Japan’s controversial crypto tax system set for review in 2025

Japan’s hotly debated crypto tax system may be getting an overhaul in 2025, thanks to the official inclusion of virtual currencies in the government’s recently finalized 2025 tax reform outline. For the Japanese, anything would beat being taxed at 55%, or in the case of inheritance tax, sometimes 110% on crypto gains, and being unable to offset losses. 

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan has finalized an outline for tax reform plans in 2025, in a meeting held on December 20.

In a post to X, house member Junichi Kanda summarized the annual meeting of the nation’s tax commission, noting: “The LDP Tax Commission and Tax System Research Council general meeting finalized the outline of tax reform for fiscal year 2025. The report also included future considerations regarding the tax system for crypto assets.”

The news is bullish for mainstream crypto investors, who have been suffering under tax rates as high as 55% on gains in the country, or even — in some cases — mind-blowing gouges to the tune of 110% (more than the value of the actual asset) where inheritance tax on crypto comes into play.

Industry players and crypto holders alike have been urging politicians, such as Democratic Party for the People (DPP) leader Yuichiro Tamaki, to revamp the prohibitive system. But recently elected prime minister Shigeru Ishiba has been publicly doubtful of the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies as an asset class, ostensibly standing against such reform.

Bitcoiners and crypto-heads in Japan are pushing for a separate 20% rate for crypto gains, which will include the ability to offset losses via a carryover system.

According to local media, former minister for digital transformation (DX) and house member Takuya Hirai also submitted a proposal via the FSA (Financial Services Agency) to the minister of finance, to “make crypto assets an asset that contributes to the national economy.”

The proposal, which included a separate tax scheme for crypto — instead of considering gains “miscellaneous income” as is currently the case — was reportedly well-received by Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato.

Concrete movements toward reform are now expected, but as it stands for 2024, the tax law in the nation remains as convoluted as the Tokyo Metro subway, minus the efficiency and usefulness.

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