Q: Is swapping one crypto for another taxable?
A: Yes. The IRS treats it as a sale. You owe tax on any gain between your purchase price and the value at the time of the swap.
Q: How much crypto can I sell without paying taxes?
A: There is no limit. Taxes are based on your gain, not the amount sold. If you sell crypto for the same price you bought it, you have no gain and owe nothing. If you have a gain, you owe tax regardless of the dollar amount.
Q: Do I pay tax when I transfer crypto between my own wallets?
A: No. Moving crypto between wallets you control is not a taxable event. Just do not sell or trade it during the transfer.
Q: Do I pay tax if I lost money on crypto?
A: You report the loss. It offsets other gains. If your losses exceed your gains, you can deduct up to $3,000 against ordinary income. The rest carries forward.
Q: Do I have to report crypto transactions under $600?
A: Yes. The $600 threshold applies to certain reporting requirements for exchanges, not to your obligation to report. You must report all taxable events regardless of size.
Crypto taxes are not optional. Every time you sell, trade, or spend crypto, you need to track the transaction and report it. The rules are clear, even if they are not what most people expect.
Keep good records. Hold for over a year when you can. Use losses to offset gains. And if your situation is complicated, hire someone who knows what they are doing. The cost of getting it wrong is higher than the cost of a professional.