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Government officials waffling about the crypto tax thatās set to come into effect in 2022 has created a maelstrom of conflicting reports that even officials canāt seem to keep track of.
South Korean government officials have created confusion this year with conflicting announcements regarding a possible repeal or amendment of the upcoming crypto tax set to come into effect in 2022.
Throughout 2021, debates increased in intensity in the National Assembly, South Koreaās legislature, about whether, or how, to amend the crypto tax. If unchanged, the tax will levy a 20% tax on income generated by crypto transactions in excess of 2.5 million Korean won, or about $2,100.
Nonfungible token (NFT) regulations are the latest example of confusion over crypto assets in the country.
On Nov. 5, Financial Services Commission (FSC) officials stated definitively thatĀ NFTs would not be subject to the crypto tax based on Financial Action Task Force guidelines classifying NFTs differently from cryptocurrency.
But thatĀ decision was effectively reversedĀ on Tuesday when FSC Vice Chairman Do Gyu-sang said:
āThe Ministry of Strategy and Finance is preparing tax provisions for NFTs in accordance with the Special Reporting Act.ā
The Special Reporting Act dictates regulations for cryptocurrency, including taxation.
Some are skeptical that the government has the best interests of the crypto industry in mind as the official policy direction seems to change direction so frequently. StableNodeās Nam Doo-wan tweetedĀ on Wednesday, āKorean gov: āWe might flip our position but you crypto heads will be slapped till that happens.āā
Since April 2021, several proposals to delay the tax from the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the legislature, haveĀ gained momentumĀ at the National Assembly until Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki from the opposing party quashed them. The same occurred in SeptemberĀ and will likely happen again before the year is out.
While the conflict between opposing parties is a matter of fact, there is also an element of misinformation, as news outlets have reported inaccurately that the tax has been delayed. This is a source of confusion for stakeholders in Koreaās crypto industry and is exacerbated by non-Korean-speaking journalists reporting on the issues.
Jun Hyuk Ahn, head of communications at VegaX Holdings, told Cointelegraph, āWith presidential elections coming up next March, the Democratic Party is trying to curry favor with the 20sā30s age group by delaying the tax.ā
Related:Ā South Koreaās leading blockchain facing greater competition in NFT market
Although the FSC has shown that there is internal conflict as to how to enforce the law as it is written, Ahn pointed out that āthe power lies in the National Assembly to change the law.ā
The ability to change the law has ultimately been hampered by partisan party politics in the National Assembly where the Democratic Party has had to face off against Minister Hong.
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