Crypto Tax Calculator
Calculate crypto tax in India under the current Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) rules. A flat 30% tax applies to gains regardless of holding period, plus 1% TDS on sales above ₹10,000 (₹50,000 for specified persons). This calculator shows your total liability, including cess and TDS credit.
How this calculator works
Cryptocurrency taxation in India was introduced by the Finance Act 2022 and continues unchanged in FY 2026-27. The rules are strict and unfavorable compared to other asset classes.
Key rules
- 30% flat tax on gains from transfer of any VDA (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, stablecoins, NFTs, gaming tokens, etc.)
- No tax slab benefit — 30% applies even if your total income is in the 5% slab
- 4% health & education cess on the 30% tax
- 1% TDS on sale value if it exceeds ₹10,000 per year (₹50,000 for specified persons)
- No deduction of expenses except cost of acquisition (and transfer expenses like gas fees)
- No set-off of losses against any other income, including other crypto gains
- No carry-forward of losses to subsequent years
- Gift of crypto taxable in the recipient's hands if value > ₹50,000
Who is a "specified person" for TDS?
Individuals or HUFs who do NOT have business income, or have business income below ₹1 crore turnover (₹50 lakh for professionals). For specified persons, TDS threshold is ₹50,000/year instead of ₹10,000.
The harsh reality of no loss set-off
If you bought Bitcoin for ₹10 lakh and sold for ₹5 lakh, you have a ₹5 lakh loss — which is completely lost for tax purposes. You cannot offset it against other crypto gains, salary, capital gains, or any other income. And you cannot carry it forward.
Worked example
Example 1 — Gained ₹80,000 on Bitcoin:
- Purchase: ₹1,00,000 (Jan 2026)
- Sale: ₹1,80,000 (Nov 2026)
- Transfer expenses: ₹500 (gas + exchange fee)
- Gain: ₹79,500
- Tax at 30%: ₹23,850
- Cess at 4%: ₹954
- TDS at 1% (on sale ≥ ₹10,000): ₹1,800 (creditable)
- Total tax liability: ₹24,804
- Net profit after tax: ₹54,696
Example 2 — Lost ₹3 lakh on Ethereum:
- Purchase: ₹5,00,000
- Sale: ₹2,00,000
- Loss: ₹3,00,000
- Tax: ₹0 (no tax on losses)
- Loss is NOT deductible against anything — not future crypto gains, not other income
- You simply lose ₹3 lakh with no tax relief
Frequently asked questions
Can I offset crypto losses against crypto gains?
No. Unlike equity or property, each VDA transaction is taxed independently. If you made ₹5 lakh gain on Bitcoin and ₹3 lakh loss on Ethereum in the same year, you still pay 30% on ₹5 lakh — you cannot net it down to ₹2 lakh. This is the harshest part of India's crypto tax regime.
What is the 1% TDS?
Under Section 194S, any person buying crypto from you deducts 1% of the sale value as TDS and deposits it with the government. You get a credit for this TDS against your final tax liability. Indian exchanges deduct this automatically; for peer-to-peer sales, the buyer is responsible.
Is holding crypto taxable?
No. Only the transfer (sale, swap, or barter) of crypto triggers tax. Holding Bitcoin in a wallet, even if its INR value fluctuates dramatically, is not a taxable event. Tax applies only when you convert to INR or another asset, or gift/spend the crypto.
What about crypto-to-crypto swaps?
Fully taxable. Swapping Bitcoin for Ethereum is treated as two transactions: (1) sale of Bitcoin at fair market value, (2) purchase of Ethereum. The gain on the Bitcoin sale is taxed at 30%, even though no INR was received.
Is crypto staking or mining income taxable?
Yes. Staking rewards and mining income are taxed as Income from Other Sources at your slab rate (not the flat 30%) at the fair market value on the day received. When you later sell the staked/mined coins, the 30% regime applies to any gain above that initial FMV.
What about NFTs and gaming tokens?
All NFTs and in-game/gaming tokens are VDAs under the definition. 30% tax + 1% TDS applies identically. This includes art NFTs, play-to-earn game rewards, Decentraland/Sandbox assets, and metaverse items.
Do I need to file ITR if I only have small crypto gains?
If your total income exceeds the basic exemption limit (₹3 lakh new regime, ₹2.5 lakh old regime), yes. Even small crypto gains must be reported in Schedule VDA of ITR-2 or ITR-3. The TDS deducted will show up in your Form 26AS and must be claimed.
Can I use the new tax regime with crypto?
Yes. Crypto tax of 30% applies identically under both old and new regimes. Regime choice only affects your other income (salary, business). Your crypto liability is the same in both cases.