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.
AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging ChatGPT, Copilot & Claude for Innovation and
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Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in GOLD COAST with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using
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system for everyday work.
AI-Enhanced Automation for Accounting and Finance Professionals: Leveraging ChatGPT, Copilot & Claude for Innovation and
Productivity.
Join SkyBots’ 2-day Workshop in MORNINGTON with automation expert Daryl Aw to revolutionise your workflow using
cutting-edge Agentic AI tools including Chat GPT, Claude, CoPilot and Gemini. This workshop is built for accountants,
bookkeepers, finance teams, and business owners who want to move beyond basic prompts and turn AI into a reliable, ethical, and practical
system for everyday work.
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
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sustainability.
The headlines say negative gearing is "gone." For most investors, that is not what the new law does.
From 1 July 2027, the 50% CGT discount will be replaced — for individuals, trusts and partnerships — by two mechanisms working together: indexation of the asset's cost base, and a minimum 30% tax on the resulting net gain.
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