NZ Crypto Tax Calculator
Calculate tax on cryptocurrency trading, mining, staking, and airdrops for the 2026-27, 2025-26 or 2024-25 tax year.
Key Takeaway
New Zealand has no capital gains tax, but crypto profits are taxed as ordinary income if acquired with the purpose or intention of disposal. Most trading is considered taxable.
Key Facts
Tax Type
Income Tax
Tax Rates
10.5% – 39%
GST on Crypto
Exempt
Cost Methods
FIFO / WAC
Taxable gain
Tax on crypto
Effective rate
| Bracket | Rate | Taxable | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $15,600 | 10.50% | $5,000.00 | $525.00 |
| Tax on total income (other income + crypto) | $525.00 | ||
$0 – $15,600 (10.50%)
The Tax on Crypto above is this total less the tax on your other income alone (see the working below).
How Crypto Tax Works in New Zealand
In New Zealand, cryptocurrency is not subject to a separate capital gains tax. Instead, profits from crypto are taxed as ordinary income under the Income Tax Act 2007 if the crypto was acquired with the purpose or intention of disposal.
For most people who trade or invest in crypto, this means their gains are taxable. Your crypto income is added to your other taxable income (salary, wages, etc.) and taxed at your marginal tax rate — between 10.5% and 39% depending on your total income.
Trading: When you sell crypto for NZD or swap for another token, the taxable gain is the sale proceeds minus your cost base (purchase price plus fees). If you make a loss, it may be deductible against other income.
Mining & Staking: Rewards from mining, staking, and DeFi activities are taxable at the NZD market value when received. This is treated as income in the year you receive it. If mining is a business, the tax is on your profit: costs of earning the rewards are deductible (Income Tax Act 2007 s DA 1) unless private or capital in nature (s DA 2). The calculator deducts the costs you enter, but not below nil.
Airdrops: The receipt of an airdrop is taxable at market value only if you have a cryptoasset business, acquired the tokens as part of a profit-making undertaking or scheme, provided services to receive the airdrop, or receive airdrops regularly and the receipt is income (IRD, QB 21/06). In other cases the receipt is not taxable; selling the tokens later is a separate calculation.
Frequently asked questions
How is cryptocurrency taxed in New Zealand?
New Zealand has no capital gains tax, but crypto profits are taxed as ordinary income if acquired with the purpose or intention of disposal. Most trading and investing is considered taxable. Your crypto gains are added to your other income and taxed at progressive rates from 10.5% to 39%.
Are crypto-to-crypto trades taxable?
Yes. Swapping one cryptocurrency for another is treated as a disposal event. You must calculate the gain or loss in NZD at the time of the trade. The taxable gain is the NZD value received minus the cost base of the crypto disposed of.
How is crypto mining and staking taxed?
Income from mining, staking, and DeFi yield is taxable at the market value when received. This is treated as ordinary income and added to your other earnings for the tax year. IRD says that if your mining is a business you pay income tax on your profits, which includes the rewards when you receive them and the profit on selling them. Expenditure incurred in earning the rewards, such as electricity, is deductible (s DA 1), but private costs and capital costs are not (s DA 2), so hardware is depreciated rather than deducted at once. Enter your deductible costs for mining and staking and the calculator takes them off the rewards, down to nil at most.
What cost base method should I use?
IRD accepts FIFO (First In, First Out) or Weighted Average Cost methods. You must apply your chosen method consistently. FIFO assumes the oldest purchased crypto is sold first; weighted average pools all purchases together.
Are airdrops taxable in NZ?
It depends. IRD says the receipt of an airdrop is taxable only if you have a cryptoasset business, acquired the cryptoassets as part of a profit-making undertaking or scheme, provided services to receive the airdrop (and the cryptoassets are payment for them), or receive airdrops on a regular basis and the receipt is income. In other cases the receipt is not taxable. When it is taxable, the amount is the NZD market value when you receive it. Selling airdropped tokens later is a separate question: the sale is taxable where, for example, you have a cryptoasset business or acquired the tokens for the purpose of disposing of them, but not where you passively received them. This calculator's airdrop option assumes the receipt is taxable unless you untick that box.
Do I need to pay GST on crypto?
No. Cryptocurrency is treated as an exempt supply for GST purposes in New Zealand. You do not charge or pay GST when buying or selling crypto.
Sources
Related Calculators
Rates sourced from IRD.