Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison: “We Won’t be Taxing Digital Currencies”
The Australian Government announced in its report entitled “Backing Australia's Fintech” that the current double tax law on digital currencies including Bitcoin is soon to be reformed. Digital currencies such as Bitcoin were in 2014 established by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as intangible assets for goods and services tax purposes. Thus, payments involving bitcoin have been considered as a form of barter rather than conventional transactions. However, the major issue with the GST law on digital currencies is that Australian residents who purchase items or goods using bitcoin are....
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Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has said that the growth of FinTech and the financial sector moving into the digital space has produced a shift in how businesses operate presenting challenges and opportunities. At the recent G20 conference at Wiesbaden in Germany, Morrison spoke how innovation was changing the face of finance. In a report from InnovationAus, an Australian news site, he said that FinTech is the way of the future. He said: While we cannot go backwards, the success of fintech is not guaranteed. It is important that all of us work together, across borders, to help build this....
Treasurer Scott Morrison saw the value in the proposition of removing GST on Bitcoin, as well as easing up on crowdfunding restrictions. But that is not all, as tax barriers for VC investors will be reduced, and a new regulatory framework will be established for Fintech startups over the coming months. Taking this “develop first and worry about regulatory compliance later” approach will create a more lenient ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs in Australia. Australia and Bitcoin have not had a particularly happy marriage up until this point, as there has been a lot of friction....
Last year, Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison promised to swiftly act on changing the goods and services tax (GST) law, in order to end the double taxation of bitcoin and other digital currencies. However, over fourteen months have passed without any legislative progress. Now, the issue is no longer a priority and bitcoin continues to bear GST twice in....
Global competition over Fintech companies, one of the fastest growing industry in the world with billions invested yearly, intensified today with Australia announcing they are largely throwing out the rulebook for the first 12 months. Scott Morrison, Treasurer of Australia, stated: “From today, all eligible businesses will be able to test a range of financial or credit services with up to 100 retail clients and unlimited wholesale clients for up to twelve months without the need to apply for an Australian Financial Services Licence or Australian Credit Licence and without seeking approval....
Australia’s Prime Minister has announced the Federal Government’s biggest investment in blockchain to-date, with two pilots set to receive almost $5 million. The Australian government this week unveiled its $574 million Digital Business Plan that includes seven-figure grants for distributed ledger technology initiatives. Announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of next week’s Federal Government budget, the plan outlines $4.95 million in support for “two blockchain pilots directed at reducing business compliance costs.” Morrison said:“The plan supports Australia’s economic recovery....