The taxation system in the United States is considered among the most complex ones in the world, and this, of course, concerns crypto as well.
This article is set to help you understand how crypto is taxed in the U.S. based on what the IRS says in its official sources.
Understanding crypto taxes is crucial not only at the federal level but also at the state and county levels, where regulations can vary. While this article provides some general insights, it does not serve as a comprehensive resource for specific tax-related issues.
Understanding Crypto Tax Laws in the USA
This section will take a closer look at how crypto tax in the USA works, what taxable events exist in this regard, and how crypto gains and losses are reported to the tax authorities.
How Crypto Is Taxed by the IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) treats cryptocurrencies and other digital assets as property rather than as currency for tax purposes. In essence, it means that crypto is taxed the same way as traditional assets like stocks or real estate.
Types of Crypto Taxable Events
There are several types of taxable events in crypto, which are mostly similar to those concerning other kinds of property.
- If you sell crypto for cash and it results in a capital gain or loss
- If you exchange one crypto for another since it’s seen as first selling crypto #1 and then purchasing crypto #2
- If you pay with crypto for any goods or services
- If you get crypto as the result of mining, staking, or as a payment for services or goods, it is considered an income at its market value at the time of receipt
Reporting Your Crypto Gains and Losses
The US crypto tax law stipulates that all taxpayers must report all crypto transactions on their tax returns by answering a specific question about their activities on Form 1040 and related forms. In particular, they must report any sales, conversions, payments, or other dispositions of digital assets.
To report gains and losses in crypto, however, they must use Form 8949, which lists all capital gains and losses from cryptocurrency transactions. They are then summarized on Schedule D of their tax return.
In some cases, other forms, like W-2 or 1099, have to be filled in, depending on whether the cryptocurrency transactions were payments for services. In addition, as of 2025, brokers will have to report sales and exchanges of digital assets on the new Form 1099-DA.
Crypto Tax Rates: Long-Term vs. Short-Term
Aside from the aforementioned, crypto is also subject to capital gains taxes in the United States. This directly depends on how long the assets have been held.
Long-Term Crypto Tax Rate
If you hold crypto for more than a year, it is considered a long-term gain, and the taxes are lower in this case. Depending on the taxable income and the kind of filing, the rates can be 0%, 15%, or 20%.
| Tax Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
| 0% | $0 to $47,025 | $0 to $94,050 | $0 to $47,025 | $0 to $63,000 |
| 15% | $47,026 to $518,900 | $94,051 to $583,750 | $47,026 to $291,850 | $63,001 to $551,350 |
| 20% | $518,901 or more | $583,751 or more | $291,851 or more | $551,351 or more |
Short-Term Crypto Tax Rate
If you have held your crypto for just one year or less, it is a short-term capital gain taxed as ordinary income. This means that the short-term tax rate is the same as the regular personal income tax, i.e., from 10% to 37%, depending on the taxable income bracket and the kind of filing.
| Tax Rate | Single | Married Filing Jointly | Married Filing Separately | Head of Household |
| 10% | $0 to $11,600 | $0 to $23,200 | $0 to $11,600 | $0 to $16,550 |
| 12% | $11,601 to $47,150 | $23,201 to $94,300 | $11,601 to $47,150 | $16,551 to $63,100 |
| 22% | $47,151 to $100,525 | $94,301 to $201,050 | $47,151 to $100,525 | $63,101 to $100,500 |
| 24% | $100,526 to $191,950 | $201,051 to $383,900 | $100,526 to $191,950 | $100,501 to $191,950 |
| 32% | $191,951 to $243,725 | $383,901 to $487,450 | $191,951 to $243,725 | $191,951 to $243,700 |
| 35% | $243,726 to $609,350 | $487,451 to $731,200 | $243,726 to $365,600 | $243,701 to $609,350 |
| 37% | $609,351 or more | $731,201 or more | $365,601 or more | $609,351 or more |
What Are Strategies to Legally Optimize Your Cryptocurrency Taxes?
If your sales result in losses, they are accounted for, and you can use them to offset your other gains. In particular, you can deduct up to $3,000 a year if your losses are higher than your gains. You also can carry the unused losses forward into future tax years.
To make this possible, keep detailed records of all transactions, including the crypto’s market value, to properly calculate all gains and losses.
Common Crypto Tax Mistakes to Avoid
The most typical mistakes people make when it comes to the tax on cryptocurrency in the USA usually include failure to report all transactions, incorrect calculations of gains and losses, or thinking that some transactions are non-taxable while they are. To avoid them, a taxpayer should properly record all transactions, including dates, fair market values, amounts, and other specific data. If kept properly, they can help validate the taxpayer’s reports in the case of an audit.
Tools and Resources for Crypto Tax Filing
There are online tools designed to help users with their crypto taxes. Typically, they connect to your wallet, import transaction data, and calculate your capital gains and losses as per IRS guidelines. Below is the list of the most popular calculators.
Best Crypto Tax Calculators
- CoinLedger features an intuitive interface and an integration with TurboTax and other tax software to generate comprehensive crypto tax reports
- Koinly supports numerous wallets and exchanges to simplify the calculation of capital gains and losses. It can also generate IRS tax forms that have already been filled in
- Crypto Tax Calculator supports numerous exchanges and features region-specific formatting according to IRS regulations. Unlike most other calculators, this one is tailored for tax professionals.
- TokenTax also works with numerous exchanges and wallets. It supports various tax-lot identification methods like FIFO and LIFO
- Blockpit has extensive tracking and reporting capabilities. The developers collaborate with tax experts to ensure compliance with local regulations around the globe, making Blockpit suitable for international users as well
How to Use Crypto Tax Software
There is specific tax software, like Turbo Tax, which is not targeted specifically at crypto taxes. Still, it can be used for those purposes as well. When using tax software, be sure to read the license agreement and the instruction manuals thoroughly.
Working with a Tax Professional for Crypto Taxes
Crypto users who engage in extensive activities or complex transactions like staking or trading in DeFi may encounter troubles when dealing with their tax reports themselves. Hiring a crypto-savvy tax professional can be beneficial as they can ensure that all reports are accurate and in full compliance with IRS regulations. This can potentially save taxpayers serious penalties and give them peace of mind.
FAQ on Crypto Taxes in the USA
How are Crypto Gains Taxed in the USA?
The U.S. law sees cryptocurrency gains as capital gains. If a cryptocurrency increased in value since its purchase, you owe taxes on the profit. The actual tax rate depends on how long you have held cryptocurrency before using it: holding it for less than a year constitutes a short-term capital gain, and for more than a year, a long-term capital gain.
What Happens if You Don’t Report Crypto to the IRS?
Failing to report crypto transactions to the IRS can lead to major penalties and interest on unpaid taxes. Depending on individual circumstances, the IRS will see this as either tax evasion or fraud. They use data analytics and information from exchanges to track down any non-compliance and will launch an audit if there is any suspicious activity.
How Can I Optimize My Crypto Tax Bill?
Crypto tax reliability can be legally decreased using one of the following strategies.
- Hold on to the crypto for the long term
- Harvest losses, i.e., sell crypto at a loss to offset gains you’ve realized during the year
- Use crypto for a retirement (IRA) account that allows for tax-free or tax-deferred growth
- Formally gifting crypto will transfer the tax liability to the recipient
- Donate to a qualified charity since such donations can be tax-deductible
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