If you do not sell your cryptocurrency, you generally do not trigger a taxable event, meaning no capital gains taxes are owed on the increased value of your holdings, according to TurboTax and Coinbase. You continue to hold an asset that may appreciate or depreciate, and you are not required to report unrealized gains to the IRS. However, you must still report any earned income from staking, mining, or hard forks.
The tax situation is straightforward if you bought crypto and decided to HODL. The IRS does not require you to report your crypto purchases on your tax return if you haven't sold or otherwise disposed of them. HODL and you're off the hook. The tax event only occurs when you sell.
He suggested selling a portion of the position if the price gains 50% and setting a stop-loss or risk threshold if it falls 30% from your entry or if your portfolio allocation becomes too large. This logic makes sense because if you're down 30%, you may want to consider moving on before you lose even more money.
The IRS can and does track crypto by combining blockchain analysis with user data from crypto exchanges. Centralized exchanges must report user activity directly to the IRS, via Form 1099-DA and 1099-MISC. Failure to report can lead to audits, back taxes, penalties, and even criminal prosecution.
Factors to consider before making a crypto sale
Even if investors have a clear reason for selling a cryptocurrency, they must account for the additional costs and potential impact on their portfolio. Beyond trading fees and taxes, exiting a position can affect long-term profitability.
For those seeking stability and long-term asset accumulation, holding major cryptocurrencies for several years can be the most beneficial approach. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are the foundation of this strategy due to their historical resilience and strong market presence.
A shocking study suggests that over 99% of crypto investors didn't pay taxes last year—what are the risks? In this article, we explore the study's findings and the potential consequences of not reporting crypto taxes. A new study revealed that over 99% of crypto investors did not pay crypto taxes last year.
Donating crypto to a qualified charity may be tax deductible. Using crypto as collateral for a loan is generally tax-free since no sale occurs. Some states and countries offer reduced or zero taxes on crypto income and capital gains. Accurate records help you avoid penalties and ensure correct tax reporting.
Common Triggers
Individuals investing in Crypto should be aware of the following common errors that may trigger IRS scrutiny: Failure to Report Crypto Assets on Form 1040: Taxpayers must answer the digital asset question each year. Leaving it blank or ignoring it, even if no transactions occurred, can raise red flags.
Strategies to consider for reducing crypto taxes
You can potentially minimize your crypto tax liability in several ways, including: Hold it long-term to get a lower tax rate. Holding crypto for more than one year allows you to qualify for lower long-term capital gains tax rates.
The "crypto 30-day rule" refers to the IRS wash-sale rule, which does not apply to cryptocurrencies, treating them as property, not securities, allowing investors to sell at a loss and immediately buy back the same crypto to realize the loss for tax purposes (tax-loss harvesting) without waiting 30 days, unlike stocks. However, some tax authorities (like the UK's HMRC and Lanop or local interpretations) may have their own "bed and breakfast" rules that match sales and purchases within 30 days, affecting capital gains, so it's crucial to check specific tax jurisdictions.
Capital gains tax on $300,000 depends on your filing status and total income, but for most, it will be taxed at the 15% federal rate, meaning around $45,000 in tax, potentially rising to 20% if your total income is very high, and you'll also need to account for state taxes and potentially a 3.8% Medicare surtax. A $300,000 gain usually falls into the 15% bracket for single filers (above $48,350) and married filing jointly (above $96,700), while for married filing separately, it hits the 20% bracket (over $300,000).
What happens if you don't report cryptocurrency on your taxes? The IRS is perfectly clear that 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.
5 Best Anonymous Crypto Wallets for 2025
To convert crypto to cash, use a crypto exchange (like Coinbase, Binance) or a P2P platform, transfer your crypto, sell it for fiat currency (USD, EUR), and then withdraw the cash to your linked bank account, debit card, or PayPal; options also include Bitcoin ATMs or crypto debit cards, but exchanges are most common.
The 1% rule in crypto trading is a risk management strategy where you never risk more than 1% of your total trading capital on a single trade, calculated by setting a stop-loss to limit potential losses, helping protect your overall portfolio from significant damage and reducing emotional trading. For example, with a $10,000 account, your maximum loss on any trade is $100, achieved by adjusting your position size based on where you set your stop-loss.