India's VDA tax framework and Phantom wallet activity
Finance Act 2022 introduced a flat 30% tax on gains from virtual digital asset transfers under Section 115BBH. Every taxable disposal from your Phantom wallet - a Jupiter swap, a Tensor NFT sale, a Solana token trade - is a VDA transfer subject to this framework. The rules apply to on-chain activity just as they do to trades on centralized Indian exchanges.
Two features of Section 115BBH are particularly important for active Phantom users. First, losses from one VDA cannot be offset against gains from another VDA in the same year. Each transaction's gain stands on its own. Second, the only deduction permitted is the cost of acquisition - no deduction for expenses or fees beyond the purchase cost. Solana's low fees amplify activity volume, meaning Indian Phantom users can accumulate a large number of VDA entries in a single financial year.
Jupiter swaps and Solana DEX trades under Section 115BBH
Each Jupiter swap is a transfer of a VDA: you dispose of the input token and acquire the output token. The gain on the disposed token equals the INR value received minus the cost of acquisition in INR. DYOR.tax calculates each transaction's INR value using historical USD/INR rates at the time of the swap.
SPL token trades on Raydium, Orca, and other Solana DEXes follow the same logic. Each swap is a separate VDA event. The cumulative number of events can be substantial for active traders given Solana's throughput and low transaction costs. DYOR.tax processes the complete Phantom wallet history automatically, consolidating all on-chain activity into a transaction-level INR report.
SOL staking rewards and Marinade, Jito liquid staking
SOL staking rewards received into your Phantom wallet are taxable income from virtual digital assets. The INR fair market value at the date of receipt is the taxable amount. Later disposal of those staked SOL tokens constitutes a separate VDA transfer.
Liquid staking via Marinade (mSOL) and Jito (jitoSOL) involves converting SOL to a liquid staking token. This conversion may itself be a VDA transfer. The treatment of liquid staking positions under India's VDA rules is not specifically addressed in current CBDT guidance - consult a qualified adviser for these positions. DYOR.tax records all Marinade and Jito interactions for your review.
Airdrops and SPL token distributions
Solana's ecosystem generates frequent airdrops of SPL tokens and NFTs to active wallet addresses. Airdrop tokens received into your Phantom wallet may be taxable as income at fair market value when received, depending on the facts and circumstances. Some distributions may have zero or negligible market value at receipt - the taxable amount depends on the specific token's price at the time. Consult a tax adviser for SPL token airdrop treatment specific to your situation.
Related calculators and guides
All countries: Phantom Tax Calculator
IN country page: India Crypto Tax Calculator
Other Phantom countries:
Phantom USA ·
Phantom UK ·
Phantom Australia
Solana guides: Solana Tax Calculator · Airdrop Taxes · India Tax Deadline