Crypto Tax Calculator
Estimate your capital gains tax on crypto profits based on your holding period and tax bracket.
Enter your trade details to estimate your capital gains tax.
Selling crypto at a profit is a taxable event in most countries — and how long you held it usually changes what you owe. This calculator estimates your capital gains tax based on your holding period and rate, so you know what to set aside before the bill arrives.
How crypto capital gains work
In most jurisdictions, cryptocurrency is treated as property rather than currency. You do not owe tax when you buy it or while you hold it. You owe tax when you dispose of it at a gain. Disposal means more than selling for cash. Trading BTC for ETH is a disposal. Buying a coffee with Bitcoin is a disposal. Each one crystallises a gain or loss based on the difference between what you paid (your cost basis) and what it was worth when you disposed of it. Holding period matters enormously in some countries. In the US, assets held over a year qualify for long-term rates — 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income — versus short-term gains taxed as ordinary income, which can exceed 37%. Holding for one extra day can be worth thousands.
The formula
Cost Basis = Buy Price × Quantity
Proceeds = Sell Price × Quantity
Gross Gain = Proceeds − Cost Basis
Tax Owed = Gross Gain × Tax Rate (if gain > 0)
Net Profit = Gross Gain − Tax Owed
Losses are not taxed — they may offset other gains.The default rates here — 30% short-term, 15% long-term — are illustrative. Your actual rate depends on your country, your total income, and your filing status. Replace them with your real bracket.
Managing your crypto tax bill
- 1Track your cost basis from day one. Reconstructing three years of trades across five exchanges in April is genuinely painful, and the cost is often paying more tax than you owed because you cannot prove your basis.
- 2In many countries, crossing the one-year holding mark meaningfully cuts your rate. If you are near that line and not in a hurry, check whether waiting is worth it.
- 3Tax-loss harvesting — selling losers to offset winners — is legal and effective. Rules vary; some countries have wash-sale restrictions on rebuying, some do not currently apply them to crypto.
- 4Crypto-to-crypto trades are taxable in most jurisdictions. Many people learn this too late, after a year of active trading, with no cash set aside.
- 5Set the tax aside when you realise the gain, not when the bill arrives. People who leave it invested and then face a bear market have owed tax on gains that no longer exist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I owe tax if I have not sold?
Generally no. Unrealised gains are not taxed in most countries — you can watch a position triple and owe nothing until you dispose of it. Exceptions exist: staking rewards and airdrops are usually taxable as income on receipt, before any sale.
Is trading one crypto for another taxable?
In most jurisdictions including the US and UK, yes. Swapping BTC for ETH is treated as selling BTC at market value and buying ETH. You owe tax on the BTC gain even though no fiat was involved. This surprises people every single year.
What if I lost money?
Losses are not taxed, and in most countries they can offset gains — reducing your overall bill. Some jurisdictions let you carry losses forward to future years. Record them properly; an unclaimed loss is money left behind.
Are these tax rates accurate for my country?
The defaults are US-style illustrations, not your rate. Tax on crypto varies enormously — Germany has zero tax after one year of holding, the UAE has no capital gains tax at all, others tax it as income at full rates. Enter your actual rate.
Can I use this for my tax return?
No. This is an estimate for planning — knowing roughly what to set aside. A real return needs every transaction, correct cost basis accounting (FIFO, LIFO, or specific identification), and your full income picture. Use dedicated crypto tax software or an accountant.