How to export your transaction history for taxes?

Accessing Your Exchange Account

1. Log in to your cryptocurrency exchange platform using your registered credentials. Ensure two-factor authentication is active to prevent unauthorized access during sensitive data retrieval.

2. Navigate to the account settings or security section to verify your identity if prompted. Some platforms require re-verification before granting access to financial reports.

3. Locate the “History”, “Reports”, or “Statements” tab—this varies by platform but is commonly found under a dropdown menu labeled “Account” or “Wallet”.

4. Select the time range covering the tax year in question. Most jurisdictions require reporting for transactions occurring between January 1 and December 31 of the applicable fiscal year.

5. Confirm that all wallet addresses linked to your account—including spot, margin, and futures wallets—are included in the export scope.

Exporting Transaction Data

1. Choose the export format supported by your exchange. CSV remains the most widely accepted file type for tax software integration and manual reconciliation.

2. Initiate the export process and wait for the system to generate the file. Larger histories may take several minutes, especially if filtering by asset type or transaction category.

3. Download the file directly to a secure local device. Avoid cloud storage services unless encrypted and password-protected.

4. Verify the downloaded file opens correctly in spreadsheet software. Check for missing columns such as timestamp, asset symbol, buy/sell direction, quantity, price in fiat, and fees.

5. Cross-reference a sample of entries with on-chain data or wallet activity logs to ensure completeness and accuracy before proceeding to tax preparation.

Handling Wallet-Based Transactions

1. For self-custody wallets like MetaMask, Exodus, or Ledger Live, connect the wallet to a blockchain explorer-compatible service such as Etherscan or Blockchair.

2. Export raw transaction data via API tools or third-party portfolio trackers that support bulk CSV output. Tools like Arkham, Nansen, or TokenTax offer direct wallet syncing features.

3. Manually input wallet addresses into explorers and use built-in export functions where available. Ethereum-based wallets often allow exporting ERC-20 token transfers alongside native ETH movements.

4. Aggregate data from multiple wallets into a single spreadsheet. Assign consistent naming conventions for assets—for example, “BTC”, “ETH”, “USDC”—to avoid misclassification during cost-basis calculations.

5. Flag transactions involving forks, airdrops, staking rewards, or liquidity pool deposits. These events often trigger taxable income and require separate documentation beyond standard trade records.

Tax Software Integration

1. Import the finalized CSV into tax-specific platforms such as CoinTracker, Koinly, or CryptoTrader.Tax. Each supports automated matching of buys and sells using FIFO, LIFO, or HIFO accounting methods.

2. Review auto-classified transactions for accuracy. Mislabeling a gift receipt as income or a donation as a sale can lead to incorrect liability assessments.

3. Adjust cost basis entries where exchanges omit fee information. Many platforms report gross proceeds without deducting trading fees, requiring manual subtraction before calculating gains or losses.

4. Generate IRS Form 8949 and Schedule D equivalents. Some services produce jurisdiction-specific forms for Canada (T1135), UK (SA106), or Australia (Individual Tax Return Supplement).

5. Save both raw exports and processed reports in encrypted archives. Retain these files for at least six years following submission, per most national tax authority guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to report transactions if I only bought crypto and held it?Yes. Holding alone does not trigger tax liability, but acquisition must be documented to establish cost basis. Failure to record purchase price prevents accurate capital gains calculation upon future disposal.

Q: What if my exchange doesn’t offer CSV export?You can use browser automation tools or manual copy-paste into spreadsheets, though this increases error risk. Alternatively, engage a certified public accountant experienced in digital asset taxation who may extract data via alternative means.

Q: Are decentralized exchange trades harder to track?They are more complex due to lack of centralized order books and inconsistent event logging. Wallet-level tracing combined with smart contract interaction analysis becomes essential for full coverage.

Q: Can I use screenshots instead of exported files for audits?No. Screenshots lack machine-readable structure and metadata required for verification. Tax authorities expect structured, sortable, and timestamped data files—not visual representations.