What changed, and why trucking should care
The IRS just issued interim corporate tax guidance and is phasing in new reporting rules for digital assets like Bitcoin—changes that can affect how fleets and owner-operators accept, hold, and spend crypto. On September 30, 2025, Treasury and the IRS released interim Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT) guidance that tax advisers say offers relief for companies with fair‑value swings on digital assets. Separately, final rules require brokers to send a new Form 1099‑DA for crypto sales starting with transactions on or after January 1, 2025, with cost‑basis reporting beginning for certain sales in 2026. For trucking, that means cleaner paperwork if you use exchanges and payment processors—and fewer surprises at tax time.
The two big updates
- Corporate AMT relief on “paper” crypto gains. Interim CAMT notices issued Sept. 30 provide broad relief on how companies compute adjusted financial statement income (AFSI). Coverage from major tax firms indicates the guidance allows favorable adjustments for fair‑value mark‑to‑market items; industry reporting highlights that unrealized gains and losses on digital assets won’t trigger CAMT for large C‑corps relying on fair‑value accounting. This mostly matters to publicly traded or very large private fleets, but it also clarifies the playing field for shippers and vendors you deal with.
- New 1099‑DA reporting from brokers. Under final IRS regulations, U.S. digital‑asset brokers must report gross proceeds from customer sales on transactions effected on or after Jan. 1, 2025 (statements arrive in early 2026). Basis reporting phases in for certain sales on or after Jan. 1, 2026. The rules explicitly cover custodial exchanges, some hosted wallet providers, crypto kiosks, and certain processors of digital‑asset payments (PDAPs).
What this means if your trucking business uses Bitcoin
- Getting paid in BTC is still income. If a broker, marketplace, or PDAP settles a freight bill to your wallet in Bitcoin, you report the U.S.‑dollar value you received as ordinary business income. Spending that BTC later (for fuel, repairs, or a truck payment) is a taxable disposition that can create a gain or loss versus your basis. Good records are essential.
- Expect more matching from the IRS. If you trade or liquidate crypto through a U.S. exchange, you’ll likely receive a 1099‑DA for 2025 sales, similar to a stock 1099‑B. That means the IRS will also receive your gross proceeds, heightening the need to track basis and lot selection.
- Payment processors can be “brokers.” The final rules pull in certain digital‑asset payment processors (PDAPs). If you use a processor to accept BTC from brokers or direct customers, expect more standardized tax reporting and, in time, clearer year‑end statements.
Timing, relief, and phase‑in
For 2025 transactions, brokers report gross proceeds but not basis; the IRS granted transition relief on penalties and some backup‑withholding requirements to help the market implement the new form. In June 2025, the IRS extended and modified that relief, including additional backup‑withholding relief into 2026–2027 for brokers who use the TIN‑matching program. This reduces the odds that payments you receive via platforms get inadvertently over‑withheld during the transition.
Action checklist for fleets and owner‑operators
- Decide where crypto lives. Keep a dedicated business wallet and exchange account for company activity; mixing personal and business BTC makes basis and income reporting much harder.
- Capture basis at receipt. Log the date/time, units, and U.S.‑dollar fair value every time you receive BTC for a load. Do the same when you spend or convert it.
- Prepare for wallet‑level basis rules. The IRS has moved away from “universal” basis across wallets. Establish a reasonable allocation of unused basis to specific wallets by Jan. 1, 2025, under the revenue procedure safe harbor, and store documentation your broker can rely on for 2026 basis reporting.
- Verify TINs with payees and platforms. If you pay contractors in crypto, collect and verify TINs to avoid backup‑withholding issues; if you are the payee, make sure your exchange/payment processor has your correct TIN.
- Coordinate with your CPA. Ask how 1099‑DA data will flow into your books, how to handle gains when spending BTC for operating costs, and whether CAMT changes have any knock‑on effects if you’re part of a larger corporate group.
Bottom line
Two things are happening at once: interim CAMT guidance eases the threat of taxes on unrealized crypto gains for large corporations, and 1099‑DA reporting will tighten IRS visibility into routine crypto sales starting with 2025 activity. For trucking businesses that invoice or pay in Bitcoin, the practical takeaway is simple: tighten recordkeeping now, segregate business wallets, and be ready to reconcile your 1099‑DA next filing season.
Sources Consulted: IRS, PwC, Investopedia, Bloomberg Law, Forbes.
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This article was prepared exclusively for truckstopinsider.com. For professional tax advice, consult a qualified professional.
