i What this calculator does
Quick answer: SARS requires the first-in, first-out or specific identification method for crypto base cost; weighted average is not allowed because crypto exchanges are not recognised exchanges. With the default inputs the calculator returns tax on crypto, all years: R878.
Working out crypto tax for one trade is easy; working it out for a year of buys, sells, swaps and staking rewards across several coins is where people give up. This calculator takes the whole list, pasted or loaded from a CSV file, matches every sale against your earlier purchases first in, first out, splits the results into SARS tax years from 1 March to the end of February, and applies either capital gains treatment or trading income treatment with the brackets and rebates for each year. Crypto-to-crypto swaps count as a sale at market value, and staking rewards and airdrops are income when received, so both are handled.
The method matters: SARS has confirmed that crypto base cost must be worked out with specific identification or first in, first out, and that the weighted average method is not available. Which treatment applies to you is explained in how SARS taxes crypto gains; a single trade can be checked with the crypto profit calculator.
This calculator is for educational purposes only. Results are estimates and may vary depending on market conditions, spreads, commissions, platform settings, and exchange rates. It should not be considered financial advice.
Common results
What the calculator returns as the other taxable income changes, with every other input at its default (sars treatment Capital (investor, long-term holding), age Under 65, assessed capital loss brought forward 0).
| Other taxable income | Tax on crypto, all years | Tax for 2026/27 | Net realised gain or loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| R0 | R0 | R0 | R23 843 |
| R250 000 | R736 | R312 | R23 843 |
| R450 000 | R878 | R372 | R23 843 |
| R750 000 | R1 104 | R468 | R23 843 |
| R1 200 000 | R1 161 | R492 | R23 843 |
| R2 000 000 | R1 274 | R540 | R23 843 |
Figures used in this calculator
The South African constants this calculator relies on, with the page that holds the current value and the date it was last verified.
- Income tax brackets and rebates: 2026/27 tables; 2023/24 to 2025/26 unchanged from each other. Source: SARS Income Tax Tables 2026/27 (verified 27 September 2026).
- Capital gains tax: 40% inclusion; annual exclusion R50,000 from 2026/27, R40,000 before. Source: Capital Gains Tax Rates and Exclusions (verified 15 October 2026).
- Tax year: 1 March to the end of February. Source: SARS Tax Season Dates and Deadlines (verified 27 September 2026).
How to prepare your trades
Export the trade history from each exchange (Luno, VALR, Binance and others all offer a CSV download), and reduce it to six columns: date as YYYY-MM-DD, type (buy, sell or income), asset, quantity, the rand value of the trade excluding fees, and the fee in rand. Trades priced in another coin or in USDT need a rand value at the time of the trade, which the exchange statement usually shows. Combine all exchanges and wallets into one list, because FIFO works per asset across everything you hold, and include purchases from earlier years so that the oldest coins are matched first.
Capital or revenue
If you buy and hold for the long term, gains are capital: the annual exclusion applies (R50,000 from 2026/27, R40,000 before), and 40% of the rest is added to your income. If you trade frequently, hold for short periods or trade as a business, SARS treats the profit as income, taxed in full at your marginal rate, though losses also reduce income. The intention and the pattern of trading decide it, not your preference, and you cannot pick the treatment that gives the lower tax each year.
What to do with the result
The per-year table gives the figures for the capital gains section or the trading income section of your ITR12. Keep the export files and this working, because SARS now receives exchange data and can ask how you arrived at the base cost. If you have years you never declared, the voluntary disclosure programme is usually cheaper than waiting for SARS to find it, as never declared crypto to SARS explains.
Spotted an outdated figure? If a rate, limit or formula in this calculator no longer matches its source, email us the page and the source. A material correction is dated on the Updates Log.
Frequently asked questions
Which base cost method does SARS accept for crypto?
First in, first out (FIFO) or specific identification, where you can prove which coins were sold. SARS has stated that the weighted average method is not available for crypto because crypto exchanges are not recognised exchanges.
Is swapping one crypto for another taxable in South Africa?
Yes. A swap is a disposal of the first coin at its market value in rand, and an acquisition of the second at the same value, which becomes its base cost. Enter it as a sell and a buy on the same date.
How are staking rewards taxed?
As income at their rand value when you receive them, in the tax year received. That value is also their base cost when you later sell them.
Can I use crypto losses against other income?
Under capital treatment, losses can only be set off against capital gains, and unused losses carry forward as an assessed capital loss. Under revenue treatment, losses reduce your other income, subject to the ring-fencing rules for some trading activities.
When is the SARS tax year?
From 1 March to the last day of February. A sale on 20 February 2026 falls in 2025/26; a sale on 2 March 2026 falls in 2026/27.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read by your browser and the calculation runs on your device; nothing is sent to TradeAnswers or stored.
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