How do I calculate crypto tax in Australia?

You’ll need to calculate the difference between what you paid for the asset (your cost base) and what you sold or disposed of it for (your capital proceeds). If the result is a profit, that’s a capital gain and you'll need to add it to your total taxable income. If you’ve held the asset for more than 12 months, you may be eligible for a 50% CGT discount. Staking, airdrops and other crypto income are taxed as ordinary income.

Do I pay tax on crypto gains under $10,000?

Yes. There’s a common misconception that crypto gains under $10,000 are tax-free. In reality, any profit made from selling, trading or spending crypto is a taxable capital gain, regardless of the amount. The $10,000 personal use exemption only applies in very limited circumstances.

What if I lost access to a wallet?

If you’ve permanently lost access to a wallet (e.g. lost keys or device), the ATO may allow you to claim a capital loss, but you’ll need evidence that you no longer have control of the asset. This might include blockchain records, correspondence with wallet providers, and steps taken to recover it.

Is crypto staking income taxable?

Yes. Rewards earned from staking are treated as ordinary income at the time you receive them, based on the market value in AUD. You may also trigger a capital gains event when you later sell or swap the rewards.

How does the ATO track crypto?

The ATO uses data-matching programs with crypto exchanges, wallet providers and international partners. If you’ve traded or held crypto using a registered exchange, there’s a good chance the ATO already knows.

Do crypto tax tools report to the ATO?

Of the 8 crypto tax tools we reviewed , none of them collect your tax file number or make any declarations about reporting to the ATO. The only personal information they asked for is for billing purposes. Instead, the software is designed to calculate your taxes and provide you with a report that you then use to help calculate your overall tax obligation for the year. It is up to you if you provide this to an accountant or upload the details to MyGov.

Can the ATO track crypto?

Yes, the ATO knows whether or not you own crypto and can track what you have done with it. According to Harrison Dell, a cryptocurrency tax expert and advisor, "If you don't report your crypto gains or losses, you are at significant risk of being audited. The ATO has both an excellent data matching program and immense amounts of data on cryptocurrency activities. They receive data from most exchanges and could use 3rd party tools to link a public key to you."

Do I need to report crypto if I didn't sell?

If you held on to your cryptocurrency for the financial year and did not make any transactions with it then you will not need to declare it, as you have not disposed of the asset. However, you may still need to declare your crypto if you used it but did not "sell" it. According to the ATO , a taxable CGT event occurs when you "dispose" of an asset. Most people typically think this means selling the asset for something like AUD or stablecoins. But it can also apply to decentralised finance activities like depositing funds into a DeFi protocol and receiving a token in return (e.g. a liquidity provider token). Fortunately, this is unlikely to make much of an impact to your tax bill, according to crypto tax expert Harrison Dell: "Transactions with LPTs may also trigger tax, however in many cases the tax is negligible. Depositing LPTs into the liquidity pool would likely be a disposal for tax purposes though this does depend on the exact protocol. Removing an LPT from a liquidity pool should not trigger tax, as there is usually no tax on receiving an asset from another person (i.e. a gift)." says Dell.

Free Crypto Tax Calculator Australia

When you buy and sell crypto for a profit, you may need to pay capital gains tax (CGT) to the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

Our crypto tax calculator is designed to simplify the estimation of your CGT and help you prepare your tax report.

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This is an estimate only. Speak to a tax professional for personalised advice. If you're a high frequency trader, used DeFi or staking, we recommend you use dedicated crypto tax software. You can compare the best tax services based on cost, features and customer feedback below.

Use our crypto tax calculator

< Edit details

Purchase value (AUD)	Sold value (AUD)	Have you held this asset for 12 months or longer?
$	$

Add another trade

Taxable income (salary plus other income, including capital gains)

Calculate

Crypto Capital Gains Amount

Crypto Taxable Capital Gains

Crypto Capital Gains Tax Amount

Net Profit After Crypto Capital Gains

Important information

This is a complex and novel tax area. The crypto tax calculator is provided as general information only and we recommend that you seek independent tax advice. The crypto tax calculator does not purport to be a complete statement of all Australian income tax implications that may be relevant to crypto transactions. The Australian income taxation implications may vary depending on the individual circumstances. We recommend obtaining personal and specific tax advice prior to the lodgement of your income tax return.

