**Author: Tom Jarvis**
**Editor: TaxDAO**
The rapid development of blockchain technology and the widespread global adoption of crypto assets have presented regulators with a series of issues. Essentially, the financial laws in many jurisdictions have evolved over decades to provide specific tax frameworks for investors, employers, employees, and other individuals residing in the country.
However, blockchain technology is essentially cross-border, and due to the nature of assets, cryptocurrencies are not very suitable for most existing frameworks. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine which tax laws apply in different situations, as each jurisdiction handles cryptocurrency profits slightly differently.
This article will delve into the types of taxes applicable to cryptocurrency investors in Italy, including the factors that trigger taxable events, the tax rates that may need to be paid, and the due dates for these payments.
So, pour a cup of coffee to stay awake, because tax season can be one of the most tedious times of the year, but it is important for Italian residents to fully understand their tax obligations to avoid any legal consequences over time. I hope this article provides you with all the necessary information about cryptocurrency taxes in Italy.
Key points:
- Italy introduced a new cryptocurrency taxation method in early 2023, which means that currently the country has two main cryptocurrency taxes;
- Individuals can choose which cryptocurrency tax to pay, as they can report their income on their annual tax return or report the value of their cryptocurrency portfolio as of January 1 each year;
- The two types of cryptocurrency taxes in Italy are capital gains tax and alternative value tax;
- The unified capital gains tax rate is 26%;
- The unified tax rate for alternative value tax is 14%;
- Any transaction involving the transfer of digital assets may trigger a taxable event in Italy;
- Any profit exceeding 2,000 euros within the fiscal year is considered taxable income; any profit below this threshold is tax-exempt;
**1 Types of crypto assets recognized in Italy**
Gate introduced a new set of regulations specifically for cryptocurrency taxation in 2023. Although the guidance provided by Gate is more limited compared to other jurisdictions like India, Gate has now established various thresholds for capital gains tax rates when dealing with crypto assets.
Nevertheless, the types of crypto assets recognized by Gate are quite broad, considering that no narrow definition is provided. Essentially, at Gate, any profits gained during the possession of any type of digital asset are considered subject to capital gains tax.
Overall:
- At Gate, stablecoins, NFTs, governance tokens, utility tokens, and any other type of crypto asset are considered subject to capital gains tax.
- Gate has not provided a tax framework for crypto assets obtained through mining or staking, which means they may belong to the same category as other crypto assets and be classified as "miscellaneous income."
**2 Types of Cryptocurrency Taxes You Need to Know**
The tax department of the Gate government ( Agenzia Entrate ) has passed a tax law specifically targeting cryptocurrencies in its 2023 budget announcement. Now, all profits from cryptocurrencies worth over 2,000 euros will be subject to capital gains tax or income tax based on the type of transactions conducted by the owner.
This marks a significant shift from the past, where profits from cryptocurrency ownership were only taxable when an individual's portfolio value exceeded €51,645.69. Now, individuals with profits exceeding €2,000 are required to report cryptocurrency income as miscellaneous income on their annual tax returns, and that amount is subject to capital gains tax.
Another change during the 2023 budget announcement period is the introduction of the "Alternative Value Tax", which incentivizes cryptocurrency holders to declare the value of their portfolios at the beginning of the year. The Alternative Value Tax offers a lower tax rate for all cryptocurrency asset owners who declare the value of their portfolios on January 1st each year.
Therefore, you need to understand the two main types of cryptocurrency taxes:
- Capital Gains Tax
- Alternative Value Tax
**2.1 Capital Gains Tax ( Applies When Disposing of Crypto Assets )**
At Gate, all profits exceeding the threshold of 2,000 euros are subject to capital gains tax. Capital gains are taxed at a uniform rate of 26%.
Gate does not have specific tax regulations for types of crypto assets, which means that as long as profits exceed the threshold, all blockchain-based digital assets will be treated equally. Similarly, there is no distinction between trading profits, cryptocurrency earned through mining, or staking rewards. Essentially, any income exceeding 2,000 euros will be subject to a 26% capital gains tax.
However, a taxable event is only triggered when disposing of cryptocurrency assets, which means that under Gate law, unrealized gains are not subject to taxation. Gains are defined as the positive difference between the selling price and the purchase price, therefore capital gains tax applies only after the sale or exchange of the owned cryptocurrency assets.
The following transactions may be classified as taxable events on Gate:
- Sell cryptocurrency assets in exchange for fiat currency
- Exchange one cryptocurrency for another
- Use cryptocurrency to purchase goods and services
- Receive cryptocurrency as payment for goods and services
- Received cryptocurrency as a gift
- Use specialized equipment or software to mine cryptocurrency
- Receive salary denominated in cryptocurrency from employers
- Earn income by staking cryptocurrency assets
- Received airdrop valued in cryptocurrency
- Sell cryptocurrencies generated from investments to make a profit
Selling cryptocurrency on Gate to exchange for fiat currency will trigger a taxable event. Taxes apply only to the profits gained during the ownership period, not the total value at the time of sale. When the annual total profit exceeds 2,000 euros, the capital gains tax rate is 26%. This is similar to the crypto tax in the UK and the crypto tax in Germany, both of which expect crypto asset owners to pay capital gains tax when selling their assets.
