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Crypto capital gains tax calculator
How much capital gains tax do you owe on a crypto sale? Enter the coins, buy and sell prices, fees and holding period to see the 0/15/20% bands, the short-term rates, NIIT and your after-tax proceeds.
★ MONEY · CRYPTO · CAPITAL GAINS TAX 2026
Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026: What You Owe
Total tax $18,893.00 — 15% band; after-tax proceeds $206,107.00. On 2.5 coins bought at $40,000 and sold at $90,000, the $80,000 of other income already fills the 0% band, so the whole $124,750 gain falls in the 15% band. Enter your numbers to see your tax.
The 0% band is already full — so the whole gain is taxed at 15%
A crypto sale is taxed on the gain: coins times the difference between the sell price and the buy price, minus the fees you paid to buy and sell. How much of that gain you keep depends on how long you held the coins and how much other income you have. Held more than a year, the gain is long-term and taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%, stacking on top of your other taxable income. Held a year or less, it is short-term and taxed like wages, at the ordinary rates. On the defaults — 2.5 coins, buy price $40,000, sell price $90,000, buy fees $100, sell fees $150, holding period long-term, filing status single, other taxable income $80,000, state tax rate 0% — the gain is $124,750.00. The 0% band ends at $49,450.00 for a single filer, and the $80,000.00 of other income already fills it, so $0.00 falls in the 0% band and the whole $124,750.00 falls in the 15% band: the federal tax is $18,712.50. The NIIT is $180.50 — MAGI is $204,750.00, $4,750.00 over the $200,000.00 threshold. The total tax is $18,893.00, the effective rate is 15.14%, the sale proceeds are $225,000.00 and the after-tax proceeds are $206,107.00.
| Scenario | Gain | Federal tax | Total tax | After-tax proceeds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default (2.5 coins, $40,000 to $90,000, long-term) | $124,750.00 | $18,712.50 | $18,893.00 | $206,107.00 | 15% band |
| Sell $40,000 | -$250.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $100,000.00 | $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable |
| Sell $60,000 | $49,750.00 | $7,462.50 | $7,462.50 | $142,537.50 | 15% band |
| Sell $150,000 | $274,750.00 | $41,212.50 | $47,093.00 | $327,907.00 | 15% band |
| Sell $400,000 | $899,750.00 | $156,675.00 | $186,305.50 | $813,694.50 | 20% band reached |
| Short-term | $124,750.00 | $29,664.00 | $29,844.50 | $195,155.50 | 22% and 24% and 32% bands (short-term) |
| Short-term, other income $100,000, sell $120,000 | $199,750.00 | $56,969.75 | $60,760.25 | $239,239.75 | 22% and 24% and 32% and 35% bands (short-term) |
| Married filing jointly | $124,750.00 | $15,877.50 | $15,877.50 | $209,122.50 | 0% and 15% bands |
| Other income $30,000 | $124,750.00 | $15,795.00 | $15,795.00 | $209,205.00 | 0% and 15% bands |
| Other income $545,500 | $124,750.00 | $24,950.00 | $29,690.50 | $195,309.50 | 20% band reached |
| State tax 5% | $124,750.00 | $18,712.50 | $25,130.50 | $199,869.50 | 15% band |
| 1 coin | $49,750.00 | $7,462.50 | $7,462.50 | $82,537.50 | 15% band |
| Sell $30,000 | -$25,250.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $75,000.00 | $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable |
At the defaults — coins 2.5, buy price $40,000, sell price $90,000, buy fees $100, sell fees $150, holding period long-term, filing status single, other taxable income $80,000, state tax rate 0% — the gain is $124,750.00, at 0% $0.00, at 15% $124,750.00, at 20% $0.00, the federal tax is $18,712.50, the NIIT is $180.50, the state tax is $0.00, the total tax is $18,893.00, the effective rate is 15.14%, the sale proceeds are $225,000.00, the after-tax proceeds are $206,107.00, MAGI is $204,750.00 and the fees are $250.00. Check the identities: gain = coins × (sell price − buy price) − fees; at 0% = the part of the gain under the 0% threshold after other income; at 15% = the part between the 0% and 20% thresholds; at 20% = the part above the 20% threshold; federal tax = 15% × the 15% slice + 20% × the 20% slice (long-term), or the ordinary brackets (short-term); NIIT = 3.8% × the smaller of the gain and MAGI over the threshold; state tax = gain × state rate; total tax = federal tax + NIIT + state tax; effective rate = total tax ÷ gain; sale proceeds = coins × sell price; after-tax proceeds = sale proceeds − total tax. Rounding convention: totals are computed from unrounded values, so rounded parts may differ by a cent from their rounded sum.
