Loading
This thread is archived and the information may not be up-to-date. You can't reply to this thread.
SydneyMan(Initiate)Initiate
26 Oct 2021

There is price difference of bitcoins among countries like physical products. For example, I buy 10 bitcoins (total $10000) at $1000 each. Send them to my account at country B. Sell them at country B at $11000. My profit will be $1000. I transfer $11000 back to Australia. I buy another 10 and sell them overseas. I make another $1000. I take 11000 back to Australia. So far my profit is $2000 (no cost counted for making this example simpler). ATO allows this trade as legal or ATO and AFP will chase me against money laundering or criminal activity? Or ATO will impose the marginal tax on the profit ($2000)? or tax on overseas income ($22000)?

934 views
1 replies
934 views
1 replies

Most helpful response

Most helpful reply

BlakeATO(Community Support)Community Support
27 Oct 2021

Hi @SydneyMan


There are two things to consider here:


Crypto is usually a CGT asset. If you sell it as an Australian resident for tax purposes you're liable for tax on the capital proceeds. This is the case whether you sell the crypto here or overseas. In your example, the $1k profit would be taxable, assuming no other fees were involved. This is the case if you're an investor.


If you're a trader, it's a business, and so the crypto is your trading stock. When you buy the crypto, that's a deduction, and when you sell it, that's your sales income. The net is your taxable income.


Another factor that would then come into play is the forex change in currency. The difference between its AUD value when you derived it and when you translate it to AUD or use the foreign currency is a CGT event too.


You can read about the taxation of cryptocurrency and forex on our website.

All replies

Most helpful reply

BlakeATO(Community Support)Community Support
27 Oct 2021

Hi @SydneyMan


There are two things to consider here:


Crypto is usually a CGT asset. If you sell it as an Australian resident for tax purposes you're liable for tax on the capital proceeds. This is the case whether you sell the crypto here or overseas. In your example, the $1k profit would be taxable, assuming no other fees were involved. This is the case if you're an investor.


If you're a trader, it's a business, and so the crypto is your trading stock. When you buy the crypto, that's a deduction, and when you sell it, that's your sales income. The net is your taxable income.


Another factor that would then come into play is the forex change in currency. The difference between its AUD value when you derived it and when you translate it to AUD or use the foreign currency is a CGT event too.


You can read about the taxation of cryptocurrency and forex on our website.

Loading
Bitcoin Trade overseas | ATO Community