Add each buy and sell. The calculator matches sells to buys using FIFO, LIFO, and HIFO to compare your tax liability.
Your estimated crypto tax
See your full tax breakdown
The winning method's line-by-line breakdown (short-term, long-term, NIIT, total) plus the $0 cost-basis warning, unlocked here instantly and emailed to you.
What is Form 1099-DA and why your numbers might be wrong
2026 is the first year every centralized crypto exchange in the US must issue Form 1099-DA, a brand new tax form that reports your digital asset sales directly to the IRS. If you traded on Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, or any other US exchange, you received one in early 2026.
The problem: if you transferred crypto from another exchange or a hardware wallet, your 1099-DA likely shows a $0 cost basis. The exchange doesn't know what you originally paid. From the IRS's perspective, that means your entire sale was pure profit. You owe tax on the full amount.
Our calculator above helps you catch this. Enter your actual buy prices and sell prices, and compare the result against what your 1099-DA shows. If there's a gap, you need to file Form 8949 with your correct cost basis.
FIFO vs LIFO vs HIFO: which saves you the most
When you sell crypto, you have to decide which coins you're selling, the first ones you bought (FIFO), the last ones (LIFO), or the most expensive ones (HIFO). This choice dramatically affects your tax bill.
| Method | What it does | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| FIFO | Sells your oldest coins first | You bought early at low prices and want long-term capital gains treatment |
| LIFO | Sells your newest coins first | You bought recently at higher prices, reducing short-term gains |
| HIFO | Sells your most expensive coins first | Almost always produces the lowest tax bill, maximizes cost basis used |
HIFO almost always wins. By selling the coins you paid the most for, you minimize the taxable gain on each sale. The calculator above runs all three methods on your exact trades so you can see the dollar difference.
2026 crypto tax rates
Crypto capital gains are taxed at two different rates depending on how long you held the asset:
Short-term (held ≤ 1 year)
Taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. For 2026 (single filer):
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - $11,925 | 10% |
| $11,926 - $48,475 | 12% |
| $48,476 - $103,350 | 22% |
| $103,351 - $197,300 | 24% |
| $197,301 - $250,525 | 32% |
| $250,526 - $626,350 | 35% |
| Over $626,350 | 37% |
Long-term (held > 1 year)
Taxed at preferential rates:
| Taxable Income (Single) | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - $48,350 | 0% |
| $48,351 - $533,400 | 15% |
| Over $533,400 | 20% |
High earners may also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) on top of these rates if their modified adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married).
Frequently asked questions
What is Form 1099-DA?
Why does my 1099-DA show $0 cost basis?
Is swapping one crypto for another taxable?
What about staking rewards and airdrops?
Can I use tax-loss harvesting with crypto?
Do I need paid crypto tax software?
Get the 2026 crypto tax cheat sheet
One-page PDF: rates, deadlines, which forms to file, and how to avoid the $0 basis trap.
Crypto traders who also run a business or work self-employed should make sure their crypto gains calculations fit within a broader tax picture. If you have freelance income, consulting revenue, or an Amazon store alongside your crypto portfolio, it's worth understanding how those income streams interact. Tracking business expenses alongside your crypto activity ensures you're maximizing every available deduction and not overpaying across income categories.
For those actively trading crypto as a significant income stream, AI tools built specifically for financial analysis can help surface better opportunities. The best AI finance tools in 2026 covers platforms that help with portfolio analysis, market research, and automated tracking, going beyond tax calculation into active management.
Using AI for your crypto trading strategy
Beyond calculating your tax bill, see how AI tools are helping traders research, analyze, and time the market more intelligently.
See AI crypto tools →