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Crypto Tax Calculator

Calculate Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on crypto assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins. Includes 50% CGT discount for assets held over 12 months.

Updated 2025-26 FYData stays on your deviceATO sourced data

Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates for general information purposes only. Results should not be relied upon as professional financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax rates and thresholds are based on publicly available ATO data and may change. Always consult a qualified tax agent or financial adviser for advice specific to your circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay tax on crypto in Australia?
Yes. The ATO treats cryptocurrency as a CGT asset (for investors) or trading stock (for traders). You pay tax when you 'dispose' of crypto: sell for AUD, swap for another crypto, use to buy goods/services, or gift it. Buying and holding alone doesn't trigger tax.
Do I get a 50% discount on crypto?
If you're an investor and held the crypto for more than 12 months, yes — the 50% CGT discount applies (for individuals and trusts). SMSFs get 33.33% discount. Companies get no discount. Crypto traders are taxed as ordinary income with no discount available.
Are crypto-to-crypto trades taxable?
Yes. Swapping Bitcoin for Ethereum is a CGT event — you must calculate the AUD value of both at the time of the trade, work out your capital gain/loss on the Bitcoin disposed, and establish a new cost base for the Ethereum acquired. The ATO data-matches with major Australian exchanges.
What if I lost money on crypto?
Capital losses can offset capital gains in the same year, with any unused loss carried forward indefinitely. Losses can only offset capital gains, not your salary income. If your crypto was lost or stolen and unrecoverable (with evidence), you can claim a capital loss.

What is Crypto Tax?

The ATO treats cryptocurrency as a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) asset for most investors, and as trading stock or business income for traders. Disposing of crypto (selling, swapping, gifting, paying for goods) triggers a CGT event.

How this calculator works

This calculator computes capital gain (or loss) on a single crypto disposal: Proceeds (sale price - sale fees) - Cost Base (purchase price + purchase fees + sale fees). If held over 12 months, individuals get a 50% CGT discount, SMSFs get 33.33%, traders get no discount. Tax is calculated on your total income (other income + taxable gain) using current 2025-26 ATO brackets.

Investor vs Trader Classification

Most individuals are 'investors' — buying and holding crypto for capital growth. Their gains attract CGT (with 50% discount if held > 12 months). 'Traders' run a business of buying and selling — high frequency, business-like organisation, intent to profit short-term. Traders treat profits as ordinary income (no discount) but losses are fully deductible against other income. The ATO looks at: business intent, repetition, business plan, volume of activity. Most retail crypto users are investors, not traders.

What Counts as a CGT Event?

Disposing of crypto for AUD (selling on an exchange). Swapping one crypto for another (e.g. BTC → ETH). Using crypto to buy goods or services (a disposal at the AUD value). Gifting crypto to someone (treated as disposal at market value). Receiving crypto as payment, staking rewards, mining rewards, or airdrops = ordinary income at receipt (and establishes new cost base for future CGT). Wallet-to-wallet transfers (your own wallets) = NOT a CGT event.

Cost Base Tracking

ATO accepts FIFO (First In First Out) by default, or you can use specific identification if you can document which parcel was sold. Cost base includes: purchase price, exchange fees on buy and sell, transfer/network fees attributable to the asset. Keep records for 5 years after the disposal. Crypto tax software (Koinly, CoinTracker, CoinSpot) automates this.

Capital Losses and Carry-Forward

Capital losses can offset capital gains in the same year (any kind, not just crypto). Unused losses carry forward indefinitely until offset. Losses cannot offset salary or business income. If your crypto was lost or stolen and unrecoverable (hacks, exchange collapses like FTX), document it and claim a capital loss.

Personal Use Asset Exemption

If you bought crypto for less than $10,000 AND used it shortly after to buy personal goods/services (not as an investment), you may qualify for the personal use exemption. The ATO interprets this strictly — buying $5,000 of BTC to pay for a holiday booked the same week might qualify; holding for months waiting for the right rate generally won't. Most crypto purchases don't qualify.

ATO Data Matching

The ATO has data-matching agreements with all major Australian exchanges (CoinSpot, Swyftx, BTC Markets, Binance Australia, etc). Don't try to omit crypto activity — the ATO already knows. Pre-filled data will appear in your tax return.

Updated for the 2025-26 financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).

All calculations are performed in your browser — your data never leaves your device. Results are for general guidance only and should not be considered professional financial advice.

Built and maintained by Konstantin Iakovlev. Data sourced from the ATO and official Australian government sources.