Japan’s Government Abolishes Crypto Tax on Unrealized Corporate Gains

Japan Tax
Last updated:
Author
Author
Hongji Feng
About Author

Hongji is a crypto and tech reporter. He graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a Bachelor's and a Master's. He has previously interned at HTX (Huobi Global),...

Last updated:
Why Trust Cryptonews
Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas - from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews
Japan Crypto Tax
Source: Pixabay / Pharaoh_EZYPT

Japan‘s cabinet has recently approved a key change in the fiscal 2024 tax policy, removing the tax on unrealized gains for corporate-held crypto assets, according to Nikkei.

In the fiscal 2024 tax reform approved by the Japanese cabinet, the tax on unrealized gains from crypto assets held by corporations will no longer apply. This shift, reported by Nikkei, changes the previous policy where corporate-held crypto assets were subject to tax based on their market value at the end of the fiscal year, regardless of whether these assets were sold or held.

Japan’s Crypto Tax Policy Reform

Under the new tax regime, corporations in Japan will now only be taxed on profits actually gained from the actual sale of their crypto assets. This amendment aligns the corporate tax treatment with that of individual investors, who are already taxed only on realized gains.

The tax reform also takes an important step towards establishing separate taxation for crypto transactions. This approach includes introducing specific tax rates and loss carryover deductions for crypto asset dealings.

The Japanese Crypto Asset Business Association (JCBA) has been a vocal proponent of these changes, advocating for a more equitable and growth-oriented tax environment for digital assets.

The JCBA has suggested several measures, such as exempting tax on crypto-to-crypto exchanges and imposing a lump-sum tax when converting crypto assets into legal currency. They have also proposed the introduction of a carry-over deduction for three years.

Moore v. U.S. And Implications on Taxation

The recent developments in the U.S. surrounding the Moore v. U.S. Supreme Court case present a contrasting picture to Japan’s approach to cryptocurrency taxation. In the case, the dispute centers around the definition of “realized income” and whether unrealized gains should be subject to tax.

The case involves Charles and Kathleen Moore, who are contesting a tax imposed on their investment in an India-based company. The Moores argued that they had not realized any income from this investment as they had not cashed in their profits or brought them back to the U.S., thereby challenging the tax under the 16th Amendment.

“This is the most important tax case that the Supreme Court has considered in decades,” said Yale Law School Professor Natasha Sarin in an interview, “What the Moores are doing in this case is they’re challenging the constitutionality of whether or not this tax should have been allowed to be levied at all by claiming that they never realized any income in this case.”

The Supreme Court had its argument hearing on Dec. 5, and the final decision is still pending. It is closely watched not just for its immediate impact on the petitioners but also for its potential to reshape the broader landscape of income taxation, especially in the rapidly evolving field of digital assets.

More Articles

Blockchain News
CPIC Investment Management Launches Hong Kong’s First Tokenized USD Money Market Fund
Sead Fadilpašić
Sead Fadilpašić
2025-03-28 11:01:05
Altcoin News
Upbit Operator Dunamu Triples Dividends Following Profit Surge
Ruholamin Haqshanas
Ruholamin Haqshanas
2025-03-28 10:56:16
Crypto News in numbers
editors
Authors List + 66 More
2M+
Active Monthly Users Around the World
250+
Guides and Reviews Articles
8
Years on the Market
70
International Team Authors