calculating-crypto-taxes

Calculating Crypto Taxes

Overview

Calculate cryptocurrency tax obligations from transaction history. Supports multiple cost basis methods (FIFO, LIFO, HIFO), identifies taxable events (trades, staking, airdrops), and generates Form 8949 compatible reports.

DISCLAIMER: This tool provides informational calculations only, not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation.

Prerequisites

Before using this skill, ensure you have:

• Transaction history exported as CSV from your exchanges (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, etc.)
• Python 3.8+ installed
• Understanding of your tax jurisdiction's crypto rules

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Transaction Data

Export your transaction history from each exchange as CSV. Supported formats:

Exchange	Export Location
Coinbase	Reports → Tax documents → Transaction history CSV
Binance	Orders → Trade History → Export
Kraken	History → Export
Generic	See {baseDir}/references/exchange_formats.md for column mapping

Step 2: Run Basic Tax Calculation

Execute the tax calculator with your transaction file:

python {baseDir}/scripts/tax_calculator.py --transactions your_trades.csv --year 2025

This uses FIFO (IRS default) and outputs:

• Total capital gains/losses
• Short-term vs long-term breakdown
• Summary of taxable events

Step 3: Choose Cost Basis Method

Compare different methods to understand tax implications:

python {baseDir}/scripts/tax_calculator.py --transactions trades.csv --compare-methods

Or specify a method:

Method	Flag	Description
FIFO	--method fifo	First In First Out (IRS default)
LIFO	--method lifo	Last In First Out
HIFO	--method hifo	Highest In First Out (minimize gains)

Step 4: Generate Tax Report

Create Form 8949 compatible CSV:

python {baseDir}/scripts/tax_calculator.py --transactions trades.csv --method fifo --year 2025 --output form_8949.csv --format csv

Output includes:

• Description of property
• Date acquired
• Date sold
• Proceeds
• Cost basis
• Gain or loss

Step 5: Handle Income Events (Optional)

For staking, airdrops, or mining income:

python {baseDir}/scripts/tax_calculator.py --transactions all_events.csv --income-report

This identifies:

• Staking rewards (valued at receipt)
• Airdrops (valued at receipt)
• Mining income
• DeFi yield

Step 6: Multi-Exchange Consolidation

Combine multiple exchange exports:

python {baseDir}/scripts/tax_calculator.py --transactions coinbase.csv binance.csv kraken.csv --year 2025

The tool:

• Merges all transactions
• Sorts by date
• Calculates unified cost basis
• Handles transfers between exchanges

Output

Tax Report (Form 8949)

============================================================
  CRYPTO TAX REPORT - 2025
============================================================

SHORT-TERM CAPITAL GAINS/LOSSES (< 1 year)
------------------------------------------------------------
Description      Acquired    Sold        Proceeds    Cost      Gain/Loss
0.5 BTC          03/15/25    06/20/25    $52,500     $47,500   $5,000
2.0 ETH          04/01/25    08/15/25    $7,200      $6,400    $800
------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term Total:                                              $5,800

LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAINS/LOSSES (>= 1 year)
------------------------------------------------------------
Description      Acquired    Sold        Proceeds    Cost      Gain/Loss
1.0 BTC          01/10/24    02/15/25    $95,000     $42,000   $53,000
------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term Total:                                               $53,000

============================================================
SUMMARY
------------------------------------------------------------
Total Proceeds:           $154,700
Total Cost Basis:         $95,900
Net Capital Gain:         $58,800

Short-term Gains:         $5,800
Long-term Gains:          $53,000
============================================================

Income Report

CRYPTO INCOME - 2025
------------------------------------------------------------
Type            Date        Asset    Quantity    FMV (USD)
Staking         01/15/25    ETH      0.05        $160.00
Staking         02/15/25    ETH      0.05        $175.00
Airdrop         03/01/25    ARB      100         $150.00
------------------------------------------------------------
Total Income:                                     $485.00

Error Handling

See {baseDir}/references/errors.md for comprehensive error handling.

Common issues:

• Missing columns: Verify CSV format matches exchange template
• Unknown transaction type: Review and manually categorize
• Insufficient lots: Check for missing buy transactions

Examples

See {baseDir}/references/examples.md for detailed usage examples.

Quick Examples

Basic tax calculation:

python tax_calculator.py --transactions trades.csv --year 2025

HIFO to minimize gains:

python tax_calculator.py --transactions trades.csv --method hifo --year 2025

JSON output for processing:

python tax_calculator.py --transactions trades.csv --format json --output tax_data.json

Verbose with lot details:

python tax_calculator.py --transactions trades.csv --verbose --show-lots

Configuration

Settings in {baseDir}/config/settings.yaml:

• Default method: Cost basis method (fifo, lifo, hifo)
• Tax year start: January 1 (US) or fiscal year
• Exchange formats: Column mappings for CSV parsing
• Holding period: Days for long-term (default: 365)

Resources

• IRS Virtual Currency Guidance: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies
• Form 8949 Instructions: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8949
• CoinGecko API for historical prices