The problems of taxation of income of private and legal entities from operations with digital financial assets

Abstract

The subject of this research is the problems of taxation of income from operations with digital financial assets. It is a known fact that the Institution of financial legal regulation of circulation of the digital financial assets is in the process of establishment; thus, there are yet no legislative norms on taxes and fees in this sphere of public relations, and the only reference point for taxpayers is the information letters from competent authorities and doctrinal sources. Among the relevant problems of taxation in this field, the author underlines the absence of an official position regarding the taxation of such operations with the value added tax (VAT), as well as the absence of the established procedures for documented proof of income and spending within the framework of circulation of digital financial assets. The main conclusion consists in the thesis that the existing in the Russian Federation system of taxes and fees can be implemented institutionally in the indicated sphere of public relations. The author also notes that the solution of these problems requires introduction of isolated amendments to tax legislation, among which is the inclusion of operations that are not subject to VAT in accordance with the Article 149 of the Taxation Code of the Russian Federation, as well as transactions with financial digital assets and digital currencies. Particular attention is turned to the need for elaboration of departmental instructions that would establish accounting rules for transactions with digital financial assets. Within the framework of this article, the author analyzes the foreign methods of documented proof of income and spending that can also be applied in Russian business practice.