Why truckers should care about the 2026 crypto tax forecast

Whether you accept stablecoins for quick settlements, dabble in bitcoin on the side, or reimburse a driver using a crypto card, 2026 could bring meaningful U.S. tax changes that affect how you report income, expenses, and gains. A new bipartisan discussion draft from Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV) and Max Miller (R-OH) sets the stage for the first comprehensive digital-asset tax bill in years, and legal analysts say the odds of legislation this year are high. The draft borrows heavily from a 2025 White House tax “white paper” and would rewrite several rules that touch day‑to‑day transactions.

What’s already changed heading into filing season

Broker 1099-DA reporting. The IRS finalized the framework that will generate Form 1099‑DA statements to help taxpayers and the IRS track crypto sales and basis. Brokers must report gross proceeds for transactions on or after January 1, 2025, and phase in basis reporting for certain transactions on or after January 1, 2026. If you or your business used an exchange in 2025, expect new paperwork to land in early 2026 and early 2027.
DeFi rule revoked. A late‑2024 IRS rule that would have treated some decentralized‑finance (DeFi) players like brokers was repealed via the Congressional Review Act and signed as Public Law 119‑5 on April 10, 2025. That rollback narrows who’s considered a “broker,” easing compliance burdens while Congress rewrites the playbook.

The 2026 discussion draft: practical impacts for fleets and owner-operators

De minimis relief for small stablecoin buys. The draft would exclude up to $200 of gain per transaction on regulated, dollar‑pegged stablecoins used for payments. If you’re using stablecoins to buy fuel, pay tolls, or cover a lumper fee, the change could remove capital‑gains math for routine purchases—reducing recordkeeping friction. Note: this safe harbor targets payment stablecoins, not all crypto.
Wash‑sale rules applied to crypto. Selling coin at a loss and rebuying within 30 days would disallow the loss, aligning digital assets with stocks. That matters if you “harvest losses” near year‑end to offset business income.
Securities‑lending treatment for crypto loans. Properly structured crypto lending wouldn’t be a taxable event—helpful if your treasury team lends highly liquid tokens for yield.
Mark‑to‑market election for dealers and traders. Professional market participants could elect ordinary income treatment on year‑end values, similar to securities. Most trucking taxpayers won’t use this, but it could affect those running separate, active trading operations.
Constructive‑sale rules extended to digital assets. Using offsets (shorts, futures) to lock in gains without selling could trigger tax now, closing a deferral strategy some sophisticated investors use.
Elective deferral for staking and mining rewards. Instead of taxing rewards when received (the IRS’s current view), eligible taxpayers could defer income up to the earlier of five years or disposition—potentially improving cash flow for small miners or businesses experimenting with on‑site nodes.

How this hits the shop floor

Payments: Today, buying diesel or parts with crypto is a taxable disposition that may create a capital gain or loss, plus ordinary business expense treatment for what you purchased. If the stablecoin safe harbor becomes law, small, everyday payments would get simpler—fewer spreadsheets, cleaner books, and less risk of missed gains on micro‑transactions. Until then, every crypto spend is still a reportable event.

Paperwork: Watch for Form 1099‑DA from any exchange you used in 2025; reconcile the gross proceeds and, starting in 2026, basis information with your own wallet records and accounting system. Mismatches can trigger IRS notices, so keep transaction logs and wallet statements organized by asset and account.

Strategy: If you harvest losses, assume wash‑sale rules could apply to crypto beginning with 2026 transactions and plan entries accordingly. If you stake or mine, model whether an elective deferral would ease cash flow but still leave enough basis tracking to compute the right gain when you ultimately sell.

Action checklist for 2026 planning

Map crypto touchpoints in your operation (payments, investments, driver reimbursements) and tag them in your chart of accounts.
Centralize records from exchanges, wallets, and any payment processors so you can reconcile 1099‑DAs with internal books.
Set a policy for stablecoin use at the pump and parts counter. If the de minimis rule passes, specify which stablecoins qualify; if not, require cost‑basis checks before spending.
Review loss‑harvesting and lending strategies with a tax pro in light of potential wash‑sale and constructive‑sale coverage.
Stay tuned for additional IRS guidance now that the DeFi broker rule is repealed and Congress is active on digital‑asset tax.

Bottom line

For trucking businesses, the near‑term story is compliance: new 1099‑DAs and tighter basis rules. The medium‑term story—potentially in 2026—is simplification for small stablecoin payments and clearer guardrails around losses, lending, and staking. Keep your records tight, limit surprise taxable events at the pump, and be ready to update policies quickly if Congress moves this year.

Sources Consulted: Cadwalader Brass Tax; Internal Revenue Service; U.S. Government Publishing Office.

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This article was prepared exclusively for truckstopinsider.com. For professional tax advice, consult a qualified professional.