Venezuelans reportedly hit by new Bitcoin tax of up to 20%

The Venezuelan government has approved a new tax bill aiming to collect up to 20% in taxes from cryptocurrency transactions, according to local reports.

Venezuela’s National Assembly held the second discussion session on Thursday for a new draft bill targeting taxes on “large financial transactions” in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC).

The Venezuelan government reportedly approved the draft bill last Thursday, requiring local firms and individuals to pay up to 20% for operations carried out in cryptocurrencies as well as foreign currencies like the U.S. dollar.

Filed on Jan. 20, the draft law aims to collect from 2% to 20% over transactions in any currencies other than those issued by the Republic Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, or the Venezuelan bolivar and the country’s oil-backed cryptocurrency, El Petro.

The initiative aims to incentivize the use of the national currency, which reportedly lost over 70% in value last year alone and shed nearly all its value over the past decade.

“It is necessary to guarantee treatment at least equal to, or more favorable, to payments and transactions made in the national currency or in cryptocurrencies or crypto assets issued by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela versus payments made in foreign currency,” the bill reads.

Related: India to introduce 30% crypto tax, digital rupee CBDC by 2022–23

As previously reported by Cointelegraph, Bitcoin adoption has been skyrocketing in Venezuela in recent years, with many thousands of local businesses starting moving into cryptocurrency to survive amid hyperinflation. In October 2021, a major international airport in Venezuela was preparing to start accepting cryptocurrencies like BTC as payment for tickets and other services.