Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Estimate the U.S. federal tax on a crypto sale — short-term at your ordinary rate, long-term at the 0/15/20% capital-gains rate.
How it works
Gain = proceeds − cost basis · Short-term tax = ordinary tax on (income + gain) − ordinary tax on income · Long-term tax = gain × LTCG rate (0/15/20%)
Crypto is property to the IRS, so selling, swapping or spending it is a taxable event. Hold for one year or less and the gain is short-term, taxed at your ordinary income rate; hold longer than a year and it is long-term, taxed at the gentler 0%, 15% or 20% rate set by your total taxable income. Your other income matters because a short-term gain stacks on top of it, and it decides which long-term bracket applies.
Worked example
You bought crypto for $8,000 and sold for $20,000, a $12,000 gain, held over a year, with $70,000 of other income (single). That income plus the gain stays under the $518,900 threshold, so the 15% long-term rate applies: 12,000 × 15% = $1,800 tax, leaving $10,200 of the gain.
Frequently asked questions
When does a short-term rate apply to crypto?
If you held the coin for one year or less before selling, swapping or spending it, the gain is short-term and taxed at your ordinary income rate — the same brackets as your salary — which is usually higher than the long-term rate.
Do crypto-to-crypto swaps count?
Yes. Trading one token for another is a disposal of the first token, so any gain since you acquired it is taxable even though no cash changed hands. Spending crypto on goods is likewise a taxable sale.
Can crypto losses cut my tax?
Capital losses offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar, and up to $3,000 of net loss can offset ordinary income each year, with the rest carried forward. Unlike stocks, crypto is not currently subject to the wash-sale rule, though that could change.
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Educational estimate using 2024 U.S. federal figures — ignores state tax, credits, phase-outs and your full situation. Not tax advice; confirm with a professional or the IRS.