Argentinian Province Buenos Aires Proposes To Bring Crypto Mining into Tax Net by 2023

Tax Amendment Bill Brings Crypto Mining Into Provincial Tax Net

A project, which aims at bringing crypto mining into the provincial tax net, has been approved by the Argentinian province of Buenos Aires.

Alex Kicillof, the Provincial Governor, has submitted a document containing the proposal to the federal government led by President, Alberto Fernandez.

In the proposal, the Governor has proposed to tax crypto mining activities at the provincial level. He has suggested that crypto mining and related activities be taxed @ 4% on the incomes earned from such activities.

Under the proposal, the provincial government in Buenos Aires has proposed the collection of tax by the year 2023.

Argentina is among the South American countries that are ambitious in adopting cryptocurrencies. The economic condition of countries such as Argentina and Brazil are not very well.

There is a lot of instability in South American countries when it comes to the economy. Therefore, these countries want to come up with newer ways and innovations for improving their economic situation.

Therefore, cryptocurrencies have been proven to be one of the most suitable and promising ways of boosting the economy.

Federal Government Shall Have No Right over Mining Tax Collections

Provincial Government’s document, also suggests that the tax collected from crypto mining shall be exclusively held by the Province.

The funds would hence be utilized by Buenos Aires and the federal government shall have no right over them.

The document further points out that tax will be applicable on mining activities carried out within the territorial jurisdiction of the province.

For this purpose, it has been clarified that only those mining farms shall be taxed which are located within the province.

Provincial Government’s tax proposal also suggests that the tax shall be levied and collected soon after the beginning of 2023. However, there are still a few obstacles that will need to be removed by the Provincial Government.

For instance, for the implementation of a crypto mining tax, the Provincial Government must amend provincial tax laws.

Difficulties in Tax Laws

There are various difficulties with which the Government of Buenos Aires will have to deal with prior to crypto mining tax collection.

For instance, analysts have determined that there are two major areas that are to be addressed beforehand. The first crucial aspect is the definition of ‘crypto mining equipment’ which has to be made part of the tax laws.

Secondly, the crypto mining tax proposal only speaks for proof-of-work mining activities. This means that the mining activities involving hardware such as ASIC mining rigs as well as 3d cards shall be taxed only.

For the time being, the law does not make mention of equipment capable of staking nodes which are also regarded as hardware.

Potentially, node staking hardware also can be brought under the tax net, and hence the amendment must include it in the legislature.

How Mining Will Be Taxed?

Usually, a tax is collected on the basis of various factors and sources of values that collectively form a taxable activity.

Presently, the proposal does not talk about these factors and sources. Instead, it all says that a 4% tax shall be collected on mining activities.

Questions have been raised by chartered accountants as to how the Provincial Government would levy a tax without taking into account sources/factors.

Marcos Zocaro, a certified accountant in Argentina, raised questions as to how tax levy upon minted crypto shall be implemented.

He asked whether tax levies will be calculated upon minting of digital assets or at the end of the fiscal year.

Buenos Aires came up with this proposal because the province is regarded as one of the major hubs for crypto-mining activities.

Even in April 2022, the provincial government suggested that digital currencies shall soon be accepted against the settlement of tax liabilities by taxpayers.