Digital Asset Reporting: Understanding the New 1099-DA Form

Form 1099-DA, titled "Digital Asset Proceeds from Broker Transactions," marks a significant development by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to streamline transparency in digital asset reporting. This new tax form is mandatory for certain brokers engaged in digital asset transactions, encompassing cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other innovative digital financial instruments.

The implementation of Form 1099-DA begins with the 2025 tax year, with brokers providing this crucial data to taxpayers and the IRS by early 2026. Historically, the burden of reporting these transactions fell on individuals, often resulting in discrepancies and inconsistent documentation.

Image 1

Purpose and Significance of Form 1099-DA: This form is created to bolster compliance and accuracy in the digital asset market by requiring brokers to detail customer transaction activities. While it standardizes reporting, making tax filing potentially simpler for some investors, it demands meticulous record-keeping to guarantee precision.

Criteria for Issuing Form 1099-DA: The IRS requires "brokers," which includes digital asset trading platforms, payment processors, and wallet providers, to issue Form 1099-DA. Decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and non-custodial wallets are currently exempt from this obligation.

Recipients of Form 1099-DA: U.S. taxpayers participating in the sale, trade, or disposal of digital assets via qualifying brokers can anticipate receiving a Form 1099-DA in early 2026 for the 2025 transactions. This includes entities involved in various digital asset activities such as mining, staking, and real estate transactions involving digital currencies.

Information Detailed in Form 1099-DA: Essential details required include:

  • Payer and recipient identification.

  • Transaction specifics: asset name, quantity, date/time, and gross proceeds.

  • Cost basis for "covered securities" acquired post-January 1, 2026. While optional in 2025, brokers will have compulsory basis reporting from 2026 onward.

  • Holding period and transaction type.

  • Fair Market Value (FMV).

  • Applicable transaction fees and wash sales for tokenized securities.

Insight into Cost Basis Reporting for 2025: A pivotal aspect for taxpayers in 2025 is the voluntary cost basis submission by brokers. Absence of cost basis details could lead the IRS to assume a zero basis, potentially triggering tax audits for underreported income. Consequently, taxpayers are encouraged to maintain comprehensive personal transaction records, detailing acquisitions, fees, disposals, and sales proceeds.

Image 2

Special Reporting Criteria for Stablecoins and NFTs:

  • Qualified Stablecoins: Post-2025, brokers might report aggregate stablecoin transactions exceeding $10,000 annually.

  • Specified NFTs: Brokers are obligated to report total NFT sales surpassing $600 annually, starting 2025, potentially in aggregate form.

Utilizing Form 1099-DA for Tax Filings: Analogous to Form 1099-B for stock dealings, Form 1099-DA data transfers to Form 8949 and Schedule D. This involves reconciling broker reports with personal records to accurately calculate capital gains or losses, duly noted on Form 1040.

Pro Tips for Crypto Investors: Given the evolving obligations, investors should ensure detailed transactional documentation, consider leveraging crypto tax software, and consult professionals like Virginia Gibbs, known as "Tax Lady 1040," to adeptly manage these complexities. Moreover, unreported transactions on Form 1099-DA still require careful documentation and reporting.

Answering IRS Digital Asset Inquiries: Form 1040 includes a question on digital assets, which—under the new Form 1099-DA protocol—will be cross-verified by the IRS against broker submissions. Properly addressing this ensures accuracy and compliance, acknowledging the affirmation under penalty of perjury for return accuracy.

Image 3

Contact us for expert guidance on correctly reporting crypto transactions on your tax returns, ensuring you remain well-informed and compliant in this dynamic regulatory landscape.


Share this article...

Want our best tax and accounting tips and insights delivered to your inbox?

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 .
Tax Lady 1040 We love to chat
Please feel free to use our Ai powered chat assistant. Or use the buttons below to contact us.
Please fill out the form and our team will get back to you shortly The form was sent successfully