Investor or Trader?
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Anyone who buys and sells, or mines cryptoassets, or , needs to first consider if they are engaged in financial trading in cryptoassets, rather than simply assuming they are classed as an investor and taxed under the capital gains tax regime.
Individuals who are classified as financial trading in cryptoassets are required to pay income tax and national insurance on their profits, rather than capital gains tax on their capital gains and income tax on their miscellaneous income. Therefore, being classified as a trader rather than investor usually results in a higher tax bill.
HMRC go on to say:
"Only in exceptional circumstances would they expect individuals to buy and sell exchange tokens with such frequency, level of organisation and sophistication that the activities amount to a trade in itself.”
It is not as simple as working through the ‘Badges of Trade’, as these Badges have been demonstrated to have limitations in the field of financial trading.
The question of whether cryptoasset activities amount to trading depends on a number of factors and the individual circumstances. It will ultimately be a question of fact.
Key areas that HMRC will explore when considering if an individual is a financial trader are set out in detail here.
A business trading in cryptoassets would be similar in nature to a business trading in shares, securities and other financial products. Therefore further guidance can be drawn from the existing case law on trading in shares and securities as detailed here.
Fortunately, HMRC has stated in the Cryptoasset Manual at that:
“As set out in there may be cases where the individual is running a business which is carrying on a financial trade in cryptoassets and they will therefore have taxable trading profits. This is likely to be unusual, but in such cases Income Tax rules would take priority over the Capital Gains Tax rules.”
HMRC go even further than this in where they state:
Considering if you are a financial trader is a very complex area. We recommend you see read our detailed guidance and consult a to consider your specific circumstances.
