Crypto earned for doing online "microtasks" is taxable ordinary income

Plain-English summary

People increasingly earn small amounts of cryptocurrency by doing tiny online jobs ("microtasks") on crowdsourcing platforms, such as reviewing images, taking surveys, downloading apps and leaving reviews, or reaching milestones in games. The payments are often worth less than a dollar each. IRS Chief Counsel was asked whether that virtual currency is taxable. The answer is yes. Convertible virtual currency (like Bitcoin) is treated as property, and receiving it in exchange for performing a service is compensation. Under §§ 61 and 83, the fair market value of the currency received must be reported as ordinary income, no matter how small the amount or how it is labeled ("rewards"), and it may also be subject to self-employment tax. This is internal legal advice, not a ruling for a specific taxpayer.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Is convertible virtual currency received for performing a crowdsourced microtask taxable income?
• Outcome: Advice (yes, taxable as ordinary income; may be subject to self-employment tax)
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 61(a)(1), 83(a), 1401; Notice 2014-21; Rev. Rul. 2019-24; Commissioner v. Glenshaw Glass Co., 348 U.S. 426 (1955)

Full text (IRS public release)

       Office of Chief Counsel
       Internal Revenue Service
       Memorandum
       Number: 202035011
       Release Date: 8/28/2020


       UIL: 61.00-00, 61.09-00, 61.09-07, 83.00-00


       CC:ITA:B04:JYu
       PRESP-114156-20

date: June 29, 2020

 to:   Carolyn A. Schenck
       National Fraud Counsel and Assistant Division Counsel (International)
       (Small Business/Self-Employed)

from: Ronald J. Goldstein
Senior Technician Reviewer, Branch 4
(Income Tax & Accounting)

subject: Taxation of Virtual Currency Received in the Crowdsourcing Labor Market

       This memorandum responds to your request for advice regarding the tax consequences
       for an individual who receives convertible virtual currency for performing microtasks
       through a crowdsourcing or similar platform.

       ISSUE

       Is convertible virtual currency received by an individual for performing a microtask
       through a crowdsourcing or similar platform taxable income?

       CONCLUSION

       Yes, a taxpayer who receives convertible virtual currency in exchange for performing a
       microtask through a crowdsourcing platform has received consideration in exchange for
       performing a service, and the convertible virtual currency received is taxable as ordinary
       income.

       FACTS

       A variety of digital platforms now enable individuals or entities to “crowdsource” jobs by
       using the Internet to outsource assignments to an undefined and often large group of

PRESP-114156-20 2

other individuals or entities. A crowdsourcing arrangement may involve three parties
referred to in this memorandum as vendors, firms, and workers. Vendors develop a
platform upon which firms can broadcast their tasks and workers can accept, perform
and/or submit the work.

Certain crowdsourcing platforms specifically facilitate the practice of microtasking, which
may involve subdividing larger tasks into smaller tasks and distributing the tasks via
online crowdwork platforms. In general, microtasks are simple, menial activities that still
require some degree of human interaction beyond the current ability of artificial
intelligence.

Virtual currency is a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of
exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value other than a representation of the U.S.
dollar or a foreign currency. Notice 2014-21; Rev. Rul. 2019-24. Virtual currency that
has an equivalent value in real currency, or acts as a substitute for real currency, such
as Bitcoin, is referred to as “convertible” virtual currency and is considered property for
federal income tax purposes. Notice 2014-21. Accordingly, general tax principles
applicable to property transactions apply to transactions involving convertible virtual
currency. Id.

Certain microtasking platforms allow those who perform microtasks to receive payments
in consideration for completing each microtask in the form of convertible virtual
currency. For example, a firm may offer to pay workers in units of Bitcoin or other
convertible virtual currency if the worker processes data or reviews images. Other
examples include an offer of convertible virtual currency in exchange for downloading a
particular app from an app store and leaving a positive review including a comment,
downloading games and reaching certain milestones, completing online quizzes and
surveys, or registering accounts with various online services. These types of
microtasks may provide individuals with “rewards” in the form of convertible virtual
currency. The value of convertible virtual currency paid in exchange for a single
microtask often is a small amount that may be less than $1.

LAW AND ANALYSIS

Section 61(a)(1) provides that, except as otherwise provided by law, gross income
means all income from whatever source derived, including compensation for services.
Under § 61, all gains or undeniable accessions to wealth, clearly realized, over which a
taxpayer has complete dominion, are included in gross income. See Commissioner v.
Glenshaw Glass Co., 348 U.S. 426, 431 (1955). Section 83(a) provides in general that
if, in connection with the performance of services, property is transferred to any person
other than the person for whom such services are performed, the excess of the fair
market value of the property over the amount (if any) paid for the property, shall be
included in the gross income of the person who performed such services in the first
taxable year in which the rights to the property are substantially vested. In general,
income is ordinary unless it is gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset or a
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special rule applies. See, e.g., §§ 1222, 1231, and 1234A. Section 1401 imposes a tax
on the self-employment income of individuals.

Because the term “service,” for purposes of § 61, is not defined in the Code, the term
should be construed “in accord with its ordinary or natural meaning.” Smith v. United
States, 508 U.S. 223, 228 (1993). A taxpayer who performs a task through a
crowdsourcing platform, including a microtask, has performed a service for the party
that requested the task with the expectation that he or she will receive compensation. If
the taxpayer receives convertible virtual currency for performing the task, regardless of
the value and the manner in which it is received, then the taxpayer has been
compensated with property. See Notice 2014-21. The convertible virtual currency
received must be reported on the taxpayer’s income tax return as ordinary income and
may be subject to self-employment tax. See §§ 61, 83, and 1401.

Please contact James Yu at (202) 317-4718 if you have any questions.