During a press conference at the G7 summit in Japan, President Biden rejected a debt ceiling deal proposed by Republican leaders, saying it would unfairly favor crypto traders. He called the terms “unacceptable”
According to The Washington Post, ongoing discussions between the White House and Republican leaders focus on potential measures to block cryptocurrency transaction mechanisms, specifically concerning tax-loss harvesting. These measures aim to prevent crypto traders from using losses to offset gains for tax benefits.
Crypto tax-loss harvesting is a strategy used by investors to lower their tax obligations. It works by selling cryptocurrency at a loss to offset any gains made from crypto investments. To qualify for this deduction, the sold assets must be replaced with a similar asset within a 30-day timeframe. This approach is not limited to cryptocurrencies but can also be applied to stocks and other assets.
The White House proposed ending tax-loss harvesting for cryptocurrency and also suggested a similar restriction on deferring taxes for real estate swaps. These measures aim to generate approximately $40 billion in tax revenue for the U.S. government.
Republicans have reportedly rejected the proposals, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attributing the increase in U.S. debt to excessive spending by the Biden administration during the pandemic.
The White House, on the other hand, points to previous administrations’ tax cuts as the cause of the debt issue, asserting that revenue has been greatly impacted by these reductions.
Republicans aim to reduce the deficit through $4.8 trillion in spending cuts, potentially impacting federal agencies’ budgets. Failure to raise the debt ceiling may lead to a possible U.S. default by June 1. President Biden plans to discuss the matter with House Speaker McCarthy during his flight back to Washington, D.C. from Hiroshima.
