What is crypto tax-loss harvesting, and how does it work?
- February 3, 2023
- 8 min read

Do you want to make the most of your cryptocurrency investments? Tax-loss harvesting is a popular tool used by investors and cryptocurrency traders alike to maximise their returns. Yet, many people don’t know exactly what it involves or how they can benefit from it. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the basics of crypto tax-loss harvesting so that you can make better-informed decisions when managing your digital portfolio. We’ll explore why it’s important, what strategies have proved successful in the past, and how you can use these techniques yourself.
Crypto tax-loss harvesting is a way of utilising capital losses in the cryptocurrency market to offset gains and reduce taxable income. In other words, it’s a strategy to save taxes.
To understand crypto tax-loss harvesting, it is important to have a basic understanding of capital gains taxes. Capital gains taxes are calculated using our very own application Crypto Tax Calculator Australia , which is published here on our website. In short, when we sell an asset for a higher price than what we paid for it, the difference between those two amounts is considered a capital gain and is taxable.
Crypto tax-loss harvesting works by finding these losses and offsetting them against capital gains you have obtained through trading cryptocurrency, To claim a loss however, the assets must be sold and substituted for a similar one within 30 days before or after the sale; this is known as the “wash sale” rule. Furthermore, crypto tax-loss harvesting strategies provide an excellent opportunity to those who have invested in multiple cryptocurrencies and wish to reduce their taxes.
Sadly, in many countries, losses can only be subtracted from capital gains but are not applicable to other types of income. Moreover, numerous regulations specify which amount of loss should be declared and when it must be avowed for tax purposes.
In the event of a crypto asset sale at a loss, it can be offset against any capital gains that have been gained in the same tax year. As an alternative, you may choose to carry forward your losses and use them to offset potential future capital gains.
Nevertheless, if an individual quickly repurchases a crypto asset they sold at a loss–a practice referred to as “bed and breakfasting”–the loss may not be eligible for deduction.
Ever wondered how tax-loss harvesting with crypto works?
Lower your overall tax liability by utilising Crypto Tax-Loss Harvesting. It’s a highly effective strategy that involves selling off cryptocurrency tokens you’ve held onto since purchase and whose value has gone down since then. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, follow the steps below to get started:
- Analyse your cryptocurrency portfolio and pinpoint any digital assets that have decreased in value since you purchased them. This will tell you which cryptocurrencies to sell, so that you can capitalise on the capital losses associated with their declining prices.
- To identify your capital loss, you must ascertain the difference between the purchase and selling price of the cryptocurrency from step 1. This will be your final calculation for a total capital loss.
- Make the most of your capital gains by using any losses made to offset them! Doing so will significantly minimise your overall tax obligation.
- Scheduling: It is critical to be on a strict timeline when following this plan; you may either apply capital gains from the same tax year or carry losses into the upcoming year.
- Document all the transactions pertaining to your tax-loss harvesting strategy as you will need to present these records to the ATO.
The Dangers of Tax-loss Harvesting in Crypto Investing: What You Need to Know
Tax-loss harvesting in crypto can be an effective tool to cut down your total tax liabilities, but there are also risks associated with it. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- As stated earlier, some tax codes feature the rule of wash-sale that does not permit individuals to declare losses due to selling a given security if an identical one is bought within 30 days before or after the sale. This can hamper anyone from taking full advantage of tax-loss harvesting.
- When it comes to taxes, governments typically impose higher rates for short-term capital gains than long-term ones. Therefore, if you decide to go forward with tax loss harvesting and repurchase the same cryptocurrency within 30 days, you could be facing a hefty fee from your country’s government due to its classification as a short-term gain despite having originally held onto that asset for longer than twelve months.
- Cryptocurrency trading can be a roller coaster ride due to its extreme volatility. Market events, regulations and conditions can affect the price of any cryptocurrency at a second’s notice. If you sell your coins for less than their value only shortly before they start soaring up again, then it could mean that you’ve missed out on an incredible opportunity for profit-making!
- Navigating Tax Regulations: Cryptocurrency tax laws have yet to be fully established and can be dauntingly difficult. Making it a complex process for businesses wanting to launch an initial coin offering.
- The lack of knowledge can be fatal in the crypto market and you may end up paying fines due to mistakes caused by insufficient awareness of your country’s taxation laws. Taking a few precautionary steps such as researching tax rules or seeking advice from a professional will save you time, money, and headaches down the road.
It is crucial to thoroughly assess the potential rewards of tax-loss harvesting against the risks, while also consulting a tax specialist before carrying out this tactic.
How to reduce your crypto tax bill
It’s possible to decrease your crypto tax liability in a variety of ways. Here are some examples:
- Tax-loss harvesting is a clever strategy to limit the amount of taxes you owe on capital gains from cryptocurrency profits. By selling off any crypto assets that have gone down in value, you can offset your taxable income and reduce overall tax burden. This simple yet effective tactic is a great way to save yourself money while still staying compliant with government regulations.
- Investment timeline: A lot of places impose a higher tax rate on short-term capital gains generated from assets held for less than 12 months, as compared to long-term profits. If you keep your cryptocurrency holdings for more than one year, it can help reduce the amount of taxes owed.
- With tax-advantaged accounts, one has the chance to gain remarkable tax perks. For instance, certain countries allow people to store their cryptocurrencies in a self-directed accounts. This is an excellent option for those wanting to make optimal use of their money and benefit from reduced taxation.
- If you’re looking for a tax-efficient way to support your favorite charities and organizations, donating cryptocurrency can be an ideal solution. Not only is it tax-deductible, but giving away appreciated assets will also help you avoid capital gains taxes!
- Tax deferral: By rolling their crypto gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) or similar exchange, citizens of some countries can postpone paying taxes on these assets. Any venture that holds at least 90% of its resources in Qualified Opportunity Zone Property and is structured as either a corporation or partnership for the purpose of investing in said property is known as a qualified opportunity fund.
Although cutting down on your crypto taxes is essential, it should not be the sole factor that influences you when investing in digital assets. Tax regulations related to cryptocurrencies are constantly evolving and can be difficult to interpret; thus, some may attempt illegal activities such as tax evasion or money laundering with a view of decreasing their liability – an approach which could result in serious legal ramifications and hefty fines.
Discover the financial benefits of correctly reporting your crypto losses on taxes and make sure you don’t miss out!
If you’re looking to report your crypto losses on your taxes, the steps can vary country-to-country. Nevertheless, here is a comprehensive guide of potential actions one could take:
- For the most accurate and beneficial tracking of your cryptocurrency investments, be sure to document all transactions with dates, prices and amounts. This data will prove instrumental in calculating capital gains or losses that may affect future fiscal decisions.
- Every time you make a cryptocurrency transaction, compare the purchase cost with the sale price to determine if there is any difference. If your selling rate is less than what you initially paid for it, then that variance would be perceived as a loss.
- Taxpayers in most nations are mandated to report their cryptocurrency losses on the income tax return, while some may require additional documents or schedules for properly recording crypto loss information.
- If a user has incurred more losses than gains, they can take advantage of their tax return by applying the losses to offset any capital gains.
- To stay on the right side of the law, it is important to keep all documentation and records related to your cryptocurrency transactions so that you can show them if requested by the tax authority.
Despite the measures mentioned above, cryptocurrency tax professionals may be able to provide guidance and insight into specific regulations that could apply in your jurisdiction due to differing taxation laws across multiple countries.
Crypto Tax Calculator Australia is a tax calculator application designed to help calculate their taxes they need to pay on their cryptocurrency transactions in Australia. With three plans available to choose from (Free trial, Basic and Advanced), calculating your taxes have never been easier.