Crypto Sales Tax Might Be Considered by Indian Panel Next Week

People with knowledge of the situation indicated that an Indian ministerial panel will meet next week to talk about imposing a goods and services tax on Bitcoin transactions.

The panel, made up of finance ministers of the federal government and the states, is looking to expand the tax net to more effectively track transactions involving virtual digital assets, according to the persons, who declined to be named due to restrictions on speaking with the media. Beginning on June 28, the panel will meet for two days in Chandigarh, in northern India.

The people added that although conversations may be done about including it in the highest tax bracket of 28 percent, the panel is unlikely to decide on a rate in the upcoming meeting. When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the finance ministry did not answer right away.

To gauge the extent of the local cryptocurrency market and keep track of users, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman levied a 30 percent tax on revenue from the transfer of virtual assets and a 1 percent source tax on all cryptocurrency transactions earlier this year. The action was perceived as resolving doubt over the legality of cryptocurrency transactions.

Due to the ambiguity around whether digital currencies should be treated as products or services and the absence of a legal framework, there is still uncertainty over the implementation of a sales tax on them.

It was previously reported that the federal government is already working on legislation to either regulate or strengthen regulations, though it is envisaged that this would only happen until a worldwide consensus on the regulation of such assets emerges.

As global central banks have started to raise interest rates to rein in growing inflation, digital currencies and other risky assets have been under attack all year. This year, Bitcoin has decreased by almost 50%, and Ether has decreased by 70%.

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