Crypto Tax Calculator
A Taxable Event Happens the Moment You Sell, Not When You Spend the Proceeds
Selling, swapping, or spending crypto typically creates a capital gain or loss the moment the transaction settles, measured against what was originally paid for it. That original purchase price — the cost basis — is the number most people lose track of after moving coins between wallets or exchanges. This calculator applies a straightforward capital gains formula: proceeds from the sale minus the original cost basis, with an estimated tax figure applied to any gain.
The Formula
Cost Basis = Cost Basis per Unit × Quantity
Gain/Loss = Proceeds − Cost Basis
Tax Owed = max(Gain, 0) × Tax Rate%
Losses aren't taxed under this formula — only a positive gain generates an estimated tax figure, since realized losses are typically used to offset other gains rather than taxed directly.
A Worked Example
Selling 100 units originally bought at $20 each, now sold at $45 each, at an estimated 15% tax rate:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Proceeds | $45 × 100 | $4,500 |
| Cost basis | $20 × 100 | $2,000 |
| Gain | $4,500 − $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Estimated tax owed | $2,500 × 15% | $375 |
The tax rate entered is whatever rate applies to the filer's situation and jurisdiction — short-term and long-term gains are frequently taxed at different rates, and rules vary by country. This calculator applies the single rate entered; it does not determine which rate applies.
Where This Calculation Matters
- Pre-sale planning — estimating the tax impact of a sale before executing it, especially useful when deciding whether to realize a gain this year or wait.
- Per-lot tracking — crypto bought at different prices and times should generally be tracked as separate lots, each with its own cost basis and gain/loss.
- Loss harvesting — identifying which lots are currently at a loss, which may be sold deliberately to offset gains elsewhere in a portfolio.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the cost basis per unit — the original purchase price per coin or token.
- Enter the sale price per unit.
- Enter the quantity sold.
- Enter the applicable tax rate as a percentage.
- Select Calculate to see the gain or loss and the estimated tax owed.
Related Calculations
Before a sale, check the overall position performance with the Crypto ROI Calculator, or review current portfolio weightings with the Crypto Portfolio Allocation Calculator.