How crypto tax works in Panama
Panama taxes territorially: foreign-source crypto gains sit at 0% outside the system, while Panamanian-source disposals face general income schedules.
No crypto licence law is enacted despite Bill 697's veto and Bill 247's progress, so operators run under general commercial law with standard AML duties.
A 2026 fintech framework bill proposes VASP licensing with registration and KYC, but requirements stay draft until enacted.
Tax rates at a glance
- Investor gains
- 0% (foreign-source)
- Local-source gains
- General rates
- Licence law
- Pending
- AML duties
- Running
- Salary tokens
- Employment income
- Mining income
- Characterised
Who benefits most
These profiles tend to benefit most when the rules match their real residence, payroll and business setup.
Long-term holdersFoundersExpatsFundsRegional planners
Watch out for
- Source decides everything: identical gains face 0% foreign or full schedules locally, so venue and counterparty evidence carries the file.
- Pending bills create no duties and no shelter: operating on draft assumptions risks both enforcement and missed obligations.
- Substance and residence tests decide who accesses territoriality, with brass-plate structures failing under review.
- Banking access needs documented trails through general commercial rails, which informal histories cannot supply.
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto tax-free in Panama?
Foreign-source gains are 0% under territoriality. Panamanian-source disposals face general schedules, and no licence law changes that split.
Does Panama license crypto businesses?
No enacted licence law exists despite pending bills. Operators run under general commercial law with standard AML duties.
What is Bill 247?
A 2025 fintech framework proposing VASP licensing with registration and KYC. Still draft: requirements apply only once enacted with secondary rules.