Japan Plans Separate 20% Crypto Tax via Self-Assessment Starting January 2028, Reform Delayed to Gauge Market Under Amended Financial Law

COINOTAG News reports that a proposal circulating in Japanese political circles envisions a dedicated self‑assessment taxation system for cryptocurrencies, targeting a rollout in January 2028. The plan seeks to align crypto taxation with market realities and reflect evolving policy priorities in the nation’s financial framework.

Market participants expect the Diet to pass the amended Financial Instruments and Exchange Law next year, with the new tax regime potentially taking effect by 2027, though officials indicate reforms will proceed only after assessing market conditions under the amended law. The emphasis is cautious, data‑driven reform.

Currently, cryptocurrency gains in Japan are taxed as miscellaneous income alongside wages, with a top marginal rate of 55%. Industry groups have long pressed for a separate 20% taxation framework similar to equities, while the government has cited the need to bolster investor protection measures to justify any delay.