Law Commons^™

Federal Tax Consequences Of Virtual World Transactions, G. Martin Bingisser

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

This article discusses the tax consequences of transactions involving Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (“MMORPGs”). MMORPGs have recently grown in popularity and developed significant economic activity. Virtual goods used in these games are traded for both real and virtual currency. While few dispute that a sale of virtual goods for real currency is a taxable event, more complex tax issues arise concerning transactions that occur solely within virtual worlds. This article analyzes the tax consequences and policy issues surrounding such transactions.