Bitcoin Lightning Network in Spain: tax implications
Lightning payments = taxable: Same treatment as on-chain. Paying goods/services with Lightning BTC = deemed BTC sale. Capital gain if BTC had unrealized appreciation.
Channel operations:
- Opening a channel: NOT taxable (locking BTC, not selling)
- Closing a channel: NOT taxable per se; any BTC earned inside channel = capital income
Receiving Lightning payments (merchant/freelancer): Employment or business income at market value when received.
Tracking challenge: Lightning doesn't record all txs on-chain → must export from Lightning wallet/node history.
kointax imports Lightning wallet history (Phoenix, Breez, Muun).