How crypto tax works in Australia
The ATO treats crypto as a capital-gains-tax asset for investors, so selling, swapping, or spending coins is a CGT event measured in Australian dollars against cost base.
Resident individuals and trusts holding more than 12 months can halve the nominal gain with the 50% CGT discount, while companies cannot use the discount at all.
Business trading stock, mining operations, staking rewards, and airdrops sit on revenue account as ordinary income, with the receipt value becoming the later CGT cost base.
Tax rates at a glance
- Investor gains
- Up to 47%
- CGT discount individuals
- 50%
- Marginal rates on gains
- Up to 47%
- Companies
- No discount
- Personal-use asset
- Disregarded
- Staking and airdrops
- Ordinary income
- GST on exchange
- No GST
Who benefits most
These profiles tend to benefit most when the rules match their real residence, payroll and business setup.
Long-term holdersExpatsSMSF trusteesFoundersMiners
Watch out for
- The 2026-27 Budget proposes replacing the 50% discount with CPI indexation and a 30% minimum gain rate from July 2027, which is before parliament and not yet law, so current planning uses the discount with reform risk flagged.
- Swaps and spending are CGT events even with no cash proceeds, which surprises holders who only count fiat withdrawals as sales.
- Staking rewards are taxed twice in effect: once as income on receipt and again as CGT on later appreciation above the receipt-value base.
- Data-matching with exchanges plus strict transaction-record expectations makes reconstructed end-of-year histories the weakest filing position.
Frequently asked questions
How is crypto taxed in Australia?
As a CGT asset for investors, with a 50% discount after 12 months for resident individuals and trusts. Trading stock, mining, staking, and airdrops are ordinary income instead.
Is swapping crypto taxable in Australia?
Yes. Exchanging one crypto for another or spending coins on goods is a CGT event measured in Australian dollars, with the new asset taking market value as its base.
Will the 50% CGT discount change?
The 2026-27 Budget proposes replacing it from July 2027 with indexation and a minimum rate, but the bill is not yet law. Until passage, the 50% discount continues to apply.