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CoinPulse AU
Australia · CGT

Australian crypto tax estimator

A quick estimate of capital gains tax owed on a crypto disposal, using 2024–25 resident marginal rates and the 50% CGT discount. General information only — not tax advice.

Your numbers

Estimate

Estimated CGT payable
A$1,500
Effective rate on the gross gain: 15.0%
Gross gain after losses
A$10,000
Taxable gain (after CGT discount)
A$5,000
Tax on salary alone
A$17,788
Tax with crypto gain
A$19,288

Excludes the 2% Medicare levy and any Medicare levy surcharge. Excludes HELP/HECS repayments, offsets and deductions.

How Australian crypto tax works (in plain English)

The ATO doesn't treat cryptocurrency as money. For most Australian investors it's a CGT asset — like a share or an investment property. Every time you sell, swap or spend it, the ATO calculates the gain or loss in AUD between what it cost you and what you got back. That gain is added to your taxable income for the year and taxed at your normal marginal rate.

The 12-month CGT discount changes everything

Hold a parcel of crypto for more than 12 months before disposing of it and you only pay tax on half the gain. On a A$50,000 gain that's the difference between A$25,000 taxable and A$50,000 taxable — often a A$10,000+ difference in tax payable. The discount applies to individuals and trusts; companies generally can't claim it. This single rule is why long-term DCA strategies are so tax-efficient for Australian investors.

Common tax events Australians forget

  • Crypto-to-crypto swaps are taxable. Swapping ETH for SOL is a disposal of your ETH — even if no AUD touches your bank account.
  • Stablecoins count. Selling BTC for USDT triggers CGT on the BTC at the AUD value of the USDT received.
  • Spending crypto on goods or services is a disposal.
  • Staking and airdrops are usually ordinary income at the AUD market value when you receive them, with a separate CGT event when you later sell.

Record-keeping is half the battle

The ATO requires you to keep records of the AUD value of every acquisition and disposal, including fees. Most Australian exchanges export CSVs of your transaction history. If you trade on multiple exchanges or hold in self-custody wallets, dedicated crypto tax software (Koinly, CoinTracker, Crypto Tax Calculator) can stitch the data together and apply CGT discount rules correctly.

When to talk to a professional

This calculator handles the most common case: a salaried investor with a single crypto gain or loss. If you trade actively (potentially a sole-trader business), hold crypto in an SMSF, run a mining or staking operation, or your overall income is above A$190,000, talk to a registered tax agent — the rules change materially. To get a number, run your trading P&L through the profit calculator first, then feed the result into this estimator.

This is general information about Australian tax. It is not personal tax advice. Your actual liability depends on your full circumstances — see our disclaimer.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is cryptocurrency taxed in Australia?

Yes. The ATO treats most cryptocurrency disposals as a capital gains tax (CGT) event. That includes selling for AUD, swapping one coin for another, spending it, and gifting it. Buying crypto with AUD is not a CGT event on its own — the tax event happens when you dispose of it.

What is the 12-month CGT discount?

If you hold a crypto asset for more than 12 months before disposing of it, individuals and trusts can apply a 50% CGT discount — meaning only half the capital gain is added to your assessable income. The discount does not apply to assets held for 12 months or less, or to most company taxpayers.

How is my tax actually calculated?

Your net capital gain (after losses and the CGT discount, if applicable) is added to your other taxable income for the year. That total is then taxed at the standard resident marginal rates. There is no separate 'crypto tax rate' in Australia — gains are taxed at your normal marginal rate.

What about capital losses?

Capital losses can offset capital gains in the same year or be carried forward indefinitely. Losses must be applied to gross gains before the 50% CGT discount is calculated, so the order matters.

Is this a substitute for tax advice?

No. This calculator is a general estimate using the standard resident marginal rates and the 50% CGT discount. It does not handle trader/business activity, SMSF holdings, complex cost-base adjustments, or the Medicare levy surcharge. For your actual return, talk to a registered tax agent.