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For those trading in cryptocurrencies, crypto trading platforms are required to provide you with a form 1099 for use on your taxes. When doing so, the IRS is also notified of the information contained on the tax form. And although you will receive either a form 1099-K or a 1099-B, it is not always clear what the information is saying. For example, a Form 1099-K will provide you with a list of cryptocurrency transactions and sales, but it will not tell you what your tax liability for those transactions is. Form 1099-B does provide more information, including your cost-basis, but many companies have not yet transitioned to the more descriptive form, and instead rely on the old 1099-K, which for many purposes is useless without a working knowledge of capital gains. You can find more information on the differences between Forms 1099-K and 1099-B, here[3].
So what exactly do you do once you’ve received one of these crypto 1099 forms?
What is a Cost Basis?
The term basis, as used in the Internal Revenue Code, refers to a person’s initial investment in a piece of property. For example, if you purchase something for $10, then your cost basis is $10. If you then sell it for $12, your cost basis is still $10, but your gain on the sale is $2. You are required to report and pay tax on the $2 gain, but not on the original $10 that you spent on the item. This holds true with your cryptocurrency holdings, though it can become much more complex as you likely hold more than $10 in crypto, and your holdings are likely diversified among different types of cryptocurrencies, which decrease and
