Staking tax in Australia: income on receipt, and CGT only if you later dispose of the rewards
The common mistake here is to treat staking rewards like a capital gain from day one. In this estimator, staking creates ordinary income when you receive the reward. If you later sell the rewarded tokens, that later disposal can create a separate capital gain or loss.
The plain-English answer
In this version, staking rewards increase ordinary income in the tax year. They do not behave like capital gains at the moment of receipt. That is why the results panel shows staking income separately from capital gains and losses.
Then a new parcel exists
Once the staking receipt is entered, the app also creates a new parcel at that same AUD value. If you later sell those tokens, the capital gain or loss is measured from the parcel cost base created at receipt, not from zero.
Why the AUD value matters more than people expect
Because there is no price feed in v1, the tax result is only as good as the AUD values you supply for each receipt. If your staking history is missing dates or valuations, read the records guide before relying on the estimate.
Worked example
Imagine you receive SOL staking rewards worth AUD 900 on the day they arrive. In the estimator, that AUD 900 is ordinary income for the year. If you later sell those rewarded tokens for AUD 1,200, the later sale may create an additional capital gain measured from the AUD 900 parcel value.
Where this guide stops
It does not try to solve every reward-like event in crypto. It only explains the staking-income model currently used by this app. If your activity includes more complex reward programs, DeFi flows, or token mechanics, treat the estimator as a planning aid, not a final answer.
Default route after this page
If the income-on-receipt rule now makes sense, go to the calculator. If the real blocker is missing receipt dates or AUD values, use the records guide before estimating.
Frequently asked questions
Does staking count as income in this crypto estimator?
Yes. Staking receipts are treated as ordinary income at the AUD value entered on the receipt date.
What happens when I later sell crypto that came from staking rewards?
The staking receipt becomes a new parcel, so a later sale can create a capital gain or loss from that parcel cost base.
What should I read next?
Read the crypto CGT guide if you want disposal logic next, or the losses guide if your later sale was below the reward value.
Tax Accuracy & Sources
General information about crypto tax in Australia for individual investors. Not tax advice.