The capital gains tax (CGT) is calculated by first determining if there is a capital gain, which is calculated by subtracting the purchase price of the asset, the purchase costs and the sale costs from the sale price of the asset. If there is a capital gain, the individual's total tax payable is then calculated by applying their marginal tax rate for the current financial year to their total taxable income including the capital gain (which may include a discount if held for over 12 months). The figure provided by the calculator relates to the portion of tax payable as a result of the capital gain.
Assumptions and limitations
The calculator assumes the following:
1. The individual is a permanent resident of Australia for the entire current financial year
2. The asset:
  - Was purchased after 21 September 1991
  - Is owned by the individual and not a business entity
  - Is not an owner-occupied home
  - Is not part of a super fund
  - Is not otherwise exempt from the CGT rules
- The Medicare Levy Surcharge rate is not payable.
This calculator provides an estimate only and is not a replacement for professional financial advice.

How to use the crypto tax calculator

We designed our cryptocurrency tax calculator to help you quickly estimate your capital gains tax (CGT). It works by calculating the profit or loss from a trade and estimating the CGT tax owed.

You can add multiple trades and toggle whether or not you've held an asset for 12 months or more, which will apply the 50% CGT discount.

To use the calculator, follow these steps:

Add each trade to a new row. A trade is when you have bought then sold an asset once.
Add your purchase price for the asset in the Purchase Value (AUD) column and then the price you sold it for in the Sold value (AUD). If you held the asset for more than 12 months without disposing of it (eg, selling it, trading it, or swapping it for another asset) then you can toggle the switch which will apply the CGT discount for that trade.
Add as many trades as you need.
Once you have added all your trades, add your taxable income to the bottom left field. This should include your salary plus any other income, including capital gains from any other assets that were not added to the calculator.
Press the green Calculate button. You will see an estimate of your capital gains and taxable capital gains.

3 scenarios

Scenario 1: Alex buys $2,000 worth of Bitcoin in January and sells it six months later for $3,000.
The calculator estimates a $1,000 capital gain, fully taxable because the asset was held for less than 12 months.

Scenario 2: Mia trades Ethereum, Solana, and Dogecoin several times during the year. She’s held some assets for over a year and others for just a few months. The calculator applies the 50% CGT discount to long-term holdings and calculates full tax on short-term gains, giving her a combined estimate of capital gains and her CGT liability.

Scenario 3: Taylor sells one crypto asset at a $2,000 gain and another at a $1,200 loss. The calculator subtracts the loss from the gain, showing a net capital gain of $800, which will be added to their taxable income.

Understanding capital gains tax (CGT) on crypto

A capital gains event occurs when you dispose of an asset such as cryptocurrency, and make a profit or loss. This includes selling, swapping, gifting or using crypto to make a purchase. It also applies to all crypto assets including coins, tokens, NFTs and stablecoins.

Any profits you make from one of these transactions will be added to your overall taxable income, although you only pay tax on half your profits if you've held the asset for more than 12 months (50% CGT discount).

For each capital gains event, you'll need to add a new row in the calculator, even if you've made a loss.

Here's a list of capital gains tax events, according to the ATO:

Selling cryptocurrency, tokens or NFTs

This is the most common way of disposing of crypto assets and realising capital gains or losses. For example, if you bought one Bitcoin for $10,000 and sold it for $15,000, you have made a capital gain of $5,000 and would need to report this capital gain to the ATO when you do your tax. The same rules apply to NFTs.³

Switching to and from stablecoins

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that are pegged to a fiat currency, such as US dollars or Australian dollars. Switching to and from stablecoins is also considered a disposal of crypto assets for tax purposes, just like if you had sold your crypto for Aussie dollars.

Gifting crypto

Gifting crypto to someone else is another way of disposing of your crypto assets and also triggers a capital gains event, unless it is to a registered charity. The ATO treats gifts of crypto as if you sold them at their market value at the time of the gift.⁴

Spending crypto

If you hold on to your crypto as an investment and later choose to spend it on goods and services, you are liable for CGT. You may be excluded if you hold the crypto for a very short period of time and purchased it with the explicit intent of spending it. For example, if you bought BTC and spent it immediately to book a hotel.⁵

It is important to keep records of all your crypto transactions and consult a tax professional if you are unsure about your tax obligations.

crypto tax calculation

Michael, an Australian resident, purchased 1 Bitcoin in 2020 for $15,000. Over time, the value of Bitcoin increased significantly, and in November 2024, he decided to sell 1 Bitcoin for $150,000. Because Michael sold his Bitcoin for a higher price than his initial purchase, he made a capital gain of $135,000. Since Bitcoin is considered an asset for tax purposes, Michael would need to report this capital gain on his tax return and potentially pay capital gains tax on the $135,000 profit he made from the sale of Bitcoin.

