Irs Requests Approved To Seek Records Of Consumers Who Transacted Over $20k In Crypto

The IRS is seeking access to Circle users’ records, and the Department of Justice is backing that request in federal court.

According to a ruling made by a federal judge, the Federal Revenue Service (IRS) may continue with its efforts to identify Circle Internet Financial’s high-value clients.

A “John Doe Summons” on all Circle and Poloniex clients who transacted $20,000 or more in cryptocurrency between 2016 and 2020 was authorized by the District of Massachusetts federal court judge after the IRS requested it. The IRS utilizes these summonses as a tool to request information from individuals that it cannot identify.

The IRS informed the court that it requires the papers to confirm that tax payments are being made by cryptocurrency users. It will now issue summonses on the records as evidence that many haven’t, as it believes many haven’t. According to the IRS, Circle may not have broken the law as a result of this.

That does signify a continuance of the American tax authorities treating cryptocurrency investments more for the 2020 tax year.

“This John Doe summons allows the IRS to send a clear message to U.S. taxpayers that the IRS is seeking to ensure that they are completely compliant in their use of virtual currency.” In a news release, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig stated, adding:

The IRS is using the John Doe summons as a tool to find those who are not disclosing their virtual currency transactions. Where we discover widespread fraud or noncompliance, we will enforce the law.

A John Doe summons was before used by the FBI to pursue Coinbase, which first resisted the order for more than a year before cooperating and turning over around 14,000 client records.

In response to the court decision, “We’re reviewing, and of course, expect to work with the IRS,” Circle spokesperson Josh Hawkins wrote in an email to CoinDesk.

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