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The Federal Ministry of Finance of Germany stated that purchases for bitcoins will not be taxed, since the crypto currency is a legitimate means of payment.

The Office published its decision on February 27. In the document, the regulator refers to the European Court's ruling of 2015, which sets a precedent for all EU member states.

The court ruling says that crypto-currencies are considered a legitimate means of payment and that therefore the transactions for the payment of goods and services with their help should not be taxed:

"So-called virtual currencies (crypto-currencies such as bitcoin) are considered equal to legal means of payment if these so-called virtual currencies have been accepted as alternative and contractual means of payment by the parties involved in the transaction and have no other purpose than to use as a method payment ».

Conversion of crypto-currencies to fiat and vice versa in the decision of the European Court is classified as "other taxable services". Thus, the party that acts as an intermediary in this exchange will not be taxed. It follows that the operators of crypto-exchange exchanges can receive exemption from taxes "if they complete the purchase and sale of bitcoin as an intermediary on their behalf".

Commissions to miners should also not be taxed, since they are paid on a voluntary basis.

We note that earlier this year the head of the Bundesbank Joachim Wuermeling (Joachim Wuermeling) said that the regulation of crypto-currency should be carried out on a global scale. And the head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, believes that the ECB does not have such authority at all.

Currently, the European Commission is preparing an action plan to prevent financial crimes using crypto currency.