Crypto Tax Calculator
Gain, basis, and proceeds on coin sales.
What it does
The IRS treats coins as property, so every sale is proceeds against cost basis with fees on both sides of the ledger. Holding period then splits the gain into short or long term for different rates.
The tool above takes buy and sell prices with fees and the holding period. It returns gain with basis, proceeds, and the term beside it, in plain dollars.
The defaults buy at $30,000 plus $100 fee and sell at $45,000 minus $100 fee, held long: $30,100.00 basis, $44,900.00 proceeds, $14,800.00 gain. The same trade short keeps the same gain under ordinary rates.
Property treatment, fee basis rules, and the one year holding line follow IRS digital asset guidance with the virtual currency FAQs matching: gain is amount received over basis, over one year runs long.
How to use
- Enter buy price per lot.
- Enter buy fees into basis.
- Enter sell price.
- Enter sell fees out of proceeds.
- Pick the holding period.
- Read gain, then plan lots.
Formula
- basis
- Cost plus buy side fees and commissions.
- proceeds
- Sale price minus sell side fees.
- long
- Held more than 1 year; preferential rates.
- short
- Held 1 year or less; ordinary rates.
Simple single lot case: multiple lots need specific ID records or FIFO, and wallet to wallet moves are not sales. Staking, mining, forks, gifts, and state taxes sit outside this line.
Worked example
Example: buy $30,000, sell $45,000, long
Defaults: buy 30000 + 100 fee, sell 45000 - 100 fee, held over 1 year.
- Basis: 30,000 + 100 = $30,100.00.
- Proceeds: 45,000 - 100 = $44,900.00.
- Gain: 44,900 - 30,100 = $14,800.00.
- Term: over 1 year, long term.
- Tool shows $14,800.00 with $30,100.00 basis.
- Short holding keeps the gain under ordinary rates.
Reference table
| Trade | Gain | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Buy 30100, sell 44900 | +$14,800.00 | Long: preferential |
| Buy 30100, sell 44900 | +$14,800.00 | Short: ordinary |
| Buy 50050, sell 39950 | -$10,100.00 | Loss harvest math |
Limits
- Single lot federal case only.
- FIFO vs specific ID needs records.
- Staking and mining are income first.
- State rules differ from federal.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting fees on both sides.
- Calling transfers sales.
- Mixing lots without records.
- Assuming exchange forms cover duty.
- Ignoring state reporting on top.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
Buy 50050, sell 39950, short?
-$10,100.00 gain under ordinary rules.
Same $14,800 held short?
Same gain, taxed as ordinary income.
Move wallets taxable?
No sale, no gain; keep transfer records anyway.
Questions
How is crypto taxed?
As property: proceeds over basis, short or long by one year.
Do fees count?
Yes, buy fees join basis and sell fees leave proceeds.
Long vs short line?
More than one year is long; one year or less is short.
Staking rewards?
Ordinary income at receipt value, then basis for later sale.
Multiple buys?
Track lots with specific ID or fall back to FIFO.
No 1099 received?
Reporting duty stands without forms.