Crypto Tax Calculator 2026
Enter your acquisitions and dispositions and see FIFO cost-basis gain or loss split into short-term (ordinary rates) and long-term (0 / 15 / 20% + NIIT). Built on IRS property-treatment rules — no uploads, nothing leaves your browser.
Filing profile
Acquisitions (cost basis)
Dispositions (proceeds)
Estimated 2026 crypto tax
Short-term = held 365 days or less (taxed as ordinary income). Long-term = held more than 365 days (0 / 15 / 20% + NIIT). FIFO is the IRS default cost-basis method unless you elect specific identification with contemporaneous records.
Not tax, legal, or financial advice
FiscTalk provides general educational information from public sources. Tax outcomes depend on your full facts, filing history, and jurisdiction-specific rules that change yearly. Before filing or making decisions, consult a licensed CPA, EA, or attorney. FiscTalk is not a fiduciary and is not affiliated with the IRS or any state agency.
Sources & methodology
- IRS Notice 2014-21 — virtual currency is property; every disposition is a taxable event — Internal Revenue Service
- Rev. Rul. 2019-24 — hard-fork / airdrop inclusion at fair market value — Internal Revenue Service
- Rev. Rul. 2023-14 — staking rewards are ordinary income when received — Internal Revenue Service
- Instructions for Form 8949 — report each crypto sale / exchange — Internal Revenue Service
Crypto tax FAQ
How is cryptocurrency taxed by the IRS?
The IRS treats crypto as property (IRS Notice 2014-21), not currency. Every disposal — selling for cash, trading one coin for another, or spending it — realizes a capital gain or loss reported on Form 8949. Buying with dollars and holding is not a taxable event.
What is the difference between short-term and long-term crypto gains?
If you held the asset 365 days or less, the gain is short-term and taxed at ordinary income rates (up to 37%). Held more than 365 days, it is long-term and taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% plus the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax above the threshold.
How does FIFO cost basis work for crypto?
FIFO (first-in, first-out) is the IRS default: your earliest-purchased units are treated as sold first. You may use specific identification instead, but only with contemporaneous records linking each disposal to the exact lot.
Are staking, mining, and airdrops taxable?
Yes. Staking rewards (Rev. Rul. 2023-14) and mining are ordinary income at fair market value when received; that value becomes your cost basis. Airdropped tokens (Rev. Rul. 2019-24) are also ordinary income when you gain control of them.
Does the wash-sale rule apply to crypto?
As of 2026 the wash-sale rule (IRC §1091) applies only to stocks and securities, not property. Crypto loss harvesting is therefore not blocked by it, though the IRS can still challenge transactions lacking economic substance.