The worked example, line by line
Setup: coins 2.5, buy price $40,000, sell price $90,000, buy fees $100, sell fees $150, holding period long-term, filing status single, other taxable income $80,000, state tax rate 0%.
Line 1 — the gain. 2.5 × ($90,000.00 − $40,000.00) − ($100.00 + $150.00) = 2.5 × $50,000.00 − $250.00 = $125,000.00 − $250.00 = $124,750.00.
Line 2 — the bands. The 0% band ends at $49,450.00 for a single filer and the $80,000.00 of other income already fills it, so $0.00 falls in the 0% band. The 15% band ends at $545,500.00, so the whole $124,750.00 falls in the 15% band, and $0.00 in the 20% band.
Line 3 — the federal tax. $124,750.00 × 15% = $18,712.50.
Line 4 — the NIIT. MAGI is $80,000.00 + $124,750.00 = $204,750.00, which is $4,750.00 over the $200,000.00 threshold for a single filer, so the NIIT is 3.8% × $4,750.00 = $180.50.
Line 5 — the state tax. The state rate is 0%, so the state tax is $0.00.
Line 6 — the total. $18,712.50 + $180.50 + $0.00 = $18,893.00 total tax. Effective rate: $18,893.00 ÷ $124,750.00 = 15.14%. Sale proceeds: 2.5 × $90,000.00 = $225,000.00. After-tax proceeds: $225,000.00 − $18,893.00 = $206,107.00.
Reverse: the sell price for $20,000.00 of tax is $92,355.32 (exact 92355.3191); at $92,355.32 the tax is $20,000.00 (unrounded $20,000.0004), at $92,354.32 it is $19,999.53 (unrounded $19,999.5304). The coins for $10,000.00 of tax are 1.3383 (exact 1.3383333); at 1.3383 coins the tax is $9,999.75, at 1.3384 coins it is $10,000.50. The buy price for $0.00 tax is $89,900.00; at that buy price the tax is $0.00, at $89,899 it is $0.38 (unrounded $0.3750). The sell price for $50,000.00 of tax is $156,185.11 (exact 156185.1064); at $156,185.11 the tax is $50,000.00 (unrounded $50,000.0017), at $156,184.11 it is $49,999.53 (unrounded $49,999.5317). The state rate for $25,130.50 total is 5.00%; at that rate the total tax is $25,130.50. The sell price for $0.00 tax is $40,100.00; at that sell price the tax is $0.00, at $40,101 it is $0.38 (unrounded $0.3750).
Every branch, checked
Sell $40,000: gain -$250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable. At a $40,000.00 sell price the gain is -$250.00 — a loss — so the tax is $0.00 and you keep the whole $100,000.00 of sale proceeds. The $250.00 loss is the fees: the coins sold for exactly what you paid, so the gain is minus the fees.
Sell $60,000: gain $49,750.00, federal tax $7,462.50, total tax $7,462.50 — 15% band. At $60,000.00 the gain is $49,750.00, all in the 15% band, so the federal tax is $7,462.50 and you keep $142,537.50 of the $150,000.00 of sale proceeds.
Sell $150,000: gain $274,750.00, federal tax $41,212.50, total tax $47,093.00 — 15% band. At $150,000.00 the gain is $274,750.00, all in the 15% band, so the federal tax is $41,212.50, the NIIT is $5,880.50, and the total tax is $47,093.00 — you keep $327,907.00 of the $375,000.00 of sale proceeds.
Sell $400,000: gain $899,750.00, federal tax $156,675.00, total tax $186,305.50 — 20% band reached. At $400,000.00 the gain is $899,750.00: $465,500.00 falls in the 15% band ($69,825.00) and $434,250.00 in the 20% band ($86,850.00), so the federal tax is $156,675.00, the NIIT is $29,630.50, and the total tax is $186,305.50 — you keep $813,694.50 of the $1,000,000.00 of sale proceeds.
