Principal Issues: FOR CRYPTO-ASSETS PURCHASED FOR SALE THAT HAVE BECOME OBSOLETE AND WORTHLESS 1. GIVEN THEIR CLASSIFICATION AS INVENTORY, CAN THE TAXPAYER WRITE DOWN THE OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE ACT? 2. IF A WRITE-DOWN OF THE OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER SUBSECTION 10(1) OF THE ACT, CAN THE TAXPAYER REALIZE A LOSS ON THE OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS BY "BURNING" THEM, SUCH AS BY TRANSFERRING THEM TO A "BURN ADDRESS"? 3. WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF DOCUMENTATION THE TAXPAYER SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE IN SUPPORT OF A DEDUCTION IN RESPECT OF THE OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS, EITHER UNDER THE INVENTORY VALUATION RULES IN SECTION 10 OF THE ACT OR AS A RESULT OF "BURNING" THE OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS
Position: 1. OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS THAT ARE INVENTORY CAN BE WRITTEN DOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INVENTORY VALUATION RULES IN SECTION 10 OF THE ACT. 2. YES, PROVIDED THAT "BURNING" THE OBSOLETE CRYPTO-ASSETS RESULTS IN THEM BEING PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM THE CIRCULATING SUPPLY. 3. SEE COMMENTS.
Reasons: 1. SECTION 10 OF THE ACT. 2. GENERAL APPLICATION OF THE "REALIZATION PRINCIPLE". 3. SEE COMMENTS