Crypto Tax Calculator — US 2026
US tax on crypto in 2026: short-term gains at ordinary rates, long-term at 0/15/20%, staking and airdrop income, the 3.8% net investment income tax, state tax, loss carryovers and the saving from holding past one year.
| Short-term gains + staking (ordinary rates) | — |
|---|---|
| Long-term gains (0% / 15% / 20%) | — |
| Net investment income tax (3.8%) | — |
| State tax | — |
| Loss carryover used / remaining | — |
| Effective rate on crypto profits | — |
| Saving if short-term gains had been long-term | — |
In short
The IRS taxes crypto as property: gains on lots held a year or less are ordinary income at 2026 rates of 10–37%, gains on lots held over a year are taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% (0% up to $49,450 / $98,900 of taxable income single / joint), staking, mining and airdrops are ordinary income at receipt value, a 3.8% NIIT applies above $200,000 / $250,000 MAGI, every swap or spend is a taxable event, and net losses offset $3,000 of other income a year.
Who this is for: US crypto investors and traders estimating their 2026 bill before year-end, people with staking or airdrop income, and anyone deciding whether to hold a lot past one year.
How crypto is taxed in the United States
The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, so every disposal — selling for dollars, swapping one coin for another, paying for goods, trading an NFT — realises a capital gain or loss equal to the proceeds less your cost basis. Lots held one year or less are short-term and taxed as ordinary income at your 2026 bracket (10–37%); lots held over a year are long-term and taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% depending on where your taxable income lands. High earners add the 3.8% net investment income tax above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint) of MAGI, and most states tax gains as income.
Staking rewards, mining, airdrops, interest and payment in crypto are ordinary income at the fair value when received — and that value becomes the basis of the coins. Losses offset gains first (short against short, long against long, then across), and a net loss offsets up to $3,000 of other income a year with the rest carried forward. The wash-sale rule does not currently apply to crypto, so loss harvesting is possible. Brokers now file Form 1099-DA; by 2026 it includes basis for covered lots.
See also: US Capital Gains Tax Calculator 2026 (Stocks, Crypto, Property), Tax-Loss Harvesting Calculator, US Federal Income Tax Calculator 2026, Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator 2026.
Assumptions
- Short-term gains and staking income stacked on other ordinary taxable income at 2026 brackets; long-term gains taxed at 0/15/20% by where they fall above ordinary income.
- Loss carryover applied to short-term gains first, then long-term, then up to $3,000 against ordinary income.
- NIIT 3.8% on the lesser of net investment income and MAGI above $200,000 / $250,000 / $125,000 (MFS); flat state rate.
- Inputs are net figures; AMT, wash sales and per-lot basis methods are not modelled.
Worked example
Ordinary: $13,500 of short-term gains and staking stacked on $85,000 stays in the 22% bracket → $2,970. Long-term: taxable income is then $98,500, above the $49,450 zero band, so all $25,000 is at 15% → $3,750. MAGI $125,000 is under $200,000 → no NIIT. State 5% of $38,500 = $1,925. Total $8,645, 22.5% of $38,500 of profits. Had the short-term lots been held past a year, the federal bill would fall by about $840.
Frequently asked questions
Is swapping one crypto for another taxable?
Yes. A swap is a disposal of the coin you give up at its dollar value, with gain or loss against its basis, even though no dollars change hands.
How are staking rewards taxed?
As ordinary income at the fair market value on the day you gain control of them (Rev. Rul. 2023-14); that value is your basis when you later sell.
Does the wash-sale rule apply to crypto?
Not as of 2026 — it covers securities, and crypto is property — so you can sell at a loss and rebuy. Legislation to change this has been proposed repeatedly.
What is Form 1099-DA?
The broker reporting form for digital-asset sales, first issued for tax year 2025 (gross proceeds) and including cost basis for covered lots from 2026.
Can I deduct crypto losses?
Capital losses offset capital gains without limit, then up to $3,000 of ordinary income a year; the rest carries forward indefinitely.
Which cost-basis method can I use?
Specific identification per wallet or account if you can identify the lots; otherwise FIFO. Universal pooling across wallets ended with the 2025 reporting rules.
Are NFTs taxed the same way?
Yes as property, but NFTs that are collectibles may face the 28% long-term collectibles rate; the IRS applies a look-through test.
Do I owe tax if I only moved coins between my own wallets?
No — transfers between wallets you control are not disposals, but keep records so basis follows the coins.
Related calculators
See all United States calculators → · All free online calculators
Found an error? Report it — tell us the inputs, the result you got, what you expected and the rule or source. Confirmed corrections are published within a week.