The ATO has released updated information on claiming cryptocurrency losses and gains in your tax return.
The first point to understand is that gains and losses from crypto are only reported in your tax return
when you dispose of it - you sell it, convert it to fiat currency, exchange it for another type of asset, buy something with it, etc.
You cannot recognise market fluctuations or claim a loss because the value of your crypto assets changed until the loss is realised or
crystallised.
Gains and losses from the disposal of cryptocurrency should be reported in your tax return in the year that the disposal
occurred.
If you made a capital gain on crypto that was held as an investment and you held the crypto for more than 12 months then you may be able to
access the 50% Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount and halve the tax you pay.
If you made a loss on the cryptocurrency (capital loss) when you disposed of it, you can generally offset the loss against capital gains you
might have (unless the crypto is a personal use asset). But, you can only offset capital losses against capital gains. You cannot offset
these losses against other forms of income like salary and wages, unfortunately. If you don’t have any capital gains to offset, you can hold
the losses and carry them forward for another future year when you can use them.
If you earned income from crypto such as airdrops or staking rewards, then these also need to be reported in your tax return.
And remember, keep records of your crypto transactions. The ATO has sophisticated data matching programs in place and cryptocurrency
reporting is a major area of focus.
Lunch & Learn Workshop // 4 September, 2026 - 12:00 - 1:30pm
$35pp includes lunch
Many business owners believe growth comes from more sales. But in reality, the strongest and most profitable
businesses grow by improving how the business works, not just by selling more. This session is designed to change that. The
5-Critical Financial Metrics
is a practical workshop that shows you where small, targeted changes can create disproportionately big improvements in profit, cashflow and
sustainability.
Lunch & Learn Workshop // 26 June, 2026 - 12:00 - 1:30pm
$35pp includes lunch
This session is designed to change that. Pricing, Profit &
Your Ideal Client
is a practical workshop that helps you understand where your
profit really comes from,
how pricing decisions affect margins, and why working with clients that align with your business makes a measurable difference to both
profit and cashflow.
AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging RPA, VBA, ChatGPT, and Copilot for Innovation and
Productivity.
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in MELBOURNE with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using Power
Automate, UiPath, VBA,
and cutting-edge
Agentic AI. Tailored for accounting and finance professionals, bookkeepers and small business owners,
this hands-on training will teach you to automate repetitive tasks, generate and optimise VBA scripts, and deploy robust automation
solutions independently.
On 31 March, the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year ends. With the ever increasing budget deficits, the ATO will be reviewing whether all employers who should be paying FBT are, and that they are paying the right amount. Who needs to lodge a FBT return? Find out here.
If you’re a director of a small business, Payday Super isn’t just an HR or payroll issue. It’s a governance issue that could directly affect your personal legal exposure.
