Free Australia Crypto Tax Calculator

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) treats cryptocurrency as a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) asset. When you dispose of crypto — by selling, trading, swapping, or using it to buy goods or services — you trigger a CGT event. Any capital gain is added to your assessable income and taxed at your marginal income tax rate.

50% CGT discount. If you hold the cryptocurrency for more than 12 months before disposing of it, you are entitled to a 50% CGT discount. This means only half of your capital gain is included in your assessable income, effectively halving the tax you pay. For assets held 12 months or less, the full gain is taxable.

Personal use asset exemption. If a cryptocurrency is kept or used mainly to buy items for personal use or consumption, and the cost of acquiring it was $10,000 or less, any capital gain may be disregarded. However, this exemption is narrow and generally does not apply to crypto held as an investment.

Marginal tax rates (2025/26). Australian resident tax rates are progressive: 0% on income up to $18,200; 16% up to $45,000; 30% up to $120,000; 37% up to $180,000; and 45% on income above $180,000. The taxable portion of your capital gain is added to your other income to determine your marginal rate.

Cost base. Your cost base includes the purchase price plus brokerage, exchange fees, and any other costs directly related to acquiring or disposing of the crypto. You cannot claim a deduction for these costs separately — they form part of the cost base used to calculate your capital gain or loss.

Capital losses. Capital losses from crypto can be offset against capital gains from any source in the same income year. Unused capital losses can be carried forward indefinitely to reduce future capital gains. Importantly, capital losses cannot be offset against ordinary income such as salary or wages.

Record keeping. The ATO requires you to keep records of all crypto transactions for at least five years, including the date of each transaction, the amount in AUD, and the purpose of the transaction. Accurate records are essential for calculating your cost base and capital gains.

Cost base methods. The ATO generally requires you to use the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method to identify which units you are disposing of, although you may use a specific identification method if you can demonstrate it is reasonable and consistent. Keeping a running record of each lot's acquisition date and cost base is important for accurate calculations.

Staking, mining, and airdrops. Crypto received from staking rewards, mining, or airdrops is generally treated as ordinary income at its fair market value when received. This amount is included in your assessable income and also becomes your cost base for future CGT calculations. Interest from crypto lending is also treated as ordinary income.

Reporting to the ATO. You must report all crypto capital gains and losses in your income tax return. The ATO now receives data from many Australian and international cryptocurrency exchanges and uses data matching to identify unreported transactions. You can report your CGT through myTax or with the help of a registered tax agent. Failure to declare crypto income can result in penalties and interest charges.