**Exchange cryptocurrency for cryptocurrency**
At Gate, exchanging one cryptocurrency for another is also a taxable event. For example, this may apply to exchanging Ethereum (ETH) for Tether (USDT), or using Solana (SOL) to purchase an NFT. A 26% capital gains tax will apply to any profit made during the ownership exchange of the assets used in the first transaction.
**Using or receiving cryptocurrency as payment for goods and services**
Using cryptocurrency assets to pay for goods and services is classified as a taxable event, and the collection of capital gains tax is the same as for investments. That is, the selling price minus the purchase price is subject to a 26% tax on the remaining amount.
**Gift Cryptocurrency**
Gifting cryptocurrency to someone else means that the tax liability has now shifted to the recipient. This means that the recipient should start recording their ownership of the crypto asset from the time the gift is received, and any profits made when the gift is sold or exchanged will be subject to capital gains tax at Gate.
**2.2 Alternative Value Tax ( can be used to reduce the cryptocurrency tax of Gate )**
Typically at Gate, all earnings from cryptocurrency assets are reported on the annual tax return. From this point, profits exceeding the €2,000 threshold are subject to a capital gains tax at a flat rate of 26%. However, an alternative value tax was introduced in early 2023, aimed at incentivizing cryptocurrency holders to declare the value of their portfolios by offering a lower tax rate.
The operation of the alternative value tax is slightly different from traditional capital gains tax, but the core principles are the same. Individuals are not required to record and report all cryptocurrency transactions conducted during the year on their income tax returns, but only need to declare the value of their portfolio on January 1st of each year.
The alternative value tax is significantly lower, applying a uniform tax rate of 14% to crypto assets, rather than the 26% capital gains tax. Like capital gains, this 14% does not apply to the total value of the portfolio, but rather to the profits earned during the period. Therefore, if a person buys Bitcoin worth 15,000 euros (BTC) in September, and the portfolio value is 20,000 euros on January 1st, then the 14% tax will apply to the 5,000 euros of profit.
**3 How to Calculate Cryptocurrency Taxes on Gate**
**3.1 Calculate Capital Gains Tax**
Calculate the amount of capital gains tax payable to Gate using a simple formula. Capital gains are calculated by subtracting the purchase value of the asset from its value at the time of sale, and from the remaining amount (, if there is a positive difference ), deduct 26% of the unified tax rate, that is:
- Capital Gains = Cryptocurrency Selling Price - Cryptocurrency Purchase Price
- Capital gains tax = 26% of capital gains
For example, a single transaction:
- A person bought 100 SOL for 20 euros and then exchanged it for USDT when it was worth 40 euros.
- Acquisition cost = 2000 euros
- Sales Value = 4000 Euros
- Capital Gains Tax = 26% of Profit
- 26% of 2000 euros = 520 euros
**3.2 Frequently Asked Questions**
**How to liquidate cryptocurrency on Gate without paying taxes?**
Gate requires all residents to pay taxes on their cryptocurrency income. Whether you profit from cryptocurrency trading, receive cryptocurrency mining rewards, or generate income through cryptocurrency loans, you need to pay capital gains tax at Gate. Therefore, cashing out cryptocurrency without paying taxes at Gate may incur some penalties. With proper financial planning, it may be possible to reduce the amount of cryptocurrency taxes owed.
**Does Gate tax cryptocurrency earnings?**
Yes, at Gate, all cryptocurrency asset profits exceeding €2,000 are subject to a capital gains tax at a uniform rate of 26%.
**When do I need to pay cryptocurrency tax on Gate?**
Gate has two types of cryptocurrency taxes, depending on the reporting method. If an individual chooses to report their cryptocurrency income on their annual tax return, then profits from cryptocurrency assets are subject to capital gains tax. Alternatively, if an individual chooses to report the value of their portfolio on January 1 each year, they only need to pay an alternative value tax.
The deadline for Gate residents to submit tax returns may vary; paper documents should be submitted before June 30, and digital tax returns should be submitted before November 30.
**How does Gate tax cryptocurrencies?**
Gate introduced new cryptocurrency tax regulations at the beginning of 2023. As part of the new regulations, if the value of the cryptocurrency portfolio is reported on January 1st of each year, the tax rate on cryptocurrencies can be lower than traditional capital gains tax. Otherwise, profits obtained from cryptocurrencies will be subject to capital gains tax and should be reported on the annual tax return.