India Crypto Tax Calculator
Calculate your tax liability on crypto transactions in India, including the 30% tax on profits and 1% TDS on transfers.
Tax Summary
Enter your investment and sale details to see your tax liability.
Important Note: India taxes crypto profits at 30% with no loss offsetting. 1% TDS applies to every transfer. Keep detailed records as exchanges don't provide complete transaction history for tax reporting.
India’s crypto market is a paradox. Millions trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins every day, yet the government refuses to say if it’s legal or not. You can buy crypto on CoinDCX or WazirX, pay 30% tax on your gains, and still sleep at night-because no one’s shutting down your account. But tomorrow? That’s a different story. There’s no law protecting you if an exchange vanishes. No regulator stepping in if your funds disappear. And no clear rules on what counts as income, loss, or gift. This isn’t freedom. It’s a legal gray zone-and for traders, it’s a high-stakes gamble.
The Tax Trap: Paying Up Without Protection
The Indian government didn’t ban crypto. It taxed it. Hard. Since 2022, every profit from crypto trades-whether you made ₹10,000 or ₹10 crore-is hit with a flat 30% tax. No deductions. No offsetting losses. Even if you lost money on Solana but made it back on Dogecoin, you still pay 30% on the wins. On top of that, every time you transfer crypto between wallets or exchanges, a 1% TDS (tax deducted at source) is automatically taken out. That’s not just tax-it’s a friction tax designed to slow down trading.
Real traders feel this. Anita, a software engineer from Bangalore, bought Ethereum in 2021 and held through the 2022 crash. When tax season came, she had no idea how to report her losses. The Income Tax portal didn’t have a field for crypto losses. She ended up paying tax on paper gains she never actually cashed out. “I didn’t make money,” she says. “But the system says I did.”
Exchanges now auto-calculate TDS and generate tax reports, but they’re not auditors. They don’t know if your transfer was a gift, a swap, or a hack. You’re on your own to keep records of every transaction-date, amount, fiat value, wallet address. One wrong entry, and you risk a notice from the tax department. No lawyer, no accountant, no app can fully shield you from the ambiguity.
The Regulatory Maze: Who’s in Charge?
There’s no single authority for crypto in India. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hates it. The Ministry of Finance taxes it. SEBI wants to regulate it. And the government keeps talking about a ban-then doesn’t do it.
The RBI’s position hasn’t changed since 2013. They still call crypto a risk to financial stability. They’ve built their own digital rupee (CBDC) and quietly discourage banks from working with crypto firms. Even after the Supreme Court struck down their 2018 banking ban in 2020, many banks still flag crypto-related transactions as “high risk.” You might be able to deposit INR to buy Bitcoin, but try withdrawing profits to your savings account? Some banks freeze the transfer. No explanation. No appeal.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance drafted a bill in 2021 to ban private cryptocurrencies. It vanished. Then reappeared in 2025 as the COINS Act-a proposal to license exchanges, define digital assets, and create consumer safeguards. But it’s still in draft. No timeline. No vote scheduled. Traders are stuck in limbo: allowed to trade, taxed heavily, but not legally protected.
SEBI, India’s stock market regulator, has floated ideas for crypto trading under its watch-like listing tokens as securities. But that’s just talk. No rules. No enforcement. That means you can trade on WazirX today, but if the government suddenly decides to classify it as an illegal gambling platform tomorrow, your account could vanish without warning.
Opportunities in the Chaos
For some, this uncertainty is an advantage. India has over 1.4 billion people. Only 10-15 million are estimated to own crypto. That’s less than 1%. Compare that to the U.S., where nearly 40% of adults have held crypto. The gap isn’t because Indians don’t care. It’s because the rules are unclear.
Traders who got in early-before the 30% tax-still hold massive gains. One anonymous trader from Pune told a local news outlet he turned ₹50,000 into ₹1.2 crore by buying Bitcoin in 2020 and holding through the 2021 bull run. He didn’t cash out. He didn’t report it. He just kept it. Why? Because he believes regulation is coming-and when it does, early adopters will be rewarded.
There’s also a quiet ecosystem of crypto freelancers and startups. Developers in Hyderabad and Bengaluru are building DeFi tools, NFT marketplaces, and blockchain-based invoicing systems. They don’t need banks. They use USDT and USDC. They pay global contractors in crypto. They’re thriving-despite the tax, despite the uncertainty. For them, crypto isn’t speculation. It’s infrastructure.
And then there’s the global angle. India is part of the G20 and pushing for global crypto reporting standards like CARF and CRS. That means one day, your crypto activity will be shared with foreign tax authorities. But right now? No one’s checking. That’s the window. The question is: do you use it to build, or do you just gamble?
The Real Risks: No Safety Net
Here’s what no one tells you: if CoinDCX gets hacked, you won’t get your money back. If WazirX shuts down, you won’t get compensation. There’s no FDIC for crypto in India. No investor protection fund. No government bailout.
In 2023, a small exchange called BitBull collapsed after its founders disappeared. Over 12,000 users lost funds. The police opened a case. Two years later, nothing’s been recovered. The victims? Mostly young people who trusted the platform because it was “popular.” No one warned them: popularity ≠ safety.
