Crypto & tax · CA
California Crypto Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2025 federal and California state tax on crypto capital gains, with FIFO, LIFO, or HIFO cost basis.
Cost-basis method — changes which lots are sold
Transactions4
$
$
$
$
Filing status
Other taxable income Excluding crypto
$
Estimated tax owedFIFO
$2,883
short-term gains$3,000
long-term gains$8,000
short-term tax$660
long-term tax$1,200
CA state tax$1,023
total gains
$11,000
estimated tax
$2,883
effective rate
26.2%
Crypto capital-gains tax in California
California taxes capital gains and crypto as ordinary income at rates up to 13.3% — the highest in the nation — with no preferential long-term rate. There's an additional 1% mental-health surcharge on income over $1 million (not modeled here).
Common questions
How is crypto taxed in California?
At the federal level, crypto is property and gains are taxed as short- or long-term capital gains. At the state level, California taxes crypto capital gains as ordinary income — the same rate as your wages, with no long-term discount.
Does California have a lower rate for long-term crypto gains?
No — unlike the federal system, California does not give long-term gains a preferential state rate; they're taxed the same as short-term gains.
How we calculate this
Federal lot-matching per our crypto-tax methodology, plus 2025 California state treatment of capital gains. Estimates only — not tax advice.
Estimates for general informational purposes only; not tax advice. Crypto tax rules are complex and California state treatment is simplified here — verify with the state Department of Revenue and a tax professional.