📖 User Guide
This guide explains how to use CryptoGains Report to generate your tax report for capital gains and losses on your Coinbase transactions.
1. Quick Start
2️⃣ Export your transaction history from Coinbase in CSV format
4️⃣ Drag & drop your CSV file — your report is generated instantly!
2. License Key
Your license key has the format CG-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX and is valid for 1 year.
How to get a key?
- Go to the purchase page
- Enter your email address
- Pay $19.99 CAD via PayPal or Square
- Your key is displayed immediately and sent to you by email
💡 Your key is automatically saved in your browser. You don't need to re-enter it on each visit.
⚠ Keep your key safe. If you switch browsers or clear your cache, you'll need to re-enter it.
⚠
All purchases are final and non-refundable. A
free demo is available to evaluate the tool before purchasing. See
terms of use (Section 6).
3. Export Your Coinbase Data
1️⃣ Log in to coinbase.com
2️⃣ Click your profile icon in the top right corner
3️⃣ Check your
Currency setting in the Account panel:
- Canadians: change to CAD
- Americans: leave at USD
4️⃣ Click "Statements" in the left menu
5️⃣ In
"Generate custom statement" on the right:
- Asset: All assets
- Transaction type: All transactions
- Date: Custom
- Start date: date of your first transaction
- End date: today's date
- Format: CSV
Click
"Generate"
6️⃣ The CSV file will be downloaded to your Downloads folder
⚠ Important: Download ALL your transactions (not just one year). The tool filters by tax year automatically. This ensures a more accurate ACB/FIFO calculation, since cost basis depends on full history.
4. Import Your CSV File
- Go to the Tool page
- Enter your license key (if not already activated)
- Drag & drop your CSV file into the designated area, or click "Choose a file"
- Processing is instant — your results appear immediately
💡 To load a different file, click the "Load another CSV file" button in the controls bar.
💡 Your data is saved in your browser. You can navigate to other pages, close the browser and come back — your results will be automatically restored. Data is only cleared when you click "Load another CSV file". Limitation: very large files (over 5 MB) may not be preserved.
5. Calculation Method (ACB vs FIFO)
The tool supports both cost basis methods, based on your country of tax residence:
🇨🇦 ACB — Adjusted Cost Base (Canada)
The weighted-average cost method, required by the CRA for identical properties (section 47 of the Income Tax Act). Each purchase recalculates the average cost of your units of the same cryptocurrency.
🇺🇸 FIFO — First In, First Out (USA)
The First In, First Out method, accepted by the IRS. The first units purchased are deemed to be the first ones sold.
Selector in the tool
A FIFO / ACB selector appears at the top of the results display with flags 🇺🇸 and 🇨🇦. Click to switch — all calculations refresh instantly.
Automatic detection
The tool detects the currency in your CSV (Price Currency column):
- CSV in CAD → auto-switches to ACB
- CSV in USD → auto-switches to FIFO
Your manual choice is remembered for the session. Loading a new CSV re-runs auto-detection.
💡 Important: Over the entire lifetime of your transactions, the total gain is identical between ACB and FIFO. The difference is only in the timing (which year the gain is realized).
Adaptive tax report
The tax report (Tax Report PDF button) automatically adapts:
- ACB selected → CRA references: Schedule 3, line 12700, TP-21.4.39 (Quebec), 50% inclusion rate
- FIFO selected → IRS references: Form 8949, Schedule D, Schedule 1 (staking), short-term/long-term distinction
6. Warnings & Alerts
The tool shows several smart warnings to help you file a compliant tax return:
📋 "Coinbase only" reminder
Shown permanently, this reminder tells you the report covers your Coinbase transactions only. If you hold crypto on other platforms (Kraken, Shakepay, Binance, Crypto.com, Newton, MetaMask/Ledger wallets, etc.), your ACB and gains/losses are incomplete for the CRA/IRS. Consult an accountant if you have multiple sources.
⚠ Currency / method mismatch
If your CSV is in CAD but you select FIFO (or USD + ACB), an orange warning appears. The CRA requires ACB for Canadian residents — using FIFO could result in your return being rejected.
🚨 Intensive trading pattern detector
If the tool detects more than 20 trade decisions per month (or 100+ in a year), a red warning appears. The CRA may consider your profits as business income (100% taxable via T2125) instead of capital gains (50% via Schedule 3). Factors analyzed: frequency, holding period, commercial intent, organization.
⚠ Coinbase sometimes generates multiple lines ("fills") for a single trade decision. The tool automatically groups fills executed within a 5-minute window to count the real number of trades.
⚠ Unrecognized transactions
If your CSV contains transaction types the tool doesn't recognize, a detailed warning appears with the list of affected lines. Contact us with this list so we can add support for these transactions.
