About the Crypto Tax Calculator
This crypto tax calculator estimates the US federal tax on selling, swapping or spending cryptocurrency, using the 2026 tax year brackets. Enter what you paid and what you sold for, any fees, how long you held the coins, your filing status and your other taxable income, and it shows your capital gain and the tax on it.
Crypto is treated as property by the IRS. Coins held one year or less produce short-term gains taxed at ordinary income rates (10% to 37%); coins held more than a year qualify for long-term rates of 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on where the gain lands on top of your other income. The calculator stacks the gain on top of your income so the rates are applied exactly as on the tax return, adds the 3.8% net investment income tax when your income is high enough, and lets you add a flat state rate.
Use it to see how much to set aside after a sale or whether waiting a few more weeks for long-term treatment is worth it. It is an estimate: it uses taxable income (after deductions) as entered, approximates modified AGI for the NIIT test and does not cover losses carried over from earlier years or the alternative minimum tax.
With the default inputs, the estimated total tax on the gain is $9,186.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the crypto tax calculator
- 1Choose your filing status and enter your other taxable income for the year.
- 2Enter the quantity sold, the purchase price and the sale price per coin.
- 3Add total trading fees, which reduce your taxable gain.
- 4Choose short-term (held 1 year or less) or long-term.
- 5Optionally add your state rate, then review the tax and the short- vs long-term comparison.
Formula and method
The capital gain is the sale proceeds minus your cost basis, where fees increase the basis. For short-term gains, the calculator works out federal income tax on your other taxable income with and without the gain using the 2026 brackets, and the difference is the tax caused by the crypto sale — so a gain that spans two brackets is taxed correctly.
Long-term gains are stacked on top of ordinary income: the part that fits under the 0% breakpoint is untaxed, the part up to the 15% breakpoint is taxed at 15%, and anything above at 20%. The 3.8% NIIT applies to the smaller of the gain and the amount by which income plus gain exceeds $200,000 (single/HOH) or $250,000 (joint). State tax is a flat rate on the gain.
- G
- Capital gain on the sale
- I
- Other taxable income (after deductions)
- T(x)
- Federal ordinary income tax on taxable income x
- NIIT
- 3.8% net investment income tax
Worked examples
Short-term BTC gain of $40,000, single filer
Selling 1 BTC bought at $25,000 for $65,000 is a $40,000 gain. On top of $85,000 of income, $20,700 of it is taxed at 22% ($4,554) and $19,300 at 24% ($4,632), for $9,186 of federal tax. Held for over a year, the gain would be taxed at 15% ($6,000), saving $3,186.
Long-term gain for a married couple with 0% band
With $70,000 of taxable income, the first $28,900 of the $60,000 gain fills the rest of the $98,900 joint 0% band and is tax-free. The remaining $31,100 is taxed at 15%, so federal tax is $4,665 — an effective rate under 8%.
High earner selling ETH long-term with NIIT and state tax
Twenty ETH sold for $80,000 with a $30,000 basis plus $1,000 of fees is a $49,000 gain. It all falls in the 15% band ($7,350). Because income is above $200,000, the full gain also owes 3.8% NIIT ($1,862), and a 5% state rate adds $2,450, for $11,662 in total.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on crypto gains?+
In the US, crypto held a year or less is taxed at your ordinary income rate, from 10% to 37% in 2026. Crypto held longer than a year is taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on your taxable income, plus 3.8% NIIT for higher earners and any state tax.
What crypto transactions are taxable?+
Selling crypto for cash, swapping one coin for another, and spending crypto on goods or services are taxable disposals. Receiving crypto as pay, mining or staking rewards is taxed as ordinary income. Buying and holding, or moving coins between your own wallets, is not taxable.
What are the 2026 long-term capital gains brackets?+
For 2026, the 0% rate applies to taxable income up to $49,450 for single filers ($98,900 married filing jointly, $66,200 head of household). The 15% rate applies up to $545,500 single ($613,700 joint, $579,600 HOH), and 20% above that.
Can crypto losses reduce my taxes?+
Yes. Capital losses first offset capital gains, then up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year ($1,500 if married filing separately). Any remaining loss carries forward to future years. Wash-sale rules historically have not applied to crypto, but check current law before relying on it.
Do I need to report crypto on my tax return?+
Yes. Form 1040 asks every filer whether they received, sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of a digital asset. Sales are reported on Form 8949 and Schedule D, and brokers now issue Form 1099-DA for many transactions.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.