Getting your Coinbase CSV
Coinbase stores your full trading history under Statements. You need the complete CSV, not just the current year, so the calculator can build accurate cost basis queues from your earliest purchases.
- Go to accounts.coinbase.com and sign in.
- Select Statements from the left sidebar.
- Under "Generate custom statement," select All assets and All transactions.
- Set the date range from account opening to today, not just the tax year.
- Choose CSV format and click Generate.
The export includes buys, sells, sends, receives, converts, staking rewards, Coinbase Earn, learning rewards, and Advanced Trade fills - all 35+ transaction types in a single file.
CGT, FIFO, and the 50% discount
The ATO classifies cryptocurrency as a CGT asset, not currency. Every time you sell, swap, convert, or spend crypto on Coinbase, you trigger a capital gains tax event. The gain or loss is calculated using the FIFO (First In, First Out) cost basis method.
If you hold a crypto asset for at least 12 months before disposing of it, you qualify for the 50% CGT discount as an individual. This means you only pay tax on half the capital gain. The discount applies to individuals and trusts but not companies or super funds.
- Taxable events: Sells, crypto-to-crypto swaps, spending crypto, gifting crypto.
- Non-taxable: Buying crypto with AUD, transferring between your own wallets, holding.
- Cost basis method: FIFO (First In, First Out) - each disposal matched to the earliest purchase of that asset.
- 50% CGT discount: Available for assets held 12+ months before disposal. Only for individuals.
- ATO data matching: The ATO collects transaction data from Australian and international crypto exchanges and matches it against tax returns.
- Tax year: 1 July to 30 June.
- Filing deadline: 31 October for self-lodgers. Later deadlines apply when filing through a registered tax agent.
- Staking rewards: Treated as ordinary income at the AUD fair market value when received.
- Personal use asset exemption: Crypto acquired for under $10,000 and used for personal purchases may be exempt. This rarely applies to exchange trading.
What you get in the report
The calculator parses all 35+ Coinbase transaction types and applies FIFO matching across your complete history. For each disposal in your selected Australian financial year, it identifies the acquisition date, cost basis, and holding period to determine whether the 50% CGT discount applies.
The report separates short-term gains (held under 12 months) from long-term gains (held 12+ months, discount applied). Staking rewards, Coinbase Earn, and learning rewards are tracked as ordinary income events with their AUD value at receipt.
All values are converted to AUD using historical daily exchange rates. The report includes a capital gains summary, income section, end-of-year holdings, and a complete transaction audit trail.
ATO and Coinbase
- ATO data matching: The ATO has confirmed it collects data from Australian and international crypto exchanges, including Coinbase. Discrepancies between exchange data and your tax return trigger compliance actions.
- No tax forms from Coinbase: Coinbase issues no tax documents for Australian users. No equivalent of the US 1099-DA exists.
- AUD conversion: Coinbase reports in USD. Our calculator converts every transaction to AUD using historical RBA rates.
- Staking on Coinbase: ETH, SOL, ATOM staking rewards are ordinary income when received. The CGT cost base is set to AUD value at receipt. The 50% discount applies to later disposal if held 12+ months from the income recognition date.
- Coinbase Earn: Treated as ordinary income at AUD value when received. Common for Australian users who signed up for learning rewards.
- Personal use exemption: Rarely applies to Coinbase trading. The ATO's view is that crypto held on an exchange is an investment asset, not personal use property.
Related calculators and guides
Coinbase calculator: Coinbase Tax Calculator (all countries)
Australia calculator: Australia Crypto Tax Calculator (all exchanges)
Other exchanges in Australia:
Binance Australia ·
Kraken Australia