The United Kingdom wants taxpayers to “voluntarily” disclose any unpaid tax on various digital assets

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the United Kingdom has announced a new system that will allow taxpayers to “voluntarily” disclose any unpaid tax on various digital assets.

This action is part of the government’s broader strategy to improve oversight of the emerging asset class, which includes cryptocurrencies.

This initiative, which was announced on November 29, 2023, covers a wide range of crypto assets, including exchange tokens like Bitcoin, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and utility tokens.

The framework established by the regulator allows individuals to proactively disclose any unreported income or gains from crypto assets.

This approach aims to help taxpayers correct their tax affairs while potentially avoiding harsh penalties and interest charges for noncompliance.

To begin, users must obtain a Government Gateway user ID and gather detailed information about their crypto assets, such as personal information, a National Insurance number, the number and amount of transactions, and comprehensive financial data. Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax, interest, and penalties must all be calculated.

The system prioritizes determining the length of time that the unpaid tax must be disclosed, which varies depending on the taxpayer’s behavior—whether it involved reasonable care, carelessness, or deliberate omission in previous tax filings.

The period of disclosure ranges from four years for those who exercised reasonable caution to twenty years in cases of deliberate misinformation.

The HMRC has created tools and resources, such as penalty and interest calculators, to help taxpayers accurately assess the financial consequences of their crypto-asset transactions.

The procedure concludes with the submission of a disclosure form and the payment of all owed amounts, including taxes, interest, and penalties.

The new system demonstrates the UK government’s commitment to modernizing tax collection mechanisms in response to technological advances.

Its goal is to ensure fair taxation and compliance across all financial sectors while also bringing clarity and efficiency to the taxation of crypto asset gains, in line with global trends in digital asset regulation.

The UK’s His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) unveiled a regulatory framework for crypto assets about a month ago.

According to Brian Quintenz of a16z Crypto, this move is part of an effort to integrate cryptocurrencies into the UK financial landscape.

Airdrops are excluded from token issuance regulations, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are classified as non-financial services activities, according to the framework.

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is approached in a balanced manner, avoiding a ban while encouraging innovation.

The HMT framework does not equate cryptocurrency trading with gambling, with the goal of aligning with international regulatory standards and fostering crypto innovation. The recent tax warning appears to be another step toward bringing various crypto activities under financial services regulation.