What are crypto-assets for Portuguese Personal Income Tax (IRS) purposes?
For tax purposes, crypto-assets are deemed to include all digital representations of value or rights that may be transferred or stored electronically and that rely on distributed ledger technology, such as blockchain.
NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are expressly excluded from this concept.
When are crypto-asset transactions subject to Personal Income Tax (IRS)?
Transactions involving crypto-assets may give rise to Personal Income Tax (IRS) liability or, at the very least, reporting obligations in the annual tax return (Modelo 3), depending on the type of transaction, the holding period, and the nature of the activity carried out.
Mining – Category B (Business and Professional Income)
Crypto-asset mining and the validation of transactions through consensus mechanisms are classified as a business or professional activity, and the resulting income is taxed under Category B, subject to the progressive IRS rates.
For the determination of taxable income, either the simplified tax regime or the organized accounting regime may apply, depending on the amount of income generated.
The simplified regime applies where the annual gross income from this category is equal to or less than €200,000.00, while the organized accounting regime applies where it exceeds that amount.
Under the simplified regime, 95% of the total gross income obtained from mining activities is deemed taxable. Under the organized accounting regime, taxable income is determined by deducting all costs effectively incurred in carrying out the activity.
Taxation occurs at the time of disposal for consideration, except where the consideration received consists of other crypto-assets, in which case taxation is deferred until an effective disposal for consideration takes place.
The cessation of the activity or departure from Portuguese territory may also trigger taxation.
Staking, Yield Farming and Other Passive Income – Category E (Investment Income)
Income obtained from staking or any other form of remuneration arising from transactions involving crypto-assets may be classified as investment income, where it has a passive nature and is not carried out through a business structure.
Such income is taxable when effectively received and is not subject to withholding tax.
Where the income is received in crypto-assets, taxation is deferred until their subsequent disposal for consideration.
Sale of Crypto-Assets – Category G (Capital Gains)
The disposal of crypto-assets for consideration, where not falling within any of the other income categories, may generate taxable capital gains for IRS purposes. It is first necessary to determine whether the crypto-assets qualify as securities.
The classification as a security depends on a case-by-case assessment of the relevant asset and may, for example, include certain projects launched through ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings). Where the crypto-assets do not qualify as securities (as is generally the case with Bitcoin), the holding period becomes particularly relevant.
Cryptocurrencies Held for Less Than 365 Days
Capital gains arising from the disposal of crypto-assets held for less than 365 days are, as a rule, taxable under Category G at the flat rate of 28%, with the possibility of aggregation.
Cryptocurrencies Held for 365 Days or More
Capital gains arising from the disposal of cryptocurrencies held for a period of 365 days or more are, in principle, excluded from taxation for IRS purposes. However, notwithstanding the exemption from taxation, the reporting obligation remains.
Crypto-to-Crypto Exchanges
The exchange of one cryptocurrency for another does not, as a rule, give rise to immediate taxation.
However, such transactions should not be regarded as fiscally irrelevant, as they may have implications for the tax treatment of future transactions.
Crypto-Assets Qualifying as Securities
Where crypto-assets qualify as securities, taxation occurs upon their disposal for consideration.
The balance between capital gains and capital losses is taxed at the rate of 28%, with the possibility of aggregation.
If the holding period is less than 365 days and the taxpayer’s taxable income reaches the highest IRS bracket, aggregation becomes mandatory.
In situations involving loss of Portuguese tax residence, taxation may arise even in the absence of an actual disposal of the crypto-assets.
How Can You Carry Out Tax Planning for Your Crypto-Asset Investments?
The tax impact of investments in crypto-assets depends on several factors, including the type of transaction carried out, the holding period of the assets, and the classification of the income for IRS purposes.
The increasing complexity of the crypto-asset tax regime makes it advisable to carry out a regular review of transactions, particularly where they involve multiple platforms, international operations, or different forms of income generation.
The Tax Law Department of Belzuz Abogados, S.L.P. – Portugal Branch is available to assist investors and individuals in analyzing the tax treatment of their crypto-assets, assessing the tax implications of transactions carried out, and defining appropriate tax compliance and tax planning strategies.