Should crypto receive a tax exemption?
Probably not, or so I argue in my latest Bloomberg column. Excerpt:
The most obvious argument against the proposal is simply that uniform taxation is better than selective tax exemptions. If a lower capital gains tax rate is preferable, then the goal should be to make a smaller cut that applies to all assets. Exempting a single kind of asset is likely to lead to abuses. You might think that boosting crypto is important now, but which sector or asset will be selected next for special treatment? It may be one you don’t think deserves it.
And:
Another problem is that tax exemption is probably not the best route to crypto normalization. What crypto assets and institutions require is predictable treatment, and on that score the nomination of Paul Atkins to lead the SEC is a good sign. Is a capital gains tax rate of zero even sustainable? A future Democratic president could raise the rate back to standard levels, or higher yet. The crypto industry would still be whipsawed by politics.
A tax exemption for crypto also would skew the population of crypto investors, and not necessarily in a beneficial fashion. The US economy offers a variety of options for tax-free savings, ranging from 401(k) plans to IRAs to pension funds. These vehicles make the most sense for investors who are liquid enough to put aside some money and lose immediate access to their funds.
It would be unfortunate if crypto became a preferred tax-free savings vehicle for lower-income groups. Crypto prices may well remain volatile in the future, and crypto investments are still more likely to be associated with scams and questionable business practices. This is obviously true even if you, like me, see plenty of legitimate uses for crypto assets and institutions.
And:
Another issue is one of tax arbitrage. If crypto assets truly are not taxed on their capital gains, many other investment vehicles might, over time, be repackaged in crypto form. Rather than holding some equity in a company, why not hold a crypto token backed by that same company? That is hard to do under today’s laws and regulations, but it may well become easier under a Trump administration, which seems committed to the normalization of crypto. That normalization, however beneficial it may eventually prove, should not be allowed to serve as a way to dodge taxes.
“Be careful what you wish for, you might get it…”