ATO Requests Transaction Details from Crypto Exchanges for 1.2M Accounts

With up to 1.2 million accounts maintained on several exchanges, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is demanding personal information and transaction history from them as part of its increased investigation of the cryptocurrency sector.

The ATO’s announcement in April is said to have been made with the intention of improving oversight and guaranteeing that tax laws are followed. Specific information on traders, including names, addresses, birthdays, and transaction history, is to be provided by designated cryptocurrency exchanges.

Data Collection for Compliance

The ATO clarified that this data collection initiative is crucial for identifying individuals who may have evaded reporting their cryptocurrency-related activities. This includes transactions involving the sale of crypto assets for fiat currency or their utilization in purchasing goods and services.

Australia has taken a more stringent regulatory approach to the cryptocurrency sector, especially in the wake of FTX’s collapse. Entities seeking to trade tokens without the necessary authorization have faced legal action. Furthermore, banks have begun limiting payments to bitcoin exchanges. A new structure for crypto exchange licensing is also being proposed.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) reaffirmed its tax policy last year, highlighting that the capital gains tax applies to wrapped tokens and transactions involving decentralized lending protocols in addition to traditional cryptocurrencies. The ATO’s dedication to guaranteeing tax conformity across a range of crypto-related activity is emphasized by this clarification.