7. Understanding the Tabs
📈 Gains & Losses by Asset
- Summary cards: net gain/loss, total gains, total losses, sale proceeds, cost basis (ACB/PBR), sell/buy fees
- Asset table: each cryptocurrency with:
- # Sales: number of trade decisions (grouped fills)
- # Crypto Traded: total quantity sold (e.g., 145.3490 AKT)
- Cost basis (ACB), proceeds, fees, gain/loss, ROI %
- Rewards: Coinbase staking income (100% taxable, line 12100 / Schedule 1)
- Tax report (Schedule 3 / Form 8949): formatted report for the CRA/IRS with a definitions box explaining each column — visible when printing
💸 Sales Table (tree view)
- Tree view: each trade decision is shown on a single line with the
(X fills) counter if multiple Coinbase lines are grouped
- Click the arrow ▶ to expand and see individual fills
- Expand all / Collapse all buttons at the top
- Each trade with: date, asset, quantity, buy/sell price, cost basis, proceeds, gain/loss, fees
- Gains in green, losses in red
- Chronological sort: January → December
- Synthetic USDC transactions (generated for trading pairs) are hidden for better readability
🛒 Purchases Table (tree view)
- Current inventory: unsold quantities with average price and book value
- All purchases: same tree view as sales (grouped fills, expand/collapse)
- Synthetic USDC transactions are hidden
🔍 Asset History
- Asset selector: filtered list showing only assets with activity in the selected year (from the global filter)
- Global year filter: uses the year filter at the top (no more double filter)
- KPIs: total invested, total recovered, net gain/loss, remaining quantity, average buy price
- Chart: cumulative gain/loss curve over time
- Tree timeline: each trade can be expanded to see fills, with balance after and cumulative gain
📋 CSV Export (Excel)
- Preview of the generated CSV file
- Download button — Excel-compatible format (separator ; and decimals ,)
- Includes a per-asset summary at the bottom of the file
Tax Year Filter
Use the year buttons at the top (All, 2024, 2025, etc.) to filter data by tax year. This filter is global and applies to all tabs, including Asset History.
8. Print / Save as PDF
Each tab has a "Print / PDF" button. When you click it:
- Your browser's print dialog opens
- To print: select your printer
- To save as PDF: choose "Save as PDF" (or "Microsoft Print to PDF") as the destination
💡 The tax report (Schedule 3) appears automatically when you print the "Gains & Losses" tab. This is the document you keep for your tax records.
9. FAQ
Which method should I use: ACB or FIFO?
It depends on your country of tax residence:
- 🇨🇦 Canada → use ACB (Adjusted Cost Base, weighted-average). This is the CRA-required method.
- 🇺🇸 United States → use FIFO (First In, First Out). This is the IRS default method.
The tool auto-detects your CSV's currency and switches to the right method. If there's a conflict, a warning appears.
Why are numbers slightly different between FIFO and ACB?
The two methods calculate cost basis differently. Example: buy 1 BTC @ $30,000 then 1 BTC @ $40,000, sell 0.5 BTC @ $50,000:
- FIFO: cost basis = $15,000 (half of 1st buy) → gain = $10,000
- ACB: cost basis = $17,500 (avg $35,000 ÷ 2) → gain = $7,500
Over the entire lifetime of transactions, cumulative gain is identical — only timing changes.
Why is there a difference between # Sales and # Crypto Traded?
Two different pieces of information:
- # Sales: number of trade decisions (e.g., 25 sell orders)
- # Crypto Traded: total quantity of crypto sold (e.g., 1,074 SOL)
Coinbase often splits an order into multiple "fills". The tool groups fills executed within a 5-minute window.
What is a "fill"?
A fill is a line in the Coinbase CSV. A single sell order may generate multiple fills (e.g., 15 lines to sell 35 SOL). The tool automatically groups these fills into a single trade decision (5-minute window).
Why are there USDC transactions I never made?
When you trade SOL for USDC (SOL-USDC pair), the tool generates synthetic transactions to correctly compute cost basis. These transactions are needed for calculations but hidden from tables to avoid confusion.
Is my data secure?
Yes. Your CSV file is processed entirely in your browser. No financial data is sent to our servers. Only the license key is verified online.
What are "Rewards"?
These are staking income or Coinbase rewards (learning rewards, etc.). They are taxed at 100% as ordinary income (not at the 50% capital gains rate). Report them on line 12100 of the T1 federal return (Canada) or on Schedule 1, Line 8 of Form 1040 (USA).
What does the 50% inclusion rate mean?
In Canada, only 50% of your capital gains are taxable. If you have a $1,000 gain, you only pay tax on $500. In the US, there's no inclusion rate — 100% of the gain is taxable, but long-term gains (≥ 1 year) benefit from preferential rates (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income).
My pattern looks like day trading, what should I do?
If the tool detects more than 20 trades/month, the CRA may classify your profits as business income (100% taxable via T2125) instead of capital gains. Factors: frequency, holding period, commercial intent, organization. Consult a tax professional to clarify your situation.
I have a "sale without matching purchase" warning
This means the CSV file doesn't contain the initial purchase transactions for some assets. Make sure to export all your transactions from the beginning of your Coinbase account.
Can I use the tool for platforms other than Coinbase?
Currently, the tool is designed exclusively for CSV files exported from Coinbase. Other platforms may be added in the future.
Does it work on Mac?
Yes. CryptoGains Report works on all systems: Windows, Mac and Linux. No installation required — the tool works directly in your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge).
Why are stablecoins (USDC) not in the tax report?
Stablecoins like USDC, USDT, or DAI have a stable value of 1:1 with the dollar. They do not generate significant capital gains or losses. The tool automatically excludes them from the gains/losses report and Schedule 3 to avoid cluttering your tax filing with near-zero amounts. Stablecoins remain visible in the Purchases, Sales, History and Coinbase Balance tabs for reference.
Is this tax advice?
No. CryptoGains Report is an informational tool. Results are estimates based on your data. Consult an accountant or tax professional for your official filings.