The Dutch government is seeking public feedback on new legislative proposals that would obligate cryptocurrency service providers, including exchanges, to gather and submit user data to the national tax authority. This initiative aligns the country with broader European Union regulations, aimed at enhancing transparency regarding cryptocurrency ownership to deter tax avoidance and evasion.
Currently, cryptocurrency holders in the Netherlands are required to declare their digital asset holdings on tax returns to the Belastingdienst. The proposed legislation will extend this framework by mandating the tax agency to share data collected from these service providers about residents of other EU nations with their respective tax authorities. This move follows the introduction of EU-wide crypto tax reporting regulations, known as DAC8, which were enacted last year.
The Ministry of Finance noted that the new rules are designed to reduce the administrative burden on crypto service providers, as they will only need to report in the EU member state where they are registered. Although Dutch crypto owners are taxed similarly to other investments, the Finance Ministry pointed out that EU tax authorities currently lack comprehensive insights into cryptocurrency assets, which creates an uneven competitive environment within the financial sector.
To facilitate greater compliance, the proposed legislation will also allow for sharing of data with non-EU countries that have agreed to the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This list includes key economic players such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.
Public comments on the proposed rules must be submitted by November 21, with plans for the bill to be presented to the House of Representatives in the second quarter of 2025. This initiative represents a significant step toward regulatory clarity and improved taxation practices within the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency landscape.
