💰

Cryptocurrency Tax Calculator

Calculate crypto capital gains tax with FIFO, LIFO, HIFO, or Average Cost — short vs long-term gains for the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and more.

Jurisdiction

Cost Basis Method

Other Annual Income (USD)

Used to determine your tax bracket

🇺🇸 US: Short-term gains taxed as ordinary income (up to 37%). Long-term gains taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on taxable income. Staking/mining income also taxed as ordinary income.

Trades

Coin	Buy Date	Buy Price ($)	Sell Date	Sell Price ($)	Quantity	Gain / Loss	Term
						$26,500.00	Long
						$2,200.00	Short

Staking / Mining Income

Treated as ordinary income at fair market value when received

Coin	Date Received	Price at Receipt ($)	Quantity	Type	Income Value
					$1,200.00

Instant insight

Estimated $340 owed — about 1.1% of gains and income
Net gain $28,700 across 2 disposals, plus $1,200 treated as income.
Set $340 aside now, in cash rather than in crypto. A tax bill that has to be paid by selling into a falling market is how people end up owing more than they hold.
Calculated on the FIFO cost basis
Jurisdictions mandate different methods, and the same trades produce different gains under each. Switching method between years is usually not permitted.
Confirm which method your tax authority requires before filing, and keep dated records of every acquisition — exchanges routinely delete history and closed exchanges take it with them.

Worked out from your figures in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere. Estimates only, and tax rules vary by country and change. Check with a qualified adviser before filing.

Holding period is what moves the rate: short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income, long-term at a lower rate. Losses on one side offset gains on the other.

Short-Term Gains

$2,200.00

≤ 12 months

Long-Term Gains

$26,500.00

> 12 months

Staking / Mining Income

$1,200.00

Ordinary income

Net Capital Gain/Loss

$28,700.00

Before income offsets

Estimated Tax Owed (United States)

$340.00

Effective rate on gains + income: 1.1%

Short-term gains$2,200.00

Long-term gains$26,500.00

Staking / mining$1,200.00

Total taxable$29,900.00

⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Tax laws are complex and change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional or accountant for your specific situation. Rates shown are for the 2024/25 tax year and may not reflect the latest legislative changes.

Loading…

Everyday Uses

Before cashing out

Estimate the tax on selling crypto so you set enough aside from the proceeds.

Trade-by-trade awareness

Frequent trading creates taxable events — see what your activity is accumulating.

Holding period strategy

See how long-term versus short-term treatment changes what you keep.

Filing readiness

Turn gains and losses into the figures your tax return actually asks for.

Swapping one token for another is a disposal

Most systems treat a crypto-to-crypto trade as a taxable event even though no ordinary currency was involved. It is where the majority of unexpected bills originate.

Which cost basis method applies

First-in-first-out, average cost and specific identification produce materially different results from an identical set of trades, and jurisdictions differ on which they permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is cryptocurrency taxed?

In most countries (US, UK, AU, CA) cryptocurrency is treated as a capital asset. Selling, swapping, or spending crypto is a taxable event — you realize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the sale proceeds and your cost basis.

What cost basis method should I use for crypto?

The US allows FIFO, LIFO, HIFO, or Specific ID. The UK mandates an average-cost pool (section 104 pool). Australia recommends FIFO but allows others. HIFO minimises tax by applying the highest-cost lots first.

What is the difference between short-term and long-term crypto gains in the US?

Crypto held for 12 months or less is taxed at ordinary income rates (up to 37%). Crypto held over 12 months qualifies for long-term CGT rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income.

Is staking or mining income taxable?

Yes. In the US, UK, and Australia, staking rewards and mining income are generally taxable as ordinary income at fair market value when received. A subsequent sale is also a taxable event.

Do I have to report crypto losses?

Yes, and you should — losses offset gains. In the US you can deduct up to $3,000 of net capital losses against ordinary income per year and carry forward any remaining losses. The UK allows losses to offset gains within the same tax year or carry them forward.

Does swapping one cryptocurrency for another trigger tax?

In most jurisdictions, yes — including the US, UK and Australia. Trading one token for another is treated as disposing of the first at market value, so a gain or loss crystallises even though no conventional currency was involved and nothing reached your bank account. This surprises people who traded actively during a rising market and ended the year with a tax bill larger than their remaining holdings. Spending crypto on goods is usually a disposal too. Rules differ by country and change often, so check current guidance for yours.

Do I owe anything if I only bought and held?

Buying with conventional currency and holding is not a taxable event in most jurisdictions — nothing is owed until you dispose of the asset by selling, swapping, spending or gifting it. Simply watching the value rise creates no liability. The exception is crypto received rather than bought: staking rewards, mining output, airdrops and tokens paid for work are usually taxed as income at the point of receipt, even if you never sell them. That receipt also sets the cost basis for the eventual disposal.

What records do I actually need to keep?

For every disposal: the date, what was disposed of, the amount, the value in your local currency at the time, the original cost, and any fees. This is more onerous than it sounds because the figures must often be reconstructed across several exchanges and wallets, and exchanges do close, get acquired, or restrict access to historic data — sometimes at short notice. Export transaction history at least annually rather than assuming it will be there at filing time. Reconstructing years of activity afterwards is where most of the cost and error lands.