BR Academy

Crypto Tax and Accounting: Cost Basis, DeFi and Reporting

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← Crypto Tax and Accounting: Cost Basis, DeFi and Reporting

1Module 1: Crypto Tax Basics0/4

What the IRS Says Crypto Is, and Why It Matters8m
Every Transaction That Triggers a Tax Event
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Capital Gains and the 1-Year Rule
Staking Rewards, Airdrops, and Mining as Ordinary Income
Module quiz

2Module 2: Cost Basis and Gain/Loss Calculation0/6

What Cost Basis Is and Why It Matters
First-In, First-Out Cost Basis with Worked Examples
Last-In, First-Out Cost Basis and When to Use It
Specific Identification and How to Elect It
Calculating Realized Gain or Loss on a Sale or Trade
Wash-Sale Rules in Crypto and the 30-Day Rule
Module quiz

3Module 3: Income and Special Transactions0/5

Staking Rewards as Ordinary Income: Timing and Basis
Airdrops, Hard Forks, and Free Coins
Swaps, Liquidity Pools, and Yield Farming
NFT Purchases, Sales, and Transfers
Mining, Lending, and Other Income Sources
Module quiz

4Module 4: Record Keeping and Reconciliation0/5

Exporting Transaction History from Major Exchanges
Tracking Self-Custody Wallets and On-Chain Transactions
Pulling DeFi Transaction History and Reconciling It
Identifying Gaps and Reconstructing Missing Transactions
Building a Master Transaction Log in a Spreadsheet
Module quiz

5Module 5: Filing and Working with a CPA0/5

Filling Out Form 8949 (Sales of Capital Assets)
Schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses) and Net Gain/Loss
Schedule 1 (Other Income) for Staking, Airdrops, and Mining
What to Give Your CPA and What to Ask Them
Using Crypto Tax Software vs. Manual Filing
Module quiz

6Module 6: Advanced Topics and 2026 Rules0/5

Trader Status, Business Income, and Self-Employment Tax
Crypto Tax Rules for Non-US Residents and US Expats
Common Mistakes and What Triggers IRS Scrutiny
New Reporting Requirements and Rule Changes for 2026
A Complete Multi-Year Portfolio from Start to Filing
Module quiz

7Module 7: Capstone Project0/1

Capstone: Prepare a Complete Tax Return for a Provided Portfolio
Module quiz

Module 6: Advanced Topics and 2026 Rules·Lesson 26 of 31·12 min

Trader Status, Business Income, and Self-Employment Tax

This lesson is for enrolled learners

The concept Every lesson so far has assumed a crypto activity is conducted as an investor — someone who buys, holds, and occasionally disposes of assets for their own account. But several activities covered in this course (mining, Module 3.5; frequent high-volume trading) can rise to the level of a trade or business, and that reclassification changes which forms apply……

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