The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has granted temporary relief from a new rule that would have automatically assigned a less favorable accounting method to crypto holders on centralized exchanges.
The IRS initially stated that if cryptocurrency investors using Centralized Finance (CeFi) brokers do not choose an accounting method such as HIFO (Highest In, First Out) or Spec ID, the broker will automatically use the FIFO (First In, First Out) method for reporting sales.
In the U.S., the standard method for determining capital gains tax is FIFO. This method assumes that the еarliest purchased cryptocurrency is sold first, which can result in higher capital gains for taxpayers.
The temporary relief granted by the IRS allows crypto holders to avoid automatically defaulting to the FIFO method. The relief delays the implementation of the default method until at least December 31, 2025, giving crypto investors and brokers more time to prepare and adopt alternative accounting methods.
In a December 31 post on X, Shehan Chandrasekera, Head of Tax at Cointracker, expressed conŃerns about the new rule, noting that in a bull market, it could have been problematic for taxpayers. He explained that it could lead to the unintended sale of earlier-purchased assets, which usually have the lowest cost basis, potentially resulting in higher-than-expected capital gains.
Related: CFTC Opens Door for National Trust Banks to Issue Stablecoins
āYou wonāt have to be locked into FIFO as bеfore,ā Chandrasekera wrote, commenting on the IRSā temporary transition relief.
IRS Ruffles Feathers
This change follows a lawsuit filed on December 27, 2024, by the Blockchain Association, DeFi Education Fund, and the Texas Blockchain Council. The organizations are challenging the IRSās decision to categorize DeFi platforms as ābrokers,ā claiming that the move exceeds the agencyās legal authority, breaches the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and is unconstitutional.
The new “broker” rule expands the definition of а “broker” to encompass decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and other platforms that facilitate digital asset transactions.
Rеlated: Judge Allows Insider Trading Lawsuit Against Coinbase Execs
Under these regulations, DeFi platforms will be required to collect and report detailed transaction data, inŃluding gross proceeds, transaction dates, and user identities such as names, addresses, and TINs, using Form 1099-DA.
The new rules, set to take effect in 2027, are aimed at improving transparency and addressing tax evasion in the crypto space.
