IRS-sourced, plain-English guides to understanding and filing your U.S. crypto taxes. Educational only; not tax advice — confirm with a CPA.
Why the IRS treats crypto as property, which events are taxable, and how capital gains vs ordinary income work.
Long-term 0/15/20% vs ordinary short-term rates, the NIIT, and legitimate ways to lower your rate.
The one-year holding line is the biggest controllable lever — the same gain taxed both ways.
Staking (Rev. Rul. 2023-14), lending, liquidity pools, swaps, and airdrops — including the gray areas.
Two-layer disposals, the Notice 2023-27 collectibles question, and rules for buyers, sellers, and creators.
Offset gains and $3,000 of income with losses — and the wash-sale nuance that could soon change.
The fields to track, cost-basis methods, per-wallet basis, and reconciling across exchanges and wallets.
A step-by-step filing walkthrough: the Form 1040 question, Form 8949, Schedule D, and Schedule 1/C.
The avoidable errors that trigger IRS letters — from unreported trades to lost cost basis.
How your accounting method changes your taxable gain, with a worked example and the per-wallet basis rules.
Why gifts usually aren't taxed, carryover basis, and how donating appreciated crypto can be tax-efficient.
Mined coins as ordinary income, the hobby-vs-business line, deductible expenses, and self-employment tax.