The IRS defines bartering as "Bartering is the exchange of goods or services."
Can an exchange of cash be considered a barter that is subject to taxation in the hands of both parties involved?
Scenario:
- Person A (a non-resident) gives Person B a certain sum in USD from an account with a US financial institution
- Person B (a US resident) gives Person A an equivalent sum in a foreign currency from an account with a foreign financial institution
It seems like the answer is no given the fact that if both transactions were in USD and involved US residents (Person A gives a certain sum to Person B in USD who then gives it back to Person A), it would not be a bartering transaction.
Also, would this be considered a gift and subject to the rules governing taxation of gifts?
Again, it seems like the answer is no, since the IRS defines a gift as "Any transfer to an individual, either directly or indirectly, where full consideration (measured in money or money's worth) is not received in return". In the above scenario, both parties received full consideration albeit in different currencies.
