Pre-Budget 2023 India Expectations: Crypto Community Looks Forward To Tax Reductions

Pre-Budget 2023: Last year when Finance Minister Sitaraman presented the Union Budget, it came as a surprise as there was a new tax imposition added. A massive 30% tax on all the income generated from crypto trading in India. To get some relief from this, the crypto community has certain expectations from the Budget 2023.

The tax rates and set-off advantages that apply to securities as an asset class – and to VDAs as a suitable asset class – should likewise be applied to crypto assets.

Based on the risks they carry, securities are categorized as an asset class. There are items ranging from low-risk government bonds to high-risk derivatives. VDAs should be properly categorized and regulated as a result, allowing investors to comprehend the risks involved and make investment decisions accordingly.

Removing hefty taxes on crypto

Many people think that taxing virtual digital assets is a good place to start. The reason is, it has given investors in cryptocurrencies confidence that the government has taken this asset class seriously. The present tax rate, which is 30%, is somewhat high. We anticipate that the government will lower the capital gains tax rate in the 2023 budget.

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According to experts, the taxation of cryptocurrencies is still in its infancy not just in India but around the world, and will develop over time. While the laws are clear on many points, the crypto sector is still looking for clarification in a few areas. Investors anticipate some taxation certainty in addition to tax relief for cryptos.

The government should also consider the removal or at least some reduction in the 1% TDS rate.

“When the TDS mandate was announced, we acknowledged and appreciated the government’s effort to track and monitor VDA transactions.”

said Sumit Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, CoinDCX.

He also talked about their suggestion to the government as they are a partner and collaborator with the government in their effort to understand and monitor the VDA ecosystem.

“Notably, through our representation for the upcoming Union Budget 2023 – 2024, we have suggested that the rate of TDS be brought down to 0.01%. This lower rate will help Indian VDA businesses offer competitive prices to Indian VDA users and protect them from exposure to unregulated foreign exchanges,” he added.

Expectations to classify VDA

In response to parallels of digital assets to highly speculative activities like gambling, betting, and other similar activities, the 30% barrier was established. When it comes to requiring clear ownership and title of the assets as well as enough liquidity in the system to conduct transactions, VDAs are more like securities trading. The current tax structures will only hinder risk-taking traders from trading.

Uncertainty exists around the possibility of offsetting losses from one crypto against gains from another. Although understandably, losses incurred through crypto cannot be offset against any other revenue, an inter-source set-off should be allowed, and clarifications should be made to this effect.

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