Bitcoin Tax Payments Bill Advances in Arizona

Lawmakers in Arizona have advanced a proposal that would allow residents in the state to pay their taxes in bitcoin.

AccessTimeIconJan 31, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 13, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. UTC

Lawmakers in Arizona have advanced a proposal that would allow residents in the state to pay their taxes in bitcoin.

CoinDesk reported earlier this month that a proposed law before the Arizona legislature would, if approved, let taxpayers make their payments in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. The bill was submitted on Jan. 9.

"The Department [of Revenue] shall convert cryptocurrency payments to United States dollars at the prevailing rate within twenty-four hours after receipt and shall credit the taxpayer's account with the converted dollar amount," the text of the bill reads.

show that last week, the Arizona Senate Finance Committee had given the thumbs-up to the measure by a 4-3 margin. The bill remains before the chamber's Rules Committee, though the endorsement of the Finance Committee – which encouraged that the bill is passed – increases the likelihood that the measure will succeed.

Speaking with local media outlet ABC15, state senator and bill author Warren Petersen remarked that it came as a result of input and requests from his constituents.

"Since I've started to work on this, I've been surprised how many people are holders of cryptocurrency, so probably more than you'd suspect," he told the outlet.

Image via Shutterstock

DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk’s longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.