What changed this week
On September 30, 2025, the Treasury Department and IRS released interim guidance on the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT) that effectively excludes “paper” gains and losses on digital assets from the CAMT calculation. In plain English: large corporations won’t owe the 15% CAMT just because the bitcoin on their balance sheet went up in value during the quarter. Markets took notice; bitcoin traded around $120,000 on Oct. 2, and crypto‑treasury stocks rallied after the update. One high‑profile bitcoin treasury company, Strategy (ticker: MSTR), told investors it no longer expects to be subject to CAMT due to unrealized crypto gains.
Tax advisors say the interim guidance arrived via two new notices that tweak how adjusted financial statement income (AFSI) is computed for CAMT and clarify several technical areas. While final regulations are still ahead, the direction of travel reduces the risk that fair‑value swings in corporate crypto holdings trigger CAMT liability.
Why this matters to fleets and owner‑operators
CAMT targets only very large corporations—generally those averaging more than $1 billion in annual AFSI—so most small carriers and owner‑operators won’t be in its crosshairs. But the change matters for big, publicly held fleets and logistics firms that have experimented with bitcoin or other digital assets as treasury holdings. For them, the IRS is signaling that unrealized crypto gains (or losses) won’t inflate their CAMT bill. That removes a key barrier some finance chiefs cited when weighing digital‑asset treasury strategies.
For everyone else in trucking—smaller fleets and independents—the takeaway is different: nothing here changes the baseline rule that digital assets are taxed when sold, swapped, or used to pay for goods/services. If you accept crypto for a load, you recognize ordinary income at the U.S. dollar value at receipt, and any later conversion to dollars can create a capital gain or loss. The new guidance is about CAMT for very large corporations, not everyday income tax treatment.
Reporting is tightening: 1099‑DA is coming online
Separate from CAMT, the IRS finalized rules that require crypto brokers to report customer transactions on a new Form 1099‑DA. This is meant to make it easier for taxpayers to file accurately and for the IRS to match records. The rollout is staggered: brokers report gross proceeds for transactions occurring on or after January 1, 2025, and begin reporting cost basis for certain transactions on or after January 1, 2026. If you or your business trade digital assets at an exchange, expect more tax forms and fewer gray areas at filing time.
What trucking finance teams should do now
- Check your exposure. If you’re a large, publicly held carrier with digital assets on the balance sheet, revisit CAMT modeling under the interim guidance. While it’s favorable on unrealized gains, it’s still interim—document assumptions and monitor for final regs.
- Tighten recordkeeping. For any size fleet that accepts crypto payments or invests via an exchange, ensure you capture the fair market value at receipt, the date/time, wallet/exchange records, and disposition details. The 1099‑DA regime will increase the IRS’s visibility.
- Coordinate accounting and tax. FASB’s 2023 update requires fair‑value accounting for crypto, which runs through earnings. Tax doesn’t automatically follow book—especially under CAMT—so align controllers and tax advisors on how book entries flow to returns.
- Update payments policy. If brokers or shippers propose paying in stablecoins or bitcoin, spell out who bears FX/crypto price risk between tender and settlement, and how you’ll convert to dollars to meet payroll, fuel, and insurance costs.
- Communicate with drivers and owner‑ops. Make clear that receiving crypto for a haul is taxable just like cash—the value at receipt is income, and later conversions can trigger gains/losses. Provide simple guidance on saving statements and timestamps.
Key dates and what’s next
- September 30, 2025: Treasury/IRS issue interim CAMT guidance affecting digital‑asset unrealized gains; industry reaction follows.
- January 1, 2025: Crypto brokers begin reporting gross proceeds under final 1099‑DA rules.
- January 1, 2026: Basis reporting phases in for certain transactions; real‑estate‑related digital‑asset reporting also begins for closings on or after this date.
Bottom line for trucking: the IRS just lowered a major tax overhang for big companies that hold bitcoin, while simultaneously tightening transaction reporting for everyone. If crypto touches your business—whether as a treasury asset or an occasional payment method—now is the time to refresh your playbook with your CPA.
Sources Consulted: Investopedia; IRS Newsroom and Internal Revenue Bulletin; PwC Tax Insights.
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This article was prepared exclusively for truckstopinsider.com. For professional tax advice, consult a qualified professional.
