request on October 10.
The Proposed Reporting Requirements
The IRS proposed crypto reporting requirements in August, which were open for public comments until October 30. Under these rules, brokers would be obligated to assist taxpayers in determining if they owe taxes on their crypto activities and report information regarding digital asset transactions. Representative Patrick McHenry has criticized the measure as an attack on the digital asset ecosystem.
Hot Take: Urgency in Implementing Crypto Tax Reporting Rules
The US senators are urging the swift implementation of tax reporting requirements for crypto brokers. They argue that the two-year delay in implementing the regulations could result in significant revenue loss for the IRS and allow bad actors to evade taxes. Elizabeth Warren also linked crypto to funding Hamas, emphasizing the need for regulation. The proposed reporting requirements aim to help taxpayers determine their tax obligations and provide information on digital asset transactions. However, there has been criticism of these rules as an attack on the digital asset ecosystem. It is crucial for the government to act promptly to address these concerns and ensure transparency in the crypto sector.