Israel Tax Authority Convinces Local Exchange to Report Big Traders

Tax agencies around the world keep applying pressure on bitcoin and crypto companies to make their operations transparent to them. The latest example comes from Israel, where a local exchange with over 50,000 clients has been convinced to report its bigger traders to the national tax authority.

Also Read: Decentral Launches Its New Crypto Wallet Jaxx Liberty in Beta

Bits of Gold to Report to Tax Authority

Tel Aviv based cryptocurrency exchange Bits of Gold has agreed to report on its ‘heavy’ users to the Israel Tax Authority, according to media reports from the country. The company will pass on information to the tax authority on anyone who traders a total of $50,000 or more over a twelve-month period. It agreed to this after the authority carried out an onsite inspection of its operations at the exchange’s offices, targeting information on its bigger clients.

Exchanges operating in the country already have to report big trades to the Israel Money Laundering and Terror Financing Prohibition Authority, but that information doesn’t get to the tax authority easily as there are laws in place to prevent this to protect citizens’ privacy. Moreover, the Israel Tax Authority does not have the legal right to compel companies to report on their clients without their agreement and court precedents back this up, according to local newspaper Calcalist.

Putting the Squeeze on More Investors

Furthermore, according to the reports, this agreement with Bits of Gold is a sign of things to come as the Israeli tax authority now plans to approach more local companies and exchanges trying to reach similar arrangements. And this is just the latest initiative by the Israel Tax Authority in the crypto field.

Back in May it was reported that regional branches have sent out letters to those they suspect are trading bitcoin, demanding that the recipients divulge all of their involvement in the cryptocurrency market including all past transaction history and current holdings. People were being asked to list all exchange accounts and wallets they ever had and report their trade earnings. Additionally, the agency demands that people will reveal if they are engaged in mining.

Should crypto exchanges agree to report on their clients if they are not compelled by law? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Images courtesy of Shutterstock.

Verify and track bitcoin cash transactions on our BCH Block Explorer, the best of its kind anywhere in the world. Also, keep up with your holdings, BCH and other coins, on our market charts at Satoshi’s Pulse, another original and free service from Bitcoin.com.

The post Israel Tax Authority Convinces Local Exchange to Report Big Traders appeared first on Bitcoin News.