Exactly how much tax you pay on crypto gains in Australia depends on your income, how long you held it, and whether the 50% CGT discount applies. This guide explains every tax rate with worked examples.
Australia does not have a separate, flat crypto tax rate. The ATO treats cryptocurrency as a capital gains tax (CGT) asset — the same category as shares and investment property. When you sell, swap, or otherwise dispose of crypto at a profit, the gain is added to your total taxable income for that financial year and taxed at your personal marginal rate.
For 2025–26, the Australian income tax brackets are:
| Taxable Income | Tax Rate on That Portion |
|---|---|
| $0 – $18,200 | 0% (tax-free threshold) |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 19% |
| $45,001 – $135,000 | 32.5% |
| $135,001 – $190,000 | 37% |
| $190,001+ | 45% |
Add the 2% Medicare levy on top. So the maximum effective rate on crypto gains is 47% (45% + 2% Medicare levy), and the minimum is 0% for low-income earners whose total income including the gain stays below $18,200.
The most important factor in how much tax you actually pay is whether you qualify for the 50% CGT discount. If you held the crypto for more than 12 continuous months before selling or swapping it, only half of your net capital gain counts as taxable income. The other half is completely disregarded — it never appears on your tax return at all.
The table below shows the tax payable on a $10,000 crypto gain (after the 50% discount where eligible) at different income levels in 2025–26:
| Other Income (salary etc.) | Marginal Rate | Tax on $10,000 Gain (held >12 months, 50% discount applied) | Tax on $10,000 Gain (held <12 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 19% | $950 (taxed on $5,000) | $1,900 |
| $70,000 | 32.5% | $1,625 | $3,250 |
| $100,000 | 32.5% | $1,625 | $3,250 |
| $140,000 | 37% | $1,850 | $3,700 |
| $200,000 | 45% | $2,250 | $4,500 |
These figures use the marginal rate on the gain portion only and exclude the Medicare levy for simplicity. Use the calculator below to get a precise figure for your specific income and gain amount.
Enter your purchase price, sale price, holding period and income to get your exact CGT figure.
Crypto Tax Calculator →If you sell or swap crypto for less than you paid (including fees), you have a capital loss. Capital losses cannot reduce your salary or other ordinary income — they can only offset capital gains. If you have no other capital gains this year, the loss carries forward indefinitely and can offset future gains in any subsequent year.
One important restriction: if the crypto qualifies as a personal use asset (bought and used quickly for personal purchases), any capital loss is completely disregarded — you cannot use it at all.
The tax treatment above applies to investors — people holding crypto as a capital asset. If the ATO determines you are carrying on a crypto trading business (based on frequency, organisation, profit intention and other factors), your profits are taxed as ordinary business income instead of capital gains. This means the 50% CGT discount is not available, but losses may be deductible against your other income.