Short-term: gain $124,750.00, federal tax $29,664.00, total tax $29,844.50 — 22% and 24% and 32% bands (short-term). Short-term, the same $124,750.00 gain is taxed like wages: $25,700.00 falls in the 22% band ($5,654.00), $96,075.00 in the 24% band ($23,058.00) and $2,975.00 in the 32% band ($952.00), so the federal tax is $29,664.00 — $10,951.50 more than the $18,712.50 long-term tax — and you keep $195,155.50.
Short-term, other income $100,000, sell $120,000: gain $199,750.00, federal tax $56,969.75, total tax $60,760.25 — 22% and 24% and 32% and 35% bands (short-term). Short-term with $100,000.00 of other income and a $120,000.00 sell price, the gain is $199,750.00: $5,700.00 falls in the 22% band ($1,254.00), $96,075.00 in the 24% band ($23,058.00), $54,450.00 in the 32% band ($17,424.00) and $43,525.00 in the 35% band ($15,233.75), so the federal tax is $56,969.75 and you keep $239,239.75 of the $300,000.00 of sale proceeds.
Married filing jointly: gain $124,750.00, federal tax $15,877.50, total tax $15,877.50 — 0% and 15% bands. Married filing jointly, the 0% band runs to $98,900.00, so $80,000.00 of other income leaves $18,900.00 of 0% room — $18,900.00 of the gain falls in the 0% band and $105,850.00 in the 15% band, so the federal tax is $15,877.50 and you keep $209,122.50.
Other income $30,000: gain $124,750.00, federal tax $15,795.00, total tax $15,795.00 — 0% and 15% bands. With only $30,000.00 of other income, $19,450.00 of 0% room is left — $19,450.00 of the gain falls in the 0% band and $105,300.00 in the 15% band, so the federal tax is $15,795.00 and you keep $209,205.00. Lower other income pulls more of the gain down into the 0% band.
Other income $545,500: gain $124,750.00, federal tax $24,950.00, total tax $29,690.50 — 20% band reached. With $545,500.00 of other income the gain is pushed entirely into the 20% band: the federal tax is $24,950.00, the NIIT is $4,740.50, and the total tax is $29,690.50 — you keep $195,309.50.
State tax 5%: gain $124,750.00, federal tax $18,712.50, total tax $25,130.50 — 15% band. A 5% state tax adds $6,237.50 on the $124,750.00 gain, so the total tax is $25,130.50 — the federal tax is unchanged at $18,712.50 — and you keep $199,869.50.
1 coin: gain $49,750.00, federal tax $7,462.50, total tax $7,462.50 — 15% band. With 1 coin the gain is $49,750.00, all in the 15% band, so the federal tax is $7,462.50 and you keep $82,537.50 of the $90,000.00 of sale proceeds.
Sell $30,000: gain -$25,250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable. At a $30,000.00 sell price the gain is -$25,250.00 — a loss — so the tax is $0.00 and you keep the whole $75,000.00 of sale proceeds. The $25,250.00 loss is deductible against other income, up to $3,000.00 a year.
What the defaults assume
The model assumes the 2026 long-term thresholds from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32: the 0% band ends at $49,450.00 single and $98,900.00 married filing jointly; the 15% band ends at $545,500.00 single and $613,700.00 married filing jointly; above that the rate is 20%. It assumes the 2026 ordinary brackets for short-term gains: single 10% to $12,400.00, 12% to $50,400.00, 22% to $105,700.00, 24% to $201,775.00, 32% to $256,225.00, 35% to $640,600.00, 37% above; married filing jointly 10% to $24,800.00, 12% to $100,800.00, 22% to $211,400.00, 24% to $403,550.00, 32% to $512,450.00, 35% to $768,700.00, 37% above. It assumes the 3.8% net investment income tax applies to the smaller of the gain and MAGI over $200,000.00 single ($250,000.00 married filing jointly), where MAGI is other taxable income plus the gain. It assumes the state rate you enter applies to the whole gain, with no state exclusion. It assumes a FIFO cost basis — the coins you sell are the ones you bought first — and it does not model staking or airdrop income, wash-sale rules or loss-harvesting strategies. With 0 coins there is no trade, so the fees do not apply and everything is $0.00. With a sell price of $0.00 the gain is -$100,250.00 — a loss — and the tax is $0.00; the sale proceeds are $0.00. With a buy price of $0.00 the gain is $224,750.00, all in the 15% band, so the federal tax is $33,712.50, the NIIT is $3,980.50 and the total tax is $37,693.00. Rounding convention: totals are computed from unrounded values, so rounded parts may differ by a cent from their rounded sum; the reverses are nearest-value solutions, and the exact unrounded figures (92355.3191, 1.3383333, 156185.1064, $20,000.0004, $19,999.5304, $50,000.0017, $49,999.5317, $0.3750) are stated wherever the rounded figures appear.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | coins × (sell price − buy price) − fees | $124,750.00. |