Event	Quantity	Purchase and sale price	Cost Base (Purchase Price × Quantity)	Capital Gain (Proceeds − Cost Base)	Capital Gains Tax Owed (At rate of 25%)
Purchase (2020)	1	$15,000	$15,000	-
Sale (2024)	1	$150,000	-	$135,000	$33,750

Please note that this table provides a simplified example and does not take into account any deductions, exemptions, or other individual circumstances that may affect the capital gains tax calculation.

Crypto investors vs traders when calculating CGT

If you're a professional crypto trader then your tax implications will be a bit different to those of an investor.

A trader is typically considered someone who buys and sells crypto on a regular basis as a way to generate income.

If you’re buying and selling crypto occasionally, for long-term investment or personal gain, you’re likely considered an investor. This means:

Your profits are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
You may be eligible for the 50% CGT discount if you've held the asset for 12 months or more
Losses can only be used to offset other capital gains, not ordinary income
You can't claim most trading-related expenses as deductions

On the other hand, if you’re trading frequently, using automation or operating like a business, you may be classified as a trader. This means:

Your profits are taxed as ordinary business income, not capital gains
You won’t receive the CGT discount, even if you hold assets long-term
You can claim deductions for trading-related expenses (like hardware, software, internet)
Losses may be used to offset other business or personal income

If this sounds like you, then you may want to contact an accountant to better understand your tax obligations. By and large, though, most crypto owners in Australia are considered investors and subject to capital gains tax.

If you're unsure what you might be, make sure to read our crypto tax guide which neatly breaks down the two.

Can traders use Finder’s crypto tax calculator?

Both traders and investors can use the crypto tax calculator to get a basic estimate of profits and tax owed. But here’s what to keep in mind:

The calculator is designed for investors and follows CGT rules
It includes the 50% CGT discount toggle (which traders can ignore)
It does not factor in business deductions or treat profits as ordinary income

So while it’s a helpful tool for estimating your tax position, traders should use it for rough guidance only.

Record-keeping best practices for crypto transactions

Keeping accurate records is essential when it comes to crypto tax. The ATO requires you to retain your records for at least 5 years, and poor record-keeping could lead to errors, penalties or missed deductions.

Here’s what you should track for each transaction:

Date of the transaction
Type of transaction (buy, sell, swap, spend, etc.)
Crypto asset involved
Amount in AUD at the time of the transaction
Wallet address or exchange used
Purpose of the transaction (e.g. investment, personal use)

Most crypto exchanges let you download your full transaction history as a CSV, which is a good place to start. For manual tracking, a simple spreadsheet can work, but if you’ve made a large number of trades or use multiple platforms, it’s worth using a dedicated crypto tax tool.

Use crypto tax software. To simplify the process of tracking and calculating your cryptocurrency trades, consider using dedicated crypto tax software. These affordable tools can help you consolidate your transaction history from multiple exchanges, calculate capital gains and losses, and generate tax reports. Popular options include Crypto Tax Calculator, Koinly and CoinTracking.

Compare deals on crypto tax software

Consult a tax professional. If your records are starting to look complicated, then it might be time to consult a professional. A tax professional can guide you through the process, provide personalised advice based on your specific circumstances, and help ensure compliance with the ATO requirements.

What happens if I made a loss?

If you have made a loss from your cryptocurrency investments during the financial year, there are a few steps you can take.

Carry forward the capital loss. In Australia, capital losses can be carried forward to future years to offset against capital gains you may make in those years. There is no time limit, which means this can be a powerful tool to reduce future tax bills, so make sure to keep a record of any losses.

Offset against other capital gains. If you have realised capital gains from other investments during the same financial year, you can use your cryptocurrency capital losses to offset those gains. This can help reduce your overall taxable capital gains and potentially lower your tax bill.

