Learning Center
We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

Tax Alert: Prepare for the New 1099-DA Crypto Reporting

Form 1099-DA, "Digital Asset Proceeds from Broker Transactions," is a new Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form that certain brokers must use to report digital asset transactions. It is designed to enhance transparency and compliance in the rapidly evolving digital asset space, requiring information on transactions involving cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other digital assets.

The reporting requirements for Form 1099-DA officially take effect for the 2025 tax year, with brokers sending the forms to taxpayers and the IRS in early 2026. Before this change, reporting digital asset transactions was largely dependent on self-reported data, which often led to inconsistencies and underreporting.

The Purpose and Impact of Form 1099-DA: Form 1099-DA aims to increase tax compliance and improve reporting accuracy in the digital asset space by requiring brokers to report transactions. This standardizes reporting and can simplify tax filing for some investors but also necessitates diligent record-keeping to ensure accurate reporting.

Who Must Issue Form 1099-DA? The reporting obligation for Form 1099-DA falls on "brokers" who facilitate the sale or exchange of digital assets. The IRS's definition of a broker is broad and includes digital asset trading platforms, payment processors, and hosted wallet providers. However, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and non-custodial wallets are not generally required to issue this form.

Who Will Receive Form 1099-DA? U.S. taxpayers who sell, trade, or dispose of digital assets through a qualifying broker should expect to receive a Form 1099-DA in early 2026 (for 2025 transactions). This includes individuals and businesses involved in buying, selling, trading, mining, or staking digital assets. Real estate reporting entities must also report if digital assets are used in real estate transactions.

What Information is Included on Form 1099-DA? Form 1099-DA requires brokers to report detailed information about each digital asset transaction, including:

  • Payer and Recipient Identification.

  • Transaction details like asset name, quantity, date, time, and gross proceeds.

  • Cost basis (mandatory for "covered securities" acquired after January 1, 2026). Broker reporting of basis is voluntary for the 2025 tax year.

  • Holding period.

  • Transaction type.

  • Fair Market Value (FMV).

  • Transaction fees.

  • Wash sales for tokenized securities.

The information reported on Form 1099-DA varies depending on the tax year.

  • 2025 Tax Year (forms sent in early 2026) - For 2025 transactions, brokers are required to report the gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of a digital asset. Reporting of the cost basis is voluntary for brokers in 2025.

  • 2026 Tax Year and beyond (forms sent in early 2027 and later) - Starting with the 2026 tax year, brokers will be required to report more comprehensive information, including gross proceeds, cost basis (for "covered securities"), acquisition and disposition dates, holding period, and transaction details like the type and quantity of the digital asset.

Understanding the Cost Basis Challenge for 2025: A significant point for the 2025 tax year is the voluntary cost basis reporting by brokers. If the cost basis is not reported on Form 1099-DA, the IRS may assume it's zero, which could lead to tax notices for underreported income. To prevent this, taxpayers must keep detailed personal records of their digital asset transactions, including acquisition dates and costs, fees, disposition dates, and sales proceeds. These records are necessary for accurately completing Forms 8949 and Schedule D.

Special Reporting Rules for Stablecoins and Non-Fungible Token (NFTs): There are specific reporting rules for certain digital asset types.

  • Qualifying Stablecoins: For 2025 and later, brokers can report qualifying stablecoin transactions in aggregate if they exceed $10,000 annually.

  • Specified NFTs: Starting in 2025, if total sales of specified NFTs exceed $600 for the year, brokers must report them, potentially in aggregate.

How Form 1099-DA is Used File Taxes: The information on Form 1099-DA is used when preparing tax returns similar to the way stock transactions reported on Form 1099-B are transferred to Form 8949 and Schedule D. This involves reconciling the 1099-DA with a taxpayer’s records, calculating capital gains or losses, and reporting the final amount on Form 1040.

Best Practices for Crypto Investors: Given these changes, digital asset investors should maintain detailed records of all transactions, consider using crypto tax software for tracking and calculations, and be aware of potential limitations in broker reporting, especially regarding cost basis in 2025. It is also important to remember that transactions not reported on a 1099-DA must still be reported. Staying informed and consulting a tax professional can help navigate this evolving landscape.

Answering the IRS Question about Digital Assets: For the last several years, a “yes”/”no” question on Form 1040 has been: “At any time during [return year], did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award, or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)?” Now that brokers will be issuing Form 1099-DA for the sale or exchange of digital assets, the IRS will be able to verify how taxpayers answer the question in light of the Form 1099-DA that was filed by the broker. When signing the tax return, the taxpayer signs under penalty of perjury that the information in the return is true, correct and complete. Care needs to be taken to correctly answer the IRS’ question.

Contact this office with questions and assistance in properly including your crypto transactions on your return.  


Share this article...

Want tax & accounting tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .

Get in Touch with Graves Bookkeeping

We are a virtual office. Please feel free to reach out via (818) 217-1215, or send us a message with this form.

Virtual Office
Granada Hills, CA
I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .
I consent to receive SMS messages and agree with the