Estimate US federal capital gains tax on a crypto sale. Enter purchase price, sale price, holding period, and tax bracket. Illustrative — not tax advice.
Added May 31, 2026
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Enter a value for purchase price (cost basis) to see your result.
Estimates US federal capital gains tax on a cryptocurrency sale. Short-term gains (held ≤ 12 months) are taxed at ordinary income rates; long-term gains (held > 12 months) qualify for preferential 0%, 15%, or 20% rates. Illustrative only — not tax advice.
Capital gain = Sale proceeds − Cost basis − Fees | Tax = Capital gain × applicable rate
Gain = $27,500 − $18,000 − $50 = $9,450. Long-term rate for 22% bracket = 15%. Estimated tax = $9,450 × 15% = $1,418.
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In the US, the IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, not currency. This means every disposal — selling, trading one coin for another, or spending crypto on goods — is a taxable capital gain or loss event, calculated just like selling a stock.
Short-term gains (held 12 months or less) are taxed at ordinary income rates (10–37%). Long-term gains (held more than 12 months) are taxed at preferential rates: 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your total taxable income. Holding for over a year can dramatically reduce your tax bill.
Cost basis is what you paid for your crypto, including purchase fees. When you sell, your taxable gain is the sale price minus cost basis. If you bought at multiple prices (e.g. through DCA), you need a cost basis method (FIFO, HIFO, or specific identification) to determine which lots you're selling.
No — a capital loss has no tax owed and can actually reduce your tax bill. Crypto losses can offset capital gains from any source, and if net losses exceed gains, up to $3,000 can offset ordinary income per year (with remaining losses carried forward). This is the basis of 'tax-loss harvesting.'
No. Simply buying and holding crypto is not a taxable event, even if the price has risen significantly. Tax is only triggered when you dispose of the crypto — by selling, trading, or spending it.