Crypto tax tools and services

If you’ve made multiple crypto trades or used several wallets and exchanges, manually calculating your tax can quickly become overwhelming.

Fortunately, there are crypto tax tools designed to simplify this process by importing your transaction data, calculating your capital gains or income, and generating ATO-compliant reports.

Compare crypto tax services

3 of 7 results

Pricing by tier (per year)	Supported exchanges
Crypto Tax Calculator Crypto Tax Reporting	Rookie AUD$49 — 100 transactions Hobbyist AUD$129 — 1,000 transactions Investor AUD$249 — 10,000 transactions Trader AUD$399 — 100,000 transactions	160+ Integrations	Australian made tax software with 3500+ integrations, ATO ready tax reports and support for all financial years.	Go to site More info	loading
Syla Crypto Tax Reporting	Budget - AUD $59 - 10K transactions and ATO tax report Assurance - AUD $149 - Budget + assurance reports Tax Saving - AUD $249 - Assurance + lowest tax Private Wealth - AUD $389 - 100K transactions + Tax Saving + Trust, Company and SMSF accounts	500+ integrations	Use the discount code FINDER10 to get 10% off the first year subscription. Affordable tax software with a generous free plan and tools to minimise tax.	Go to site More info	loading
Koinly Crypto Tax Reporting	Newbie AUD $69 ⁠— 100 trades Hodler AUD $149 ⁠— 1,000 trades Trader AUD $299 ⁠— 3,000 trades Pro AUD $399 ⁠— 10,000+ trades	Supports all major exchanges	Koinly generates crypto tax reports built to comply with Aussie tax guidelines for 750+ exchanges, wallets and integrations.	Go to site More info	loading

Showing 3 of 7 results

Price disclaimer: Last verified June 2023. Prices are subject to change and should be used as a general guide only.

Frequently asked questions

You’ll need to calculate the difference between what you paid for the asset (your cost base) and what you sold or disposed of it for (your capital proceeds). If the result is a profit, that’s a capital gain and you'll need to add it to your total taxable income. If you’ve held the asset for more than 12 months, you may be eligible for a 50% CGT discount. Staking, airdrops and other crypto income are taxed as ordinary income.
Of the 8 crypto tax tools we reviewed, none of them collect your tax file number or make any declarations about reporting to the ATO.
The only personal information they asked for is for billing purposes.
Instead, the software is designed to calculate your taxes and provide you with a report that you then use to help calculate your overall tax obligation for the year. It is up to you if you provide this to an accountant or upload the details to MyGov.
Yes, the ATO knows whether or not you own crypto and can track what you have done with it.
According to Harrison Dell, a cryptocurrency tax expert and advisor, "If you don't report your crypto gains or losses, you are at significant risk of being audited. The ATO has both an excellent data matching program and immense amounts of data on cryptocurrency activities. They receive data from most exchanges and could use 3rd party tools to link a public key to you."
If you held on to your cryptocurrency for the financial year and did not make any transactions with it then you will not need to declare it, as you have not disposed of the asset.
However, you may still need to declare your crypto if you used it but did not "sell" it.
According to the ATO, a taxable CGT event occurs when you "dispose" of an asset. Most people typically think this means selling the asset for something like AUD or stablecoins.
But it can also apply to decentralised finance activities like depositing funds into a DeFi protocol and receiving a token in return (e.g. a liquidity provider token).
Fortunately, this is unlikely to make much of an impact to your tax bill, according to crypto tax expert Harrison Dell:
"Transactions with LPTs may also trigger tax, however in many cases the tax is negligible. Depositing LPTs into the liquidity pool would likely be a disposal for tax purposes though this does depend on the exact protocol. Removing an LPT from a liquidity pool should not trigger tax, as there is usually no tax on receiving an asset from another person (i.e. a gift)." says Dell.

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of cryptocurrency or any specific provider, service or offering. It is not a recommendation to trade. Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.

Sources

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Written by

Thomas Stelzer

Journalist

Tom Stelzer is a journalist with 6 years of experience covering personal finance, specialising in investment and cryptocurrency. With a Master of Media Arts and Production and a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney, Tom provides expert analysis on digital assets and market trends, helping readers navigate the fast-evolving world of finance. See full bio

Co-written by

Kylie Purcell

Investments Analyst

Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments. See full bio

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Kylie has written 208 Finder guides across topics including:

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