I've seen a guide online which states that how miners are taxed on their mined coins depends on how the IRS decides to treat bitcoin (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Tax_compliance)
But I need to know how I should file my tax return for 2017 (while the IRS figures out how it will treat bitcoin that is mined and sold for cash).
I can form an LLC. would this mean that all income would be offset by all expenses? so if i mined @ $100 and sold for cash @ $1000, that $900 income would be offset by my $900 hardware expense so I pay $0 tax? Or, would I have to pay capital gains tax on that bitcoin I mined and sold for cash? If i have to pay capital gains tax, would I be able to offset those capital gains with my hardware expense?
It would seem that at the current time, as the IRS hasn't yet been clear on how bitcoin should be treated for tax purposes, it would be my choice as to whether to treat the profit as income or as capital gains. Does this mean that until the IRS actually does decide on this, i can choose the method that results in the least tax owed? For example, in my first year treat the profit as income so I can offset the loss with my expenses and next year, when my profit is much higher than my expenses, I elect the capital gains treatment so I can pay only 15%?
I want to fully comply with the law. I also would like to pay the least amount of taxes possible. In other words, I want to pay only as much tax as I am required to pay by law.
Anyone with experience, please weigh in here. if possible, please use the example I gave above where 1 bitcoin is mined @ $100 and sold @ $1,000... showing the tax owed in different scenarios assuming a $900 hardware and electricity expense.
Thank you all in advance for your help with this.
Better clarify from authorities if how are they going to compute the taxes. And most probably it will just be taxed once you convert it to a fiat currency.