Crypto tax calculator (South Africa)

Enter your crypto sales to estimate the tax, under either capital or revenue treatment.

SARS decides this on the facts, such as why you bought, how often you trade and whether you trade like a business. This tool does not decide it for you.

Sales and swaps

For each sale or swap enter the value you received in rand and what the crypto cost you. The starting rows are examples.

Only used for capital treatment.

Your salary and other income after deductions, before the gain.

Whole number.

Estimated crypto tax

R 4 680

Net gain on all sales
R 95 000
Annual exclusion used
R 50 000
Assessed loss used
R 0
Taxable gain (40% included)
R 18 000
Estimated tax
R 4 680.00
Share of the gain paid as tax
4.9%

SARS treats crypto assets as financial instruments. Whether a gain is capital (CGT) or revenue (taxed as income) depends on facts such as why you bought, how often you trade and whether you trade like a business. The SARS guide on this is still a draft.

All crypto gains and losses must be declared on your return.

SARS’s draft says the three-year rule for shares does not apply to crypto, and that a 45-day rule can apply to a loss when you buy the same asset back soon after selling.

Estimates only. Not financial advice.

Each sale

Gain or loss on each sale or swap
AssetValue receivedCostGain or loss
Coin AR 180 000R 60 000R 120 000
Coin BR 45 000R 70 000−R 25 000

How the crypto tax calculator works

Last updated 10 November 2026

SARS treats crypto assets as financial instruments, so a profit on selling or swapping them can be taxed. Whether the profit is a capital gain or ordinary income depends on the facts. This tool adds up your sales and shows the estimated tax under each treatment, using the 2026/27 tables.

How it works

  • Choose capital or revenue treatment.
  • List each sale or swap with the value you received in rand and what the crypto cost you.
  • Enter your other taxable income and age, then read the estimated tax.

Worked example

With the starting figures:

  1. The sales add up to a net gain of R 95 000, with capital treatment.
  2. The estimated tax is R 4 680.00, or 4.9% of the gain.

What SARS says

SARS treats crypto assets as financial instruments. Whether a gain is capital (CGT) or revenue (taxed as income) depends on facts such as why you bought, how often you trade and whether you trade like a business. The SARS guide on this is still a draft.

All crypto gains and losses must be declared on your return.

SARS’s draft says the three-year rule for shares does not apply to crypto, and that a 45-day rule can apply to a loss when you buy the same asset back soon after selling.

Capital or revenue

Under capital treatment the tool takes off the yearly exclusion of R 50 000 and includes 40% of the net gain in your income. Under revenue treatment the full gain is added to your income. Revenue treatment usually costs more tax. Which one applies is a question of fact for you and SARS, and this page does not give advice on it.

Working out each gain

For each sale, the gain is the rand value you received minus what the crypto cost you, including fees. Enter losses as sales where the cost is higher than the value received, and the tool nets them off. If you do not know your cost, find it from exchange statements.

Where the figures come from

The exclusion and inclusion rate come from SARS and the Budget 2026 Tax Guide. The crypto statements come from SARS’s crypto page and its draft guide dated 1 July 2026. A draft guide can change. We read them on 10 November 2026. The figures register shows the source and the date.

What this page does not cover

It does not cover mining, staking income, airdrops, payments received in crypto, foreign exchanges, or the 45-day loss rule in detail. This is an estimate from public documents, not tax advice. Read the full disclaimer.

Things to watch

  • The SARS guide on crypto is still a draft, so the rules may change.
  • Keep exchange statements and wallet records for every transaction.

Related: the capital gains tax calculator, the tax refund calculator and the bonus tax calculator.

Questions people ask

Is crypto taxed in South Africa?

Yes. SARS treats crypto assets as financial instruments. Whether a gain is capital (CGT) or revenue (taxed as income) depends on facts such as why you bought, how often you trade and whether you trade like a business. The SARS guide on this is still a draft.

Do I have to declare crypto?

All crypto gains and losses must be declared on your return. SARS’s draft guide points to a field on the individual return for crypto gains and losses.

What is the difference between capital and revenue treatment?

Under capital treatment, you get the yearly exclusion of R 50 000 and only 40% of the net gain is taxed. Under revenue treatment, the whole gain is added to your income and taxed at your rate. The tool shows both so you can see the difference. It does not decide which applies to you.

Is a swap between two coins taxable?

SARS treats a swap as a disposal of one asset and an acquisition of the other, so it can create a gain or loss. Enter the rand value you received for the swap.

Is there a holding period that makes a gain capital?

SARS’s draft says the three-year rule for shares does not apply to crypto, and that a 45-day rule can apply to a loss when you buy the same asset back soon after selling.

Is anything stored?

No. Your numbers stay in the page and are not sent anywhere.

Capital gains tax calculatorCapital gains tax on shares, property or a business, with the annual, home and small business exclusions.Tax refund calculatorEstimate your SARS tax refund, or the tax you still owe, from your income and the PAYE already paid.Bonus tax calculatorThe extra tax a bonus or 13th cheque adds, and what you keep.

Figures last checked on 10 November 2026 for the 2026/27 tax year. Sources: SARS: Capital gains tax, annual exclusion, SARS: Crypto assets tax, SARS: Draft guide to the taxation of crypto assets (1 July 2026), National Treasury and SARS: Budget 2026 Tax Guide.

Estimates only, based on 2026/27 figures. Not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.