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2023-05-19

How Investing vs Trading impacts tax

In most cases of buying and selling cryptocurrency as a retail investor, you are participating in investing rather than trading. The two are treated differently for tax purposes.

  • Investing is subject to capital gains tax or income tax, depending on the nature of the transaction.
  • Trading in this case refers to self-employment which is subject to income tax and National Insurance Contributions.

The key difference between investing and trading – along with the different tax treatments, is how losses generated in the crypto-activity can be used.

In their guidance, HMRC have explicitly stated that they would expect it to be exceedingly rare that any crypto-activity constituting buying & selling crypto would be classified as “trading”.

If you are uncertain, speak to a tax advisor as there are always exceptions, including but not limited to, developing tokens and large scale mining.

How is crypto tax calculated in the United States?

You can be liable for both capital gains and income tax depending on the type of cryptocurrency transaction, and your individual circumstances. For example, you might need to pay capital gains on profits from buying and selling cryptocurrency, or pay income tax on interest earned when holding crypto.

CoinLedger

CoinLedger is an accessible crypto tax platform with over 1,000 exchange and wallet integrations.

Best for: Users who want a simple, straightforward experience without complex DeFi needs.

Key differentiator: Offers an unlimited transaction plan for high-volume traders at a fixed price.

Pricing: $49 (100 transactions) to $499+ (10,000+ transactions).

Limitation: Does not generate Schedule D forms - you will need to complete this manually or with other software.

Notable: Strong NFT support with OpenSea integration.

CoinTracker

CoinTracker is a portfolio tracker and tax calculator supporting over 30,000 cryptocurrencies.

Best for: Users who prioritize portfolio tracking alongside tax reporting.

Key differentiator: Direct integrations with TurboTax and H&R Block Desktop.

Pricing: $59 (100 transactions) to $599 (10,000 transactions), with full-service options up to $3,499.

Limitation: Customer support is limited on lower-tier plans - priority support requires the $599 Ultra plan.

Notable: Good security with end-to-end encryption and SOC 2 compliance.

ZenLedger

ZenLedger offers both DIY crypto tax reports and professional full-service accounting.

Best for: Users who want tax loss harvesting included at every pricing tier.

Key differentiator: Tax loss harvesting is available on all plans, not just premium tiers.

Pricing: $49 (100 transactions) to $399 (15,000 transactions).

Limitation: Only offers 400+ exchange integrations - significantly fewer than competitors. Some users report customer support issues with long wait times.

Notable: TurboTax integration and 14-day refund policy.

blog
May 19
,
 
2023
 - 
10
min read

Summ 2.0

Summ (formerly Crypto Tax Calculator)'s latest software update introduces a suite of improvements to help you calculate your crypto taxes. Introducing advanced support for on-chain and DeFi transacitons, 100 new exchanges and a redesigned UI.

Key takeaways
  • Advanced support for on-chain trading across hundreds of leading DeFi protocols
  • Support for derivatives trading on major exchanges
  • UI and performance enhancements to help you do your crypto taxes faster
This tax guide is regularly updated: Last Update  

Summ gets a major face lift

Summ (formerly Crypto Tax Calculator) has been around for almost three years. I first started this project back in 2018 after copping a $2k quote from an accountant to sort out my degen trading activity.

At the time most of the crypto tax platforms were built to facilitate the rather simple Bitcoin protocol, which was limited to mostly buying and selling on centralized exchanges. However I was a big fan of the Ethereum protocol, and had been trading on a few DEXs as well as participating in over 20 ICOs. Needless to say, getting my taxes sorted using the existing tools was a near impossible task. Instead I built a script to read from the Ethereum blockchain and automatically categorise transactions.

Fast forward to 2020 and the app had helped thousands of crypto enthusiasts with their crypto taxes. Along the way we learned some big lessons and decided to double down on the app, rewriting the backend so that we could quickly support the thousands of new financial products emerging in the crypto space. This turns out to have been a wise decision. The crypto space has since rapidly exploded, our app has seen dramatic growth, we have greatly expanded from a one man shop to a team of ten, and it is now easier then ever to get your taxes sorted.

