ATO Crypto Staking Tax Guide for Australia (2026)
Everything Australian crypto investors need to know about reporting staking rewards to the ATO. Includes FY 2025-26 deadlines, compliance tips, and how to calculate your tax obligation.
The ATO is Watching Crypto More Than Ever
The Australian Tax Office has significantly increased its focus on cryptocurrency in recent years. They've partnered with crypto exchanges to obtain user data and are actively auditing taxpayers who fail to report crypto income.
In 2026, the ATO has made it clear that staking rewards are assessable income. If you're staking SOL, ETH, or any other cryptocurrency, you need to report those rewards on your tax return.
"If you receive cryptocurrency as payment for services or through activities like staking, the market value of the cryptocurrency at the time you receive it is assessable income."
- Australian Taxation Office
How Staking Rewards Are Taxed in Australia
According to the ATO, staking rewards are treated as ordinary income, similar to interest from a bank account. Here's how it works:
1. Income at Time of Receipt
When you receive staking rewards, the AUD value at that moment is considered assessable income. This means you need to know the market price when each reward was credited.
2. Cost Base for Future Sales
The value you reported as income becomes your cost base. When you eventually sell or trade those tokens, you'll calculate capital gains/losses from this cost base.
3. Added to Your Marginal Tax Rate
Staking income is added to your other income and taxed at your marginal tax rate. This could be anywhere from 0% to 45% plus the Medicare levy.
Important Dates for FY 2025-26
Financial Year End
30 June 2026
All staking rewards received before this date are part of FY 2025-26.
Tax Return Due
31 October 2026
Self-lodgers must submit by this date. Tax agent clients may have extensions.
Example: Calculating Tax on SOL Staking Rewards
Let's say you received the following staking rewards during FY 2025-26:
| Date | SOL Reward | Price (AUD) | Value (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 2025 | 0.5 SOL | $200 | $100 |
| 1 Oct 2025 | 0.5 SOL | $250 | $125 |
| 1 Dec 2025 | 0.5 SOL | $300 | $150 |
| 1 Feb 2026 | 0.5 SOL | $280 | $140 |
| Total | 2.0 SOL | - | $515 |
In this example, you'd report $515 AUD as assessable income from staking. Note how the value depends on the price at each receipt date, not the current price or your sale price.
The Problem: Tracking Solana Staking Rewards
Here's where it gets tricky. Solana staking rewards don't appear as clear transactions. They're added directly to your stake account every epoch (every 2-3 days), making them difficult to track.
Popular tools like Koinly and CryptoTaxCalculator often struggle with native Solana staking rewards because:
- - They don't appear as standard transactions
- - Rewards are aggregated into your stake balance
- - You need to query the blockchain directly for this data
This is exactly why we built our tracker - to solve this specific problem for Australian SOL stakers.
Liquid Staking: Different Tax Treatment
Liquid staking is an alternative to native staking where you receive a derivative token (like mSOL, jitoSOL, or stSOL) in exchange for your SOL. While you still earn staking yields, the tax treatment differs significantly from native staking rewards.
1. Initial Swap May Be a Taxable Event
When you deposit SOL and receive mSOL or jitoSOL, the ATO may treat this as a disposal of your SOL. This could trigger a capital gains event at the time of the swap, depending on your SOL cost base and the value received.
2. Value Accrual Through Token Appreciation
Unlike native staking where you receive distinct reward deposits each epoch, liquid staking tokens accrue value through rebasing or exchange rate appreciation. Your mSOL becomes worth more SOL over time, rather than you receiving separate reward transactions.
3. CGT Event vs. Income Event
Because rewards are embedded in the token price rather than distributed separately, gains may be treated as capital gains when you convert back to SOL or sell. This differs from native staking where each reward is assessable income when received. The 12-month CGT discount may apply if held over 12 months.
4. Record-Keeping Challenges
Tracking cost basis for liquid staking tokens requires recording the initial swap rate, any additional purchases, and the exchange rate at disposal. This is different from tracking individual epoch rewards with native staking.
Common Solana liquid staking tokens: mSOL (Marinade), jitoSOL (Jito), stSOL (Lido), bSOL (BlazeStake), INF (Sanctum Infinity)
Note: Our tracker currently focuses on native Solana staking rewards. Liquid staking token tracking may be added in a future update. For liquid staking tax calculations, consult a tax professional familiar with DeFi assets.
How to Get Your Staking Rewards Data
Use our free tracker to get all the data you need for your tax return:
Enter your Solana wallet address on our homepage
Select "FY 2025-26" from the date presets (1 Jul 2025 - 30 Jun 2026)
View all your staking rewards with USD values (convert to AUD for your return)
Export to CSV to share with your accountant or keep for your records
Tips for Staying ATO Compliant
Keep Records
Download and save your staking rewards data regularly. You're required to keep records for 5 years.
Report All Income
Don't assume the ATO won't find out. They have data-matching agreements with exchanges and blockchain analytics tools.
Use Accurate Valuations
Use the market value at the time of receipt, not when you sell. Our tracker provides this automatically.
Consider a Tax Professional
If your crypto holdings are significant, consider consulting a tax professional who understands cryptocurrency.
Get Your Staking Rewards Report
Don't wait until tax time to figure out your staking rewards. Use our free tracker to see your earnings and download a report for your records.
Track My SOL Staking RewardsFrequently Asked Questions
What if I didn't report staking rewards in previous years?
The ATO has a voluntary disclosure program. It's generally better to come forward than wait to be audited. Consult a tax professional about your options.
Do I need to report if I haven't sold my rewards?
Yes. Staking rewards are income when received, regardless of whether you sell them. You'll also have CGT obligations if you later sell at a different price.
Can I claim deductions for staking?
You may be able to claim deductions for expenses directly related to earning staking income, like a portion of your internet costs. Consult a tax professional for specific advice.
What exchange rate should I use?
Use the AUD market value at the time of receipt. Our tracker provides USD values - you can convert using the AUD/USD rate for each date, or use an average rate as accepted by the ATO.