59th Meetup: Bitcoin and Austrian Tax Law

An all-time high in attendance, accompanied by an all-time high in Bitcoin’s price, filled the upstairs event space at the 59th Bitcoin Austria Meetup in the House of Nakamoto.

After a short Bitcoin introduction and a warning about dubious “investment offers,” the main topic of the evening followed: Bitcoin and Austrian tax law.

Talk: Bitcoin and Tax Law (Mag. Natalie Enzinger) #

Graz-based tax advisor Mag.(FH) Natalie Enzinger explained the tax classification of different Bitcoin activities to over 130 guests:

• Bitcoins held as private assets and speculation periods
• VAT-related aspects
• Accounting and valuation rules for businesses

The talk was supplemented with tips on how to deal with legal ambiguity in certain areas. Some attendees felt the tax situation around Bitcoin was reminiscent of the 1990s, when the internet age with all its possibilities met a post-war postal and telegraph law.

Many thanks to Coinfinity for sponsoring drinks and snacks for the guests!