A non trivial list of improvements

  1. Integrated support for margin/futures/options trading on major exchanges such as Binance, BitMEX, Bitfinex, Bybit, Liquid, Kraken, FTX, and Deribit.

  2. Automated on-chain categorisation of DEX protocols such as Uniswap, OasisDEX, Kyber, Airswap, Balancer, Maker, and Sushiswap.

  3. Automated support for DeFi protocols such as Compound, AAVE, and Synthetix.

  4. Support for staking across CEX and DeFi solutions including Sushiswap, Kraken, Celsius, NEO, and Crypto.com.

  5. Support for Specific ID (Last In First Out, Highest In First Out) inventory methods.

  6. Support for Canada and UK with their unique inventory rules.

  7. Additional support for over 100 exchanges.

  8. A complete redesign of the UI/UX

  9. Performance upgrades that allow you to calculate taxes on up to 100,000 transactions in under 5 seconds.

What's next?

We have now built out the foundational pieces to become the most comprehensive tax software in the crypto space. Our next priority is significantly expanding the "long-tail" support for crypto users. This includes:

  1. Better tooling to analyze your trade history performance and the impact of future trades on your tax obligations.

  2. Deeper support for local exchanges in the Canada, UK, and non-English speaking markets.

  3. Significant expansion of our native blockchain support for up and coming protocols.

If you have anything you would like us to support we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line on the in-app chat support.

The information provided on this website is general in nature and is not tax, accounting or legal advice. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs and seek professional advice. Summ (formerly Crypto Tax Calculator) disclaims all and any guarantees, undertakings and warranties, expressed or implied, and is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including human or computer error, negligent or otherwise, or incidental or Consequential Loss or damage) arising out of, or in connection with, any use or reliance on the information or advice in this website. The user must accept sole responsibility associated with the use of the material on this site, irrespective of the purpose for which such use or results are applied. The information in this website is no substitute for specialist advice.

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Try Summ today

Import your transactions and generate a free report preview.

Blog

27 January 2021

X

 Min read

Summ 2.0

Summ (formerly Crypto Tax Calculator)'s latest software update introduces a suite of improvements to help you calculate your crypto taxes. Introducing advanced support for on-chain and DeFi transacitons, 100 new exchanges and a redesigned UI.

Shane Brunette

Key takeaways

  • Advanced support for on-chain trading across hundreds of leading DeFi protocols
  • Support for derivatives trading on major exchanges
  • UI and performance enhancements to help you do your crypto taxes faster

This tax guide is regularly updated: Last Update 

....

May

19

2023

Summ gets a major face lift

Summ (formerly Crypto Tax Calculator) has been around for almost three years. I first started this project back in 2018 after copping a $2k quote from an accountant to sort out my degen trading activity.

At the time most of the crypto tax platforms were built to facilitate the rather simple Bitcoin protocol, which was limited to mostly buying and selling on centralized exchanges. However I was a big fan of the Ethereum protocol, and had been trading on a few DEXs as well as participating in over 20 ICOs. Needless to say, getting my taxes sorted using the existing tools was a near impossible task. Instead I built a script to read from the Ethereum blockchain and automatically categorise transactions.

Fast forward to 2020 and the app had helped thousands of crypto enthusiasts with their crypto taxes. Along the way we learned some big lessons and decided to double down on the app, rewriting the backend so that we could quickly support the thousands of new financial products emerging in the crypto space. This turns out to have been a wise decision. The crypto space has since rapidly exploded, our app has seen dramatic growth, we have greatly expanded from a one man shop to a team of ten, and it is now easier then ever to get your taxes sorted.

A non trivial list of improvements

  1. Integrated support for margin/futures/options trading on major exchanges such as Binance, BitMEX, Bitfinex, Bybit, Liquid, Kraken, FTX, and Deribit.