| At 0% | the part of the gain under the 0% threshold, after other income | $0.00. |
| At 15% | the part of the gain between the 0% and 20% thresholds | $124,750.00. |
| At 20% | the part of the gain above the 20% threshold | $0.00. |
| Federal tax | 15% × the 15% slice + 20% × the 20% slice (long-term), or the ordinary brackets (short-term) | $18,712.50. |
| NIIT | 3.8% × the smaller of the gain and MAGI over the threshold | $180.50. |
| State tax | gain × state rate | $0.00. |
| Total tax | federal tax + NIIT + state tax | $18,893.00. |
| Effective rate | total tax ÷ gain | 15.14%. |
| Sale proceeds | coins × sell price | $225,000.00. |
| After-tax proceeds | sale proceeds − total tax | $206,107.00. |
| MAGI | other taxable income + gain | $204,750.00. |
| Fees | buy fees + sell fees | $250.00. |
| Sell price for $20,000 tax | buy price + (gain + fees) / coins, with gain = ($20,000 + $4,560) / 0.188 | 92355.3191 → $92,355.32. |
| Coins for $10,000 tax | (gain + fees) / (sell price − buy price), with gain = $10,000 / 0.15 | 1.3383333 → 1.3383. |
| Buy price for $0 tax | sell price − fees / coins | $89,900.00 → $89,900.00. |
| Sell price for $50,000 tax | buy price + (gain + fees) / coins, with gain = ($50,000 + $4,560) / 0.188 | 156185.1064 → $156,185.11. |
| State rate for $25,130.50 total | ($25,130.50 − total tax at 0% state) / gain | 5.00% → 5.00%. |
| Sell price for $0 tax | buy price + fees / coins | $40,100.00 → $40,100.00. |
| Sell $40,000 | same model | Gain -$250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable. |
| Sell $60,000 | same model | Gain $49,750.00, federal tax $7,462.50, total tax $7,462.50 — 15% band. |
| Sell $150,000 | same model | Gain $274,750.00, federal tax $41,212.50, total tax $47,093.00 — 15% band. |
| Sell $400,000 | same model | Gain $899,750.00, federal tax $156,675.00, total tax $186,305.50 — 20% band reached. |
| Short-term | same model | Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $29,664.00, total tax $29,844.50 — 22% and 24% and 32% bands (short-term). |
| Short-term, other income $100,000, sell $120,000 | same model | Gain $199,750.00, federal tax $56,969.75, total tax $60,760.25 — 22% and 24% and 32% and 35% bands (short-term). |
| Married filing jointly | same model | Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $15,877.50, total tax $15,877.50 — 0% and 15% bands. |
| Other income $30,000 | same model | Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $15,795.00, total tax $15,795.00 — 0% and 15% bands. |
| Other income $545,500 | same model | Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $24,950.00, total tax $29,690.50 — 20% band reached. |
| State tax 5% | same model | Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $18,712.50, total tax $25,130.50 — 15% band. |
| 1 coin | same model | Gain $49,750.00, federal tax $7,462.50, total tax $7,462.50 — 15% band. |
| Sell $30,000 | same model | Gain -$25,250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable. |
Who uses this
- The investor selling 2.5 coins bought at $40,000 and sold at $90,000: they learn the tax is $18,893.00 — the whole $124,750.00 gain falls in the 15% band, plus $180.50 of NIIT — and they check the short-term branch ($29,844.50) before deciding whether to wait out the year.
- The married couple with $80,000.00 of income selling the same coins: they learn the tax is $15,877.50 — $18,900.00 of the gain falls in the 0% band — and they check the $30,000.00 branch ($15,795.00) to see how much income room they have.
- The trader selling at $400,000.00 a coin: they learn the tax is $186,305.50 on a $899,750.00 gain, including $29,630.50 of NIIT — and they check the $156,185.11 reverse to see the sell price that would keep the tax at $50,000.00.
- The seller sitting on a $25,250.00 loss: they learn the tax is $0.00 and the loss is deductible up to $3,000.00 a year — and they check the $40,100.00 reverse to see the sell price where the tax drops to zero.
