What makes this calculator different
Three cost-basis methods. Most online tools pick one for you. The IRS and most other jurisdictions allow any consistent method — but the one you pick materially changes your tax bill. The 12-month holding-period test is also non-obvious: a partial lot sale uses the FIFO-of-that-lot rule, not a pro-rata allocation. This tool lets you see, lot by lot, exactly which acquisition is being matched to which sale.
Where this is honest about its limits
- It does not handle crypto-to-crypto swaps as taxable events. In the US, every swap is a disposition; in some other jurisdictions it's not. Flip this on in the actual tax software you use.
- It does not model staking rewards, airdrops, hard forks, or DeFi liquidity provision. Each of those has its own income-vs-capital-gain treatment and your tax software needs to know which.
- Network fees on withdrawal are often added to the basis of the disposal, not the acquisition. This tool adds fees to the side that incurred them, which matches the most common reading of IRS Notice 2014-21.
FAQ
Why is HIFO not always the best choice?
HIFO minimizes current-year tax, but you also lose the highest-cost lots. If you intend to keep holding the asset long-term and expect future gains, you may have used up your best basis now and owe more later. The "best" method depends on whether you think the asset is going up, sideways, or down from here.
What if I moved coins between wallets?
Self-transfers are not taxable events but you inherit the original cost basis and acquisition date. This tool doesn't model the wallet handoff directly — you'd just keep the original buy row and treat the destination wallet as a continuation, not a new buy.
What about wash sales?
As of 2026, the US wash-sale rule for crypto is still not enforced (the 2024 proposed regulations excluded crypto from the rule pending further study). Other jurisdictions may have equivalent rules. This calculator does not detect wash sales; consult your tax software for that.
Methodology
Each sale is matched against the oldest (FIFO), newest (LIFO), or highest-cost (HIFO) acquisition lot, in chronological order. Partial fills within a single lot produce a partial disposal, with the remainder of the lot carrying its original cost and date forward. Holding period is calculated as the days between the acquisition and sale date; greater than 365 days = long-term in the US. Proceeds include the sale amount; cost basis is the matched acquisition cost plus any fees on the buy side. Sales fees reduce proceeds.