Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator — Federal Estimate by Holding Period
Crypto capital gains tax calculator for US disposals: basis, holding period, federal estimate. Educational. Try free—no signup.
Last updated 2026-05-28 · Davi Baptista
Read also: Crypto tax calculator guide, Capital gains tax calculator
How it works
A crypto capital gains tax calculator estimates US federal tax on sold crypto using proceeds minus cost basis and short- versus long-term holding period.
This crypto capital gains tax calculator estimates federal tax on sold crypto using holding period and proceeds minus basis. A capital gains tax crypto calculator is not a substitute for Form 8949 or exchange reports—use it to sanity-check bracket impact before year-end. Crypto tax calculation here covers simple buy/sell; swaps, staking, and state tax need professional review. Crypto capital gains tax calculator results assume short- vs long-term rates you select. Run the crypto capital gains tax calculator after reconciling cost basis; read our guide for trades, DCA, and record-keeping habits.
Short-term vs long-term crypto gains
Crypto sold within one year is generally short-term—taxed at ordinary income rates you select. Held over one year, gains may qualify for long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20% federally depending on income).
Cost basis must be tracked per lot (FIFO, specific ID, or HIFO per your policy). Exchange 1099-DA reports may not match your true basis after transfers and swaps.
Staking rewards, airdrops, and mining income are often ordinary income when received—separate from capital gain when you later sell. Wash-sale rules for crypto were narrowed in recent legislation; confirm current law with a tax pro.
Use this calculator for simple disposals; read our crypto tax guide and pair with capital gains and US tax planning tools for a full-year picture.
Guide, examples, and methodology
Crypto capital gains tax calculator
Estimate US federal tax on crypto disposals using cost basis, proceeds, and holding period. Short-term gains generally follow ordinary rates; long-term may qualify for preferential capital gains rates on assets held over one year.
How to calculate crypto taxes
Track basis per lot (FIFO or specific identification). Exchange 1099-DA reports may not match your true basis after transfers or DeFi activity—export records for your CPA on complex years.
How to use this crypto capital gains tax calculator
Enter proceeds, cost basis, and holding period. Short-term gains use ordinary income brackets you select; long-term gains use preferential capital gains rates. This covers simple buy/sell—swaps, staking, airdrops, and state tax need professional review and exchange Form 1099-DA reports.
Example (USD)
| Scenario | Proceeds | Basis | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term BTC sell | $18,000 | $11,500 | $6,500 |
| Short-term ETH sell | $4,200 | $3,800 | $400 |
Record-keeping checklist
- Reconcile cost basis per lot before year-end—not just exchange summaries.
- Tag transfers between wallets; they are not taxable but affect lot tracking.
- Wash-sale rules for crypto may apply depending on current law—confirm with a CPA.
Related tools
For equity compensation tax (RSU, ISO/AMT), use our RSU and stock option calculators in the US tax planning guide—crypto gains stack with W-2 income on your return.
Short-term vs long-term crypto gains
Assets held one year or less generally produce short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary federal income rates—the same brackets as W-2 wages. Holdings beyond one year typically qualify for long-term rates (0%, 15%, or 20% at the federal level depending on taxable income). Stablecoin swaps, NFT flips, and DeFi token trades can still be taxable events even without cashing out to USD; this calculator handles straightforward disposal math, not every on-chain transaction type.
Form 1099-DA and exchange reporting
US exchanges increasingly report proceeds on Form 1099-DA. Reported proceeds may not match your true cost basis if you transferred coins between wallets or used multiple platforms. Reconcile exchange CSVs against your own lot tracking before filing—IRS matching programs compare proceeds lines to your return. Missing basis is a common audit trigger; zero basis on a large sale can overstate tax dramatically.
Staking, airdrops, and mining (overview)
Staking rewards, airdrops, and mining income are often ordinary income when received, with basis equal to fair market value at receipt. Selling later triggers a second gain or loss from that basis. Hard forks and protocol migrations create fact patterns the IRS has addressed in limited guidance—treat this calculator as a capital-gains-on-disposal tool and consult a crypto-savvy CPA for income-at-receipt events.
State tax and loss harvesting
California and New York tax crypto gains as capital income; a few states have no capital gains tax at all. Federal capital losses offset gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year with carryforward. Tax-loss harvesting in crypto may be subject to wash-sale rules under current legislation—confirm before year-end sells solely for tax optics.
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Frequently asked questions
What is crypto tax-loss harvesting?
It is the strategic practice of selling coins at a loss before the end of the tax year to offset capital gains from other successful asset sales, thereby dropping your net annual tax bill.
Are crypto-to-crypto trades taxable?
In the U.S. each swap is generally a taxable disposal of the asset you trade away — even without cashing out to fiat.
How are staking rewards taxed?
Often ordinary income at receipt fair value (U.S.), then capital gain/loss when you later sell — track basis at income recognition.