The New Zealand Ministry of Revenue has submitted a new bill to implement the crypto-reporting framework developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
New Requirements for Crypto Service Providers
On August 26, New Zealand’s Minister of Revenue, Simon Watts, introduced a new bill called “Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024–25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures).” Within the bill, Watts proposed confirming annual income tax rates, tax relief measures, the implementation of the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), and amendments to the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). Starting from April 1, 2026, reporting crypto-asset service providers (RCASPs) based in New Zealand will be required to collect information on reportable users that operate through their platforms. This information must be reported to Inland Revenue by June 30, 2027. The collected information will be shared with relevant tax authorities worldwide if it pertains to reportable users in other jurisdictions. This exchange of information will be completed by September 30, 2027.
Penalties for Noncompliance
According to the new bill, RCASPs who fail to comply with the new reporting measures will be fined 300 New Zealand dollars ($186) for each instance of failing to comply with CARF requirements. The penalty is capped at 10,000 NZD ($6,200). The agency clarified that RCASPs will not be held liable for penalties if the reason for noncompliance is beyond their control. However, if service providers do not take “reasonable care” to meet CARF requirements, they could be fined between 20,000 to 100,000 NZD ($12,000 to $62,000). Users who fail to provide information necessary to comply with the reporting rules could also be subject to a 1,000 NZD ($621) fine.
Why This Matters
The New Zealand Ministry of Revenue stressed that with the development of crypto assets, tax authorities do not have visibility over income coming from crypto trading. The agency noted there has been an increased drive to ensure that tax authorities retain visibility over income or investment earning opportunities facilitated for individuals through large-scale intermediaries. The implementation of the new reporting framework should help tax authorities more effectively tax income derived from crypto assets and increase transparency in financial operations.
The new proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Revenue aims to enhance transparency and ensure that income from crypto trading is subject to effective taxation.
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