By Jake Coleman
In cryptocurrencies, a convergence of distinct factions emerged, comprising investors, traders, miners, and those with nefarious intentions. As the crypto verse witnessed increased momentum, fiscal authorities initiated discussions regarding the imperative nature of tax compliance for crypto traders and investors. This guide will cover the top 5 programs for calculating cryptocurrency taxes.
Why Should You Be Worried About Taxes in Crypto?
The obligation to pay taxes on crypto activities is contingent upon the geographical location in which one resides. Crypto taxation is significant in various countries, such as the US, Australia, the UK, Japan, and France.
In various jurisdictions, well-defined regulations exist concerning the taxation obligations of individuals engaged in cryptocurrency trading.
Which of Your Crypto Activities Are Taxable
Residing within the countries above does not necessarily entail taxation on every conceivable crypto transaction. Tax obligations are associated with engaging in cryptocurrency trading and investment endeavors. The activities above transcend geographical boundaries, encompassing a multitude of nations.
- When one decides to exchange digital assets for traditional currencies such as USD, GBP, AUD, JPY, EUR, and others in the realm of fiat.
- The act of swapping one digital asset for another within cryptocurrencies.
- Leveraging one’s cryptographic assets to settle payments for various goods or services.
- When cryptocurrency is acquired as earnings (whether through mining or as compensation for services rendered to a third party)
Activities Involving Cryptocurrencies That Are Exempt From Taxation
Not all engagements involving cryptocurrencies are subject to taxation. Below are the activities that do not require a surcharge:
- When cryptocurrency is transferred from one wallet to another or between crypto exchanges.
- Contributing digital assets to a tax-exempt charitable entity
- When crypto is acquired using traditional currency (fiat).
- When cryptocurrency is bestowed as a present upon an acquaintance or family member.
Top-Notch Crypto Tax Calculation Software
TokenTax
TokenTax stands out as an exceptionally comprehensive tax calculation and reporting software solution catering to the needs of crypto traders. The platform has successfully streamlined the process by seamlessly integrating with various crypto exchanges. The platform seamlessly integrates with numerous cryptocurrencies, ensuring all altcoins are included within the TokenTax calculation and reporting dashboard, alleviating any concerns regarding their compatibility.
For crypto traders seeking to optimize their gains and minimize losses, the minimization algorithm offered by TokenTax is genuinely awe-inspiring. The recommended feature facilitates the identification of coins to be sold, aiming to reduce tax liabilities associated with crypto activities. It optimizes portfolio management while adhering to the tax system.
Prominent attributes of TokenTax:
- Platform offers extensive file type support, encompassing Schedule C, 8938, FBAR, 8949, and others.
- TokenTax, with its global accessibility, serves as a platform that caters to users worldwide. Irrespective of one’s geographical location, it can be used for tax reporting purposes.
- Various platforms, including Bitmex and Poloniex, facilitate margin trading.
- As a trader, TokenTax enables seamless data importation from wallets or exchanges, ensuring a streamlined experience.
- Tax reports can seamlessly integrate with standard accounting tools like CCH, Drake Accounting, TurboTax, and other platforms.
CoinTracking
CoinTracking is a remarkable and well-established tool for crypto tax calculations and reporting. The platform offers a range of features, including crypto portfolio management and efficient tax tools. Users can access a consolidated data set through a single dashboard, enhancing their overall experience. The platform diligently monitors crypto balances and trading milestones, facilitating informed decision-making.
Prominent attributes of CoinTracking:
- CoinTracking offers comprehensive exchange support, encompassing a wide range of platforms, including legacy support for closed exchanges such as Mt. Gox.
- Access is granted to real-time reports concerning profits, losses, and asset value.
- CoinTracking boasts an extensive range of over 6000 crypto assets, ensuring that even recently launched digital currencies can find their place within its platform.
- Enables the importation of data from various exchanges and wallets, accommodating JSON, PDF, CSV, Excel, and XML file formats.
CoinLedger
CoinLedger is a remarkable Crypto tax tool that caters to traders and investors seeking uncomplicated and instinctive crypto tax software. The dashboard’s user-centric design facilitates seamless tax calculation and reporting, catering to individuals of all proficiency levels. In addition to its remarkable tax tools, CoinLedger offers exceptional crypto investment analysis features that empower users to enhance their trading strategies.
CoinLedger boasts impressive features:
- CoinLedger, in collaboration with prominent industry players Coinbase and TurboTax, has forged a strategic alliance to enhance the efficiency of tax reporting procedures.
- The platform offers margin trading functionality for leading crypto exchanges.
- The platform facilitates the seamless integration of wallets with exchanges, enabling users to leverage tax calculation and reporting utilities and a comprehensive portfolio management feature, all consolidated within a unified dashboard.
Koinly
Koinly emerges as a remarkable solution for crypto enthusiasts engaged in trading and mining activities seeking to streamline their tax obligations. Support is extended to traders, investors, and miners across more than 100 countries. For those seeking a cutting-edge portfolio tracker and crypto tax calculator, Koinly is an intriguing tool worth exploring.
When it comes to tax calculations, Koinly takes into account the accounting systems of all the countries it supports. This facilitates streamlined reporting and tax computation, irrespective of geographical location. Even in unlisted regions, Koinly is prepared to assist with tax calculations. One of the notable features of Koinly is its ability to generate jurisdiction-specific tax forms, including Form 8949 and Schedule D for individuals in the USA, K4 for residents of Sweden, and Capital gains summary for those in the UK, among others. This enables the option to generate a hard copy of the report and submit it to the respective tax authority, eliminating the need to transcribe numerical data onto a physical form manually.
Features:
- A contemporary and intuitive UI design ensures a seamless user experience, catering to individuals of all proficiency levels.
- The platform integrates over 300 exchanges and wallets through API or CSV file compatibility.
- The platform enables real-time monitoring of trades and transactions, accompanied by profit/loss graphs and a comprehensive portfolio overview.
- Koinly offers a range of accounting methods, including Average Cost, FIFO, LIFO, and Specific Identification (Multiple Depot).
- Tax reports can be generated by traders utilizing the accounting systems specific to their respective countries.
ZenLedger
For professional crypto investors seeking a dependable tax calculator, ZenLedger is an ideal solution. The platform facilitates various exchanges, a wide range of crypto assets, and multiple fiat currencies. The dashboard of ZenLedger exudes simplicity, allowing individuals of all backgrounds to effortlessly explore the platform and compute their tax obligations without encountering any difficulties.
Features:
- ZenLedger meticulously considers every intricate detail, ensuring that concerns about excessive tax payments are alleviated.
- The platform offers advanced CPA tools tailored for professionals operating within the crypto taxation ecosystem.
- In a matter of minutes, an array of tax reports can be effortlessly generated, utilizing the data you furnished.
Do You Need a CPA After Calculating Crypto Taxes?
The intricacies of crypto taxation are more apparent than one might perceive. Once the compilation of your crypto activities is complete, the subsequent action entails documenting your trades on the designated platform offered by the revenue authorities of your respective nation (in the case of the United States, this would be the IRS form 8949). Following this, you must transfer all your gains to the 1040 Schedule D form (applying the identical procedure for stocks).
Fortunately, the crypto tax resources mentioned in this guide facilitate the overall procedure easily.
