How to export your Kraken history
Kraken stores your trading data in a ledger format where each trade is split across debit and credit entries linked by a reference ID (refid). To get your complete history:
- Log in to kraken.com.
- Click your profile icon (top right) and select Documents.
- Click Create Export.
- Select Ledger as the export type.
- Set the date range to cover your full history.
- Ensure the format is CSV, then click Generate.
- Download when ready - the file arrives as a .zip.
- Upload the .zip directly, or extract ledgers.csv first.
Both Ledger and Trades formats are supported. The calculator auto-detects which format you uploaded. Upload your complete history including prior years so the FIFO engine can build accurate cost basis queues.
Revenue vs capital on Kraken trades
SARS treats cryptocurrency as a financial asset. When you sell, trade, or convert crypto on Kraken, the tax treatment depends on whether SARS views the activity as capital or revenue in nature. For capital gains, only 40% of the net gain is included in taxable income for individuals and taxed at your marginal rate.
The first R40,000 of net capital gains per tax year is exempt under the annual exclusion. This means smaller portfolios may owe nothing. But the distinction between capital and revenue is critical - if SARS considers your trading activity to be speculative or frequent enough to constitute a business, 100% of your profits are taxable as revenue at your marginal rate.
- Taxable events: Sells, spot trades between crypto pairs, spending crypto, converting one token to another.
- Non-taxable: Buying crypto with ZAR, depositing crypto, transferring between wallets.
- Cost basis method: FIFO (First In, First Out) - each disposal matched to the earliest purchase of that asset.
- Tax year: 1 March to 28/29 February. For example, the 2025 tax year runs 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025.
- Filing deadlines: Non-provisional taxpayers by 23 November; provisional taxpayers by 31 January of the following year.
- Staking income: Kraken staking is active for non-US users. Rewards received are likely taxable as gross income at your marginal rate when received. When you later sell those tokens, any gain above the value at receipt date is a separate capital gains event.
What the report includes
The calculator parses Kraken's ledger entries, reconstructing complete trades by pairing debit and credit rows via their refid. Spot trades, staking rewards, deposits, and withdrawals are all identified and classified. Each disposal in your selected South African tax year gets a cost of acquisition, sale consideration, and gain or loss calculation.
Kraken CSVs don't always include local currency spot prices. Our engine automatically enriches every transaction with historical daily prices, then converts all values to South African rand using ECB exchange rates. The report shows your R40,000 annual exclusion, the 40% inclusion amount, top assets by P&L, holdings, and a complete audit trail.
SARS and Kraken
Kraken does not issue any South African tax documentation. You are responsible for calculating and reporting your own crypto gains to SARS.
- No SARS documents issued: Kraken does not provide an IRP5, IT3(b), or any South African tax certificate. There is no automatic reporting to SARS. You must self-assess and declare all crypto activity.
- ZAR conversion from trading pairs: Most Kraken trades settle in USD, EUR, or BTC. The CSV does not contain ZAR values. Our calculator converts every transaction to rand using historical daily rates.
- Staking rewards: Kraken staking remains active for non-US users. Staking rewards are likely taxable as gross income at your marginal rate, not as capital gains. The 40% inclusion rate does not apply to income.
- Refid pairing: Kraken's Ledger format lists individual debit and credit entries rather than complete trades. Each trade is split across multiple rows linked by a reference ID. Our parser reconstructs complete transactions automatically.
- Revenue vs capital classification: SARS may classify frequent short-term trading as revenue rather than capital. Revenue gains are 100% taxable with no annual exclusion. Your tax advisor determines the correct classification based on your trading pattern and intent.
- SARB exchange control: South African residents using foreign exchanges like Kraken should be aware of SARB exchange control regulations. Transferring funds offshore to buy crypto may use your single discretionary allowance or foreign investment allowance.
Related calculators and guides
Kraken calculator: Kraken Tax Calculator (all countries)
South Africa calculator: South Africa Crypto Tax Calculator (all exchanges)
Other exchanges in South Africa:
Coinbase South Africa ·
Binance South Africa