Accuracy & limitations
The math is exact arithmetic on your nine inputs: gain = coins × (sell price − buy price) − fees; at 0% = the part of the gain under the 0% threshold after other income; at 15% = the part between the 0% and 20% thresholds; at 20% = the part above the 20% threshold; federal tax = 15% × the 15% slice + 20% × the 20% slice (long-term), or the ordinary brackets (short-term); NIIT = 3.8% × the smaller of the gain and MAGI over the threshold; state tax = gain × state rate; total tax = federal tax + NIIT + state tax; effective rate = total tax ÷ gain; sale proceeds = coins × sell price; after-tax proceeds = sale proceeds − total tax. The 4-decimal exact is shown where the rounding matters: the sell price for $20,000.00 of tax is 92355.3191 (shown as $92,355.32); at $92,355.32 the unrounded tax is $20,000.0004, at $92,354.32 it is $19,999.5304. The coins for $10,000.00 of tax are 1.3383333 (shown as 1.3383). The sell price for $50,000.00 of tax is 156185.1064 (shown as $156,185.11). What the model cannot do is your actual tax return: it assumes a FIFO cost basis, it does not model staking or airdrop income, wash-sale rules, loss offsets against other gains, or state-specific rules. Crypto is taxed the same way as stocks — the same 0/15/20% bands — but the wash-sale rule does NOT currently apply to crypto, so selling at a loss and buying back the same coin is not disallowed the way it is for stocks. For the stock version, see the capital gains tax on stocks calculator; for the home-sale version, see the capital gains tax on home sale calculator; for the bracket detail, see the 2026 capital gains tax brackets; for the quarterly payments on the gain, see the estimated quarterly tax calculator. This is a calculator, not tax advice.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026: What You Owe” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Thresholds per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 sections 3.03 (long-term bands) and 3.01 (ordinary brackets). Method: gain = coins × (sell price − buy price) − (buy fees + sell fees); long-term, the gain stacks on top of other taxable income across the 0/15/20% bands (0% through $49,450 single, $98,900 MFJ; 15% through $545,500 single, $613,700 MFJ); short-term, the gain is taxed at the ordinary rates; NIIT = 3.8% × min(gain, max(0, MAGI − threshold)) where MAGI = other taxable income + gain and the threshold is $200,000 single, $250,000 MFJ; state tax = gain × state rate; after-tax proceeds = sale proceeds − total tax. With 0 coins there is no trade — fees do not apply, gain and tax are $0.00. FIFO cost basis assumed. Key idea: the 0% band is already full at $80,000 of other income, so the whole gain falls in the 15% band — and a married couple with the same income owes $15,877.50 on the same sale. Defaults: 2.5 coins, buy $40,000, sell $90,000, buy fees $100, sell fees $150, long-term, single, other income $80,000, state 0% → gain $124,750.00, at 0% $0.00, at 15% $124,750.00, at 20% $0.00, federal tax $18,712.50, NIIT $180.50, state $0.00, total tax $18,893.00, effective rate 15.14%, sale proceeds $225,000.00, after-tax proceeds $206,107.00, MAGI $204,750.00, fees $250.00. Branches: Sell $40,000 → Gain -$250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable; Sell $60,000 → Gain $49,750.00, federal tax $7,462.50, total tax $7,462.50 — 15% band; Sell $150,000 → Gain $274,750.00, federal tax $41,212.50, total tax $47,093.00 — 15% band; Sell $400,000 → Gain $899,750.00, federal tax $156,675.00, total tax $186,305.50 — 20% band reached; Short-term → Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $29,664.00, total tax $29,844.50 — 22% and 24% and 32% bands (short-term); Short-term, other income $100,000, sell $120,000 → Gain $199,750.00, federal tax $56,969.75, total tax $60,760.25 — 22% and 24% and 32% and 35% bands (short-term); Married filing jointly → Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $15,877.50, total tax $15,877.50 — 0% and 15% bands; Other income $30,000 → Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $15,795.00, total tax $15,795.00 — 0% and 15% bands; Other income $545,500 → Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $24,950.00, total tax $29,690.50 — 20% band reached; State tax 5% → Gain $124,750.00, federal tax $18,712.50, total tax $25,130.50 — 15% band; 1 coin → Gain $49,750.00, federal tax $7,462.50, total tax $7,462.50 — 15% band; Sell $30,000 → Gain -$25,250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable. Reverses: sell price for $20,000 tax = $92,355.32 (exact 92355.3191; at $92,355.32 the tax is $20,000.00, unrounded $20,000.0004; at $92,354.32 it is $19,999.53, unrounded $19,999.5304); coins for $10,000 tax = 1.3383 (exact 1.3383333; at 1.3383 coins the tax is $9,999.75, at 1.3384 coins it is $10,000.50); buy price for $0 tax = $89,900.00 (exact $89,900.00; tax $0.00 at that buy price, $0.38 at $89,899, unrounded $0.3750); sell price for $50,000 tax = $156,185.11 (exact 156185.1064; at $156,185.11 the tax is $50,000.00, unrounded $50,000.0017; at $156,184.11 it is $49,999.53, unrounded $49,999.5317); state rate for $25,130.50 total = 5.00% (exact 5.00%; total $25,130.50 at that rate); sell price for $0 tax = $40,100.00 (exact $40,100.00; tax $0.00 at that sell price, $0.38 at $40,101, unrounded $0.3750). Edges: 0 coins → Gain $0.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — no trade, nothing taxable; sell $0 → Gain -$100,250.00, federal tax $0.00, total tax $0.00 — $0 tax — a loss, nothing taxable (a loss); buy $0 → Gain $224,750.00, federal tax $33,712.50, total tax $37,693.00 — 15% band.
Bright Side Kit. "Crypto Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026: What You Owe" https://brightoolbox.com/crypto-capital-gains-tax-calculator/ Accessed October 25, 2026.Frequently asked questions
How much capital gains tax do I owe on a crypto sale?
On the defaults — 2.5 coins bought at $40,000 and sold at $90,000, long-term, single, $80,000.00 of other income — the tax is $18,893.00. The gain is $124,750.00 and the whole gain falls in the 15% band, plus $180.50 of NIIT. You keep $206,107.00 of the $225,000.00 of sale proceeds.
Is crypto taxed the same as stocks?
Yes — the same 0%, 15% and 20% long-term bands and the same ordinary rates for short-term gains. The difference is the wash-sale rule: it does NOT currently apply to crypto, so you can sell a coin at a loss and buy it back right away without the loss being disallowed, which you cannot do with stocks. The fees work the same way — they go into your cost basis.
What is the difference between long-term and short-term crypto tax?
Held more than a year, the gain is long-term and taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%; held a year or less, it is short-term and taxed like wages. On the same $124,750.00 gain, the long-term tax is $18,712.50 of federal tax and the short-term tax is $29,664.00 — $10,951.50 more — because the gain falls in the 22%, 24% and 32% ordinary bands.
When do I pay 0% capital gains tax on crypto?
When your taxable income, including the gain, stays under the 0% threshold — $49,450.00 single, $98,900.00 married filing jointly. With $30,000.00 of other income, $19,450.00 of 0% room is left, so $19,450.00 of the gain is tax-free and the federal tax is $15,795.00. A married couple with $80,000.00 of income owes $15,877.50 on the same sale.
What is the 3.8% NIIT on a crypto sale?
The net investment income tax adds 3.8% on the gain once your MAGI passes $200,000.00 single ($250,000.00 married filing jointly). MAGI is your other taxable income plus the gain. On the defaults, MAGI is $204,750.00, so the NIIT is $180.50. At a $400,000.00 sell price the NIIT is $29,630.50; with $545,500.00 of other income it is $4,740.50.
Do exchange fees count in my cost basis?
Yes — the fees you pay to buy and sell come off the gain. On the defaults the buy fees are $100.00 and the sell fees are $150.00, so the gain is $124,750.00 instead of $125,000.00. If you sold at exactly your buy price, the gain would be -$250.00 — a loss of exactly the fees — and the tax would be $0.00.
What if I sell my crypto at a loss?
You owe no capital gains tax — there is no gain to tax. At a $30,000.00 sell price the gain is -$25,250.00 and the tax is $0.00. The $25,250.00 loss is deductible against other income, up to $3,000.00 a year, with the rest carried forward. And because the wash-sale rule does not currently apply to crypto, you can buy the coin back right away.
Do I pay state tax on a crypto sale too?
Yes, in most states — on top of the federal tax. A 5% state rate adds $6,237.50 on the $124,750.00 gain, so the total tax is $25,130.50. Enter your own state rate to see your total.