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US Income Tax Payers Can Now Get Refunds in Bitcoin

Income tax payers in the U.S. now have the option to receive their federal and state refunds in bitcoin through Bitpay and Refundo.

Updated Sep 13, 2021, 9:07 a.m. Published May 1, 2019, 10:40 a.m.
Credit: Shutterstock
Credit: Shutterstock

Income tax payers in the U.S. now have the option to receive their federal and state refunds in bitcoin.

Blockchain payments processor Bitpay announced the news on Tuesday, saying that the firm has partnered with U.S.-based taxation services provider Refundo for the service.

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Refundo customers can choose to receive all or a portion of a tax refund in bitcoin using its CoinRT product. Taxpayers will have to set up an account to get a unique routing and account number to input on their tax return, according to the announcement.

They will also have to provide necessary background information for know-your-customer (KYC) rules, as well as a bitcoin wallet address. Once the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or state has deposited the refund, BitPay will process the payment and send bitcoin to taxpayers’ wallets.

The service is touted as primarily focusing on serving the underbanked community with faster payments and lower transaction fees.

Refundo CEO Roger Chinchilla commented:

“Adding bitcoin was a natural fit for our customers who often do not have traditional checking accounts, pay high check cashing fees and regularly send money internationally. CoinRT enables them to get bitcoin quickly and easily for one flat fee.”

The CoinRT service costs $34.95, regardless of the refund amount. No separate fee is paid by the user to BitPay, the firms told CoinDesk.

Founded in 2011, Bitpay processed over $1 billion worth of transactions last year. The firm has previously partnered with a Florida county tax collector and Ohio state to help them accept taxes in cryptocurrency.

Most recently, Bitpay also partnered with a municipality in Canada to accept bitcoin for property tax payments in a one-year trial.

Tax form and refund image via Shutterstock

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

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KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

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  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

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Here’s why bitcoin’s is failing its role as a 'safe haven' versus gold

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Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash.

Bilinmesi gerekenler:

  • During recent geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin lost 6.6% of its value, while gold rose 8.6%, demonstrating bitcoin's vulnerability in times of market stress.
  • Bitcoin behaves more like an "ATM" during uncertain times, with investors quickly selling it to raise cash, contrary to its reputation as a stable digital asset.
  • Gold remains the preferred hedge for short-term risks, while bitcoin is better suited for long-term monetary and geopolitical uncertainties that unfold over years.