Scams are rampant. Fake “crypto mentors” on YouTube promise 5x returns. Telegram groups sell “guaranteed” airdrops. Ponzi schemes masquerade as staking platforms. The government doesn’t stop them. The exchanges don’t police them. You’re on your own.
And then there’s the legal risk. What if the government suddenly declares crypto illegal? Will your holdings be seized? Will you be fined? Prosecuted? No one knows. The law doesn’t say. That’s the scariest part. You’re trading in a space where the rules can change overnight-and you’ll be held responsible for following them.
What’s Next? The COINS Act and the Road Ahead
The COINS Act 2025 is the closest India has come to real regulation. It proposes licensing exchanges, defining crypto as a digital asset (not currency), allowing deductions for trading fees, and setting up a consumer redressal mechanism. It even borrows from Europe’s MiCA rules and Japan’s balanced approach.
But here’s the catch: it’s still just a draft. No bill has been tabled in Parliament. No committee has reviewed it. The RBI still opposes it, fearing it would legitimize crypto and make it harder to control monetary policy. The Finance Ministry is waiting for global standards to settle. And traders? They’re stuck in the middle.
Some experts believe India will eventually follow Singapore’s path-create a sandbox, let firms apply for licenses, and slowly bring crypto into the mainstream. Others think it’ll go the China route: ban retail trading, allow only institutional use, and push the digital rupee as the only digital money.
Either way, the current system won’t last. The tax revenue from crypto is growing-over ₹1,200 crore in FY2025 alone. That’s not a fluke. It’s a sign the government is watching. And if they’re collecting taxes, they’re preparing to control.
What Traders Should Do Now
If you’re trading crypto in India, here’s what you need to do:
- Keep every transaction record. Date, amount, wallet addresses, fiat value. Use a tool like Koinly or CoinTracker. Don’t rely on exchange reports-they’re not legal documents.
- Pay your taxes. Even if you’re unsure. The tax department doesn’t care if the rules are unclear. They care if you paid.
- Don’t store large amounts on exchanges. Use cold wallets. If you’re holding long-term, keep it offline. Exchanges are not banks.
- Understand the 1% TDS. Every transfer counts-even moving from one wallet to another. Factor it into your profit calculations.
- Don’t trust influencers. If someone says “guaranteed returns,” walk away. There’s no regulation. No oversight. No accountability.
- Prepare for change. The next six months could bring new rules, new taxes, or even a ban. Have a plan B. Maybe convert part of your holdings to stablecoins. Maybe move some funds offshore. Don’t put everything in one basket.
India’s crypto market isn’t dead. It’s waiting. Waiting for clarity. Waiting for protection. Waiting for legitimacy. Until then, you’re trading in the dark. But if you’re smart, you’ll use the darkness to build-while you still can.
Is cryptocurrency legal in India?
Cryptocurrency is not illegal in India, but it’s not officially recognized as legal tender either. You can buy, sell, and trade crypto, but the government has not passed laws to protect traders or regulate exchanges. The only clear rule is taxation: 30% on profits and 1% TDS on transfers.
Can I get my money back if a crypto exchange shuts down in India?
No. There is no deposit insurance or investor protection fund for crypto in India. If an exchange like WazirX or CoinDCX collapses, gets hacked, or disappears, you have no legal recourse to recover your funds. Your only protection is to store assets in your own cold wallet, not on an exchange.
Why is there a 30% tax on crypto in India?
The 30% tax was introduced in 2022 to discourage speculative trading and generate revenue without formally legalizing crypto. Unlike stocks or mutual funds, you can’t offset crypto losses against gains. The tax is punitive by design-it signals that while trading is allowed, the government doesn’t want to encourage it.
Will India ban cryptocurrency in the future?
A full ban is unlikely. The government has moved from proposing a ban in 2021 to drafting the COINS Act 2025, which aims to regulate rather than prohibit. However, restrictions on retail trading, heavy taxation, or banning foreign exchanges are still possible. The Reserve Bank of India remains strongly opposed to widespread crypto adoption.
How do I report crypto taxes in India?
You must report all crypto gains under “Income from Other Sources” in your ITR. Use tools like Koinly or CoinTracker to track transactions, calculate gains/losses, and generate reports. Exchanges provide TDS certificates, but they don’t cover all your activity-especially transfers between wallets. Keep detailed records for at least 6 years.
Can banks block crypto transactions in India?
Yes. Although the Supreme Court struck down the RBI’s 2018 banking ban, many banks still flag crypto-related deposits or withdrawals as “high risk.” Some freeze accounts or ask for proof of income. There’s no law forcing banks to accept crypto transactions, so they can refuse service without explanation.
Is the COINS Act 2025 going to pass?
As of October 2025, the COINS Act is still a draft proposal. It has not been introduced in Parliament, and there’s no confirmed timeline for voting. The RBI opposes it, and the Finance Ministry is waiting for global regulatory alignment. Until it becomes law, the current tax-only regime remains in place.