A crypto capital gains tax is owed when you sell, trade, or exchange cryptocurrency for more than your original purchase price. The IRS treats crypto as property, so gains are subject to the same capital gains rules as stocks: short-term gains (held one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income, while long-term gains (held more than one year) qualify for preferential 0%, 15%, or 20% rates depending on your income.
Transaction Details
Total taxable income including this gain (after deductions)
Cost Basis & Tax Breakdown
Wash Sale Note
If you sold crypto at a loss and repurchased the same coin within 30 days, wash sale rules may apply. As of 2026, the IRS has not explicitly extended the wash sale rule to cryptocurrency, but proposed legislation may change this. Consult a tax professional for current guidance.
Disclaimer: This is an estimate based on 2026 federal capital gains tax rates. It does not account for state taxes, wash-sale rules, Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT), mining income, staking rewards, airdrops, or other individual circumstances. Always consult a tax professional before making financial decisions.
How to Use the Crypto Capital Gains Calculator
Selling cryptocurrency at a profit triggers a capital gains tax liability in the United States. Whether you are selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other digital asset, the IRS treats crypto as property and taxes gains the same way it taxes stocks. This crypto capital gains calculator helps you estimate your federal tax bill before you sell, so you can make informed decisions about timing, lot selection, and tax-loss harvesting.
Step 1: Enter Your Purchase Details
Start by entering the purchase price per coin and the quantity you originally bought. These two values determine your cost basis — the total amount you paid for the crypto. For example, if you bought 2 ETH at $2,000 each, your cost basis is $4,000. Include any fees or commissions in the purchase price for a more accurate result.
Step 2: Enter Your Sale Details
Next, enter the sale price per coin and the quantity you are selling. You do not need to sell the entire amount you purchased — the calculator handles partial sales. Your proceeds are the sale price multiplied by the quantity sold. The difference between proceeds and cost basis (proportional to quantity sold) is your capital gain or loss.
Step 3: Set Purchase and Sale Dates
The holding period is critical for crypto taxes. If you held the asset for more than one year (from purchase date to sale date), your gain qualifies for the lower long-term capital gains rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%. If you held it for one year or less, the gain is short-term and taxed at your ordinary income rate, which can be as high as 37%. The calculator determines the holding period automatically from the dates you provide.
Step 4: Enter Filing Status and Income
Select your tax filing status and enter your annual taxable income. These values determine which capital gains bracket applies to your gain. For long-term gains, the 2026 thresholds for single filers are: 0% up to $48,350, 15% up to $533,400, and 20% above. For short-term gains, the calculator uses your marginal ordinary income tax bracket. Higher income means a higher tax rate on your crypto gains.
Understanding Your Results
After clicking Calculate, you will see your total gain or loss, holding period classification, the applicable tax rate, estimated tax owed, effective tax rate, and a full cost basis breakdown. If you have a capital loss, no tax is owed — and you can use that loss to offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year, with unused losses carrying forward. The wash sale note reminds you to be cautious about repurchasing the same coin within 30 days of a loss sale.
For a detailed walkthrough, see our guide: How to Report Crypto on Your Taxes in 2026.
FAQ
Is this crypto tax calculator free?
Yes, this crypto capital gains calculator is completely free with no signup or account required. All calculations run locally in your browser. Your financial data is never sent to any server or stored anywhere.
Is my crypto transaction data private?
Absolutely. Every calculation happens entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. No purchase prices, sale prices, wallet addresses, or income figures are ever transmitted to any server. You can verify this by disconnecting from the internet — the calculator continues to work.
How does the IRS tax cryptocurrency?
The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, not currency. When you sell, trade, or exchange crypto for more than you paid, you owe capital gains tax on the profit. Short-term gains (held one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. Long-term gains (held more than one year) qualify for preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%.
What is the difference between short-term and long-term crypto gains?
Short-term crypto gains apply to coins held for one year or less and are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate, which can be as high as 37%. Long-term gains apply to coins held for more than one year and benefit from lower rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your taxable income. Holding longer can save you thousands in taxes.
What is a wash sale and does it apply to crypto?
A wash sale occurs when you sell an asset at a loss and repurchase the same or substantially identical asset within 30 days. As of 2026, the IRS wash sale rule does not explicitly apply to cryptocurrency, but proposed legislation may change this. Consult a tax professional for the latest guidance on crypto wash sales.
How do I calculate my crypto cost basis?
Your cost basis is the original purchase price per coin multiplied by the number of coins you acquired, including any transaction fees. If you bought 0.5 BTC at $40,000 per coin, your cost basis is $20,000. This calculator computes cost basis automatically from the purchase price and quantity you enter.
Do I owe tax if I trade one crypto for another?
Yes. The IRS considers a crypto-to-crypto trade a taxable event. When you swap Bitcoin for Ethereum, for example, you are treated as selling Bitcoin at fair market value and purchasing Ethereum. You owe capital gains tax on any profit from the Bitcoin portion of the trade.
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains rates?
For 2026, single filers pay 0% on long-term gains if taxable income is up to $48,350, 15% from $48,351 to $533,400, and 20% above $533,400. Married filing jointly thresholds are $96,700 for 0% and $600,050 for the 15% ceiling. These rates apply equally to crypto and all other capital assets.