FAQs
Short-term capital gains for US taxpayers from crypto held for less than a year are subject to going income tax rates, which range from 10-37% based on tax bracket and income. Long-term capital gains on profits from crypto held for more than a year have a 0-20% rate.
Do you have to pay taxes on crypto if you don't cash out? ›
If you're holding crypto, there's no immediate gain or loss, so the crypto is not taxed. Tax is only incurred when you sell the asset, and you subsequently receive either cash or units of another cryptocurrency: At this point, you have “realized” the gains, and you have a taxable event.
Do I need to file crypto taxes if I didn't sell? ›
You can send any of your crypto between your personal wallets without paying any taxes; Even if you don't sell any of your crypto, you'd still need to answer the crypto question on Form 1040, including reporting your crypto income in your income tax return.
Can you get away with not claiming crypto taxes? ›
What happens if I don't report cryptocurrency on my taxes? The IRS is perfectly clear crypto is taxed and failure to report crypto on your taxes may result in steep penalties. The punishments the IRS can levy against crypto tax evaders are steep as both tax evasion and tax fraud are federal offenses.
How long do you have to hold crypto to avoid capital gains? ›
If you sell cryptocurrency after owning it for more than a year, you'll pay long-term capital gains. Long-term capital gains have their own system of tax rates. While these types of gains aren't taxed as ordinary income, you still use your taxable income to determine the long-term capital gains bracket you're in.
Can I write off crypto losses? ›
Yes, you can write off crypto losses on taxes even if you have no gains. If your total capital losses exceed your total capital gains, US taxpayers can deduct the difference as a loss on your tax return, up to $3,000 per year ($1,500 if married filing separately).
Do I have to report crypto on taxes if I lost money? ›
Yes, according to the IRS, investors in the US have to report all of their gains and losses each tax year on the appropriate crypto tax forms, including Schedule D and Form 8949 on their Form 1040.
Do you have to report crypto under $600? ›
You owe taxes on any amount of profit or income, even $1. Crypto exchanges are required to report income of more than $600, but you still are required to pay taxes on smaller amounts. Do you need to report taxes on Bitcoin you don't sell? If you buy Bitcoin, there's nothing to report until you sell.
Do you pay taxes every time you sell crypto? ›
The IRS treats cryptocurrencies as property for tax purposes, which means: You pay taxes on cryptocurrency if you sell or use your crypto in a transaction, and it is worth more than it was when you purchased it. This is because you trigger capital gains or losses if its market value has changed.
Do I have to pay taxes on crypto if I reinvest it? ›
When you reinvest your cryptocurrency, you are essentially selling one type of crypto and purchasing another. This is considered a taxable event, even if you do not cash out to fiat currency.
Certain cryptocurrency exchanges and apps do not report user transactions to the IRS. These include decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms that do not have reporting obligations under US tax law.
What is the penalty for not filing crypto taxes? ›
Not reporting your cryptocurrency transactions can result in civil fines and penalties of up to $100,000 and criminal sanctions of up to five years in prison.
Do I have to report crypto if I didn't get a 1099? ›
Further, even if you don't receive 1099s from crypto exchanges, brokers, or other companies who paid you for crypto activities, you should always report all of your reportable crypto transactions and income on your tax return.
Do I really have to report crypto on taxes? ›
You must report income, gain, or loss from all taxable transactions involving virtual currency on your Federal income tax return for the taxable year of the transaction, regardless of the amount or whether you receive a payee statement or information return.
What states are tax free for crypto? ›
However, there is no tax for simply owning cryptocurrency. What states have no crypto tax? Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income taxes (although New Hampshire and Tennessee tax interest and dividends while Washington taxes capital gains).