Short-term or long-term: the holding period
The holding period starts the day after you acquire the coin and includes the day you sell it. A gain is long-term only if you held the coin for more than one year: bought on 15 January 2025, it becomes long-term when sold on 16 January 2026 or later. The calculator applies that date rule to every matched lot.
You choose the lot method: FIFO is the default when you cannot identify specific units; specific identification (shown here as HIFO or LIFO) requires adequate records. From 2025 brokers report sales on Form 1099-DA, and the IRS requires the lot method to be applied per wallet or account, so keep each wallet's history separate.
How the 0/15/20% brackets stack
Long-term gains are taxed after your ordinary taxable income, so the rate depends on how much room is left below each threshold. For 2025 (Rev. Proc. 2024-40) the 0% band ends at $48,350 taxable income for single filers, $96,700 for married filing jointly, $64,750 for heads of household and $48,350 for married filing separately; the 15% band ends at $533,400, $600,050, $566,700 and $300,000 respectively. The thresholds are editable, so you can enter another year's figures.
Net Investment Income Tax adds 3.8% on the lower of your net investment income and the amount by which your modified AGI exceeds $200,000 (single, head of household), $250,000 (joint) or $125,000 (separate). These thresholds are fixed in the law and not indexed.
net ST, net LT = netted within each group, then against each other
ST tax = net ST ร your ordinary marginal rate
LT tax = net LT spread over the 0/15/20% bands above (ordinary income + net ST)
net loss = up to $3,000 ($1,500 MFS) against ordinary income, rest carried forwardLosses
If your crypto losses exceed your gains, up to $3,000 of the net loss ($1,500 if married filing separately) reduces ordinary income this year and the rest carries forward indefinitely, keeping its short- or long-term character. The calculator shows the deductible part, its tax value at your marginal rate and the carryforward.
Sources and simplifications
IRS Topic 409 (Capital gains and losses), Rev. Proc. 2024-40 (2025 thresholds), the NIIT page at irs.gov/individuals/net-investment-income-tax and digital-asset guidance at irs.gov/filing/digital-assets.
- Federal tax only; state income tax is not included.
- Your ordinary marginal rate is applied flat to short-term gains; a gain that crosses a bracket is slightly overstated or understated.
- Carryforwards from earlier years, collectibles rates and AMT are not modelled.
Frequently asked questions
+How long do I need to hold crypto for long-term rates?
More than one year. The count starts the day after purchase, so a coin bought on 15 January qualifies when sold on 16 January of the next year or later.
+Is a crypto-to-crypto swap taxable in the US?
Yes. Swapping BTC for ETH is a disposal of the BTC at its fair market value in dollars; the ETH gets that value as its cost basis.
+What are the 2025 long-term capital gains brackets?
0% up to $48,350 (single) / $96,700 (joint), 15% up to $533,400 / $600,050, 20% above. Heads of household: $64,750 and $566,700.
+How much crypto loss can I deduct?
Net capital losses offset gains without limit and then up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year ($1,500 if married filing separately). The rest carries forward.
+Does the wash-sale rule apply to crypto?
As of October 2026 the wash-sale rule in ยง1091 covers stock and securities, and crypto is treated as property, so it does not apply. Proposals to extend it have been made; check before you rely on it.
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