  2. Automated on-chain categorisation of DEX protocols such as Uniswap, OasisDEX, Kyber, Airswap, Balancer, Maker, and Sushiswap.

  3. Automated support for DeFi protocols such as Compound, AAVE, and Synthetix.

  4. Support for staking across CEX and DeFi solutions including Sushiswap, Kraken, Celsius, NEO, and Crypto.com.

  5. Support for Specific ID (Last In First Out, Highest In First Out) inventory methods.

  6. Support for Canada and UK with their unique inventory rules.

  7. Additional support for over 100 exchanges.

  8. A complete redesign of the UI/UX

  9. Performance upgrades that allow you to calculate taxes on up to 100,000 transactions in under 5 seconds.

What's next?

We have now built out the foundational pieces to become the most comprehensive tax software in the crypto space. Our next priority is significantly expanding the "long-tail" support for crypto users. This includes:

  1. Better tooling to analyze your trade history performance and the impact of future trades on your tax obligations.

  2. Deeper support for local exchanges in the Canada, UK, and non-English speaking markets.

  3. Significant expansion of our native blockchain support for up and coming protocols.

If you have anything you would like us to support we would love to hear from you! Just drop us a line on the in-app chat support.

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Frequently asked questions

How does the CRA treat cryptocurrency for tax purposes?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) views cryptocurrency as a commodity, similar to a precious metal like gold. This means it's not considered legal tender like the Canadian dollar. How your cryptocurrency transactions are taxed depends on why you're using it. If you occasionally buy and sell cryptocurrency for investment purposes, any profits or losses are generally considered capital gains or losses. On the other hand, if your activities are more frequent, involve mining or staking, or are done with a profit motive, your cryptocurrency transactions may be considered business income or losses. The CRA requires you to report all taxable cryptocurrency transactions. This includes selling cryptocurrency for Canadian dollars or another cryptocurrency, using cryptocurrency to buy goods or services, receiving cryptocurrency as payment, and earning cryptocurrency from mining or staking. Failing to report these transactions can result in penalties or audits.

What are the tax implications for crypto-to-crypto trades in Canada?

The CRA considers crypto-to-crypto trades as dispositions. This means each trade triggers a capital gain or loss, even though you haven't received any Canadian dollars. To calculate the gain or loss, determine the adjusted cost base of the cryptocurrency you're disposing of and calculate the proceeds of disposition using the fair market value (in Canadian dollars) of the cryptocurrency you're acquiring.

Do I need to pay GST/HST on cryptocurrency transactions?

GST/HST may apply to cryptocurrency transactions in certain situations. If your business accepts cryptocurrency as payment for goods or services, you need to charge GST/HST. The tax is calculated on the fair market value of the cryptocurrency at the time of the transaction. Since the CRA treats crypto as a commodity, accepting it as payment is considered a barter transaction. Both parties involved in the barter may need to account for GST/HST. GST/HST generally doesn't apply to personal cryptocurrency transactions unless your activities are considered a business.

What happens if I fail to report cryptocurrency on my taxes in Canada?

Failing to report your cryptocurrency transactions can have serious consequences. The CRA can impose penalties and charge daily compound interest on any unpaid taxes. You may be subject to a tax audit, and in severe cases, you could face criminal charges. If you realize you made a mistake or omission on your tax return, you can correct it through the CRA's Voluntary Disclosures Program. This allows you to come forward and disclose the information before the CRA starts an audit. It's always best to be proactive and report all your cryptocurrency activity accurately and on time.

How does the free trial work?

The platform is free to use immediately upon signup, allowing you to import your transactions and take advantage of our smart suggestion and auto-categorization engine, portfolio tracking, DeFi and NFT support. For access to reports, the tax loss harvest tool or chat and priority support, you will need to upgrade to the appropriate paid plan.

Automate your crypto bookkeeping

01

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As SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, we ensure robust data security, giving customers confidence in entrusting us.
02

Secure organization

We conduct regular and thorough Security & Awareness training for all employees.
03

Full data privacy

Our application only ever requires 'read-only' access to your data.