Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has disclosed plans for a comprehensive reform of the tax code for fiscal year 2025, which could offer reduced tax rates for crypto assets.
The Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) emphasized the importance of crypto assets in its August 30 request for tax reform, advocating for their treatment as conventional financial assets that the public can invest in.
The FSA stated that cryptocurrency should be regarded as a financial asset that should be an investment target for the public regarding the tax treatment of cryptocurrency transactions.
“It is necessary to consider this issue from the perspective of whether it should be treated as such.”
Crypto profits in Japan are currently subject to miscellaneous income taxation, ranging from 15% to 55%, as per crypto accountants TokenTax.
The maximum rate of 55% applies to revenues exceeding 200,000 yen ($1,377); however, it is contingent upon the individual’s income tax bracket that determines the rate.
In contrast, the most significant tax rates apply to profits generated from stock trading, which are only 20%.
Corporate crypto holders must pay a uniform 30% tax rate on their holdings after the fiscal year, even if they have not generated a profit through a transaction.
Government ministries submit tax reform requests to the governing party, which forwards them to the national legislature and a tax system research committee for review.
The reform is only enacted into law if both chambers approve it by the Japanese government, namely the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors.
Crypto Industry Advocates seek tax reform
For several years, advocates of the crypto industry in Japan have been advocating for a revision of the national tax regime for digital assets.
The Japan Blockchain Association (JBA), a pro-crypto lobbying group, filed a formal request with the government in 2023 to reduce the tax rate on crypto assets.
The group also requested tax reform on crypto assets for the 2025 financial year on July 19, intending to promote additional development in the nation’s crypto sector.
It proposed a three-year loss carryover deduction and a fixed 20% tax rate for crypto.
Nevertheless, despite these efforts, the requests have not resulted in any policy changes for the industry in Japan.