I read a few pages of this thread, and it is obvious most of you have no idea what this actually means.
To give a simple example, it's basically equivalents to require a business (walmart, amazon or mom&pop) OR an individual to file and report EVERY SINGLE bitcoin transaction - what you earned and spent, on schedule D etc.. for capital gain consideration. So if got my paycheck that is 10
BTC, spend 0.05
BTC on milk, 1
BTC on xbox, etc.. i must file each line item detailing the cost basis (usd/btc when i obtained the 10 bitcoin paycheck) and gain/loss (usd/btc) when i spent the said 0.05
BTC for milk, xbox etc..
Obviously that can never function.
It effectively in 1 fell swoop destroyed bitcoin as a unit of currency(that can be used for goods/services) in the USA, AND ensures the dollar will never be replaced or lowered in the foodchain.
I guaranteed you companies like overstock and tigerdirect are now having a facepalm moment, consulting their tax attorneys on how to report this mess on their taxes.
It is bad, it removes the main function of bitcoin - as a currency. Now bitcoin can only be used as a store of value like precious metals, but that only work if people still perceive it has value.
If you are nervous, you should be. How this all unfolds in the next 12 month will have a material impact on bitcoin and crypto currency as a whole.
Having bitcoin classified as property rather than currency is the best possible scenario. The capital gains tax rate is 0% for most people. 0%... hard to beat that.
no it's not the best possible scenario, what have you been smoking exactly?