This article applies to US customers only.
Form 1099-DA is a new IRS tax form for reporting digital asset proceeds. Starting in January 2026, U.S. exchanges and brokerages are required to send 1099-DAs to customers who had taxable crypto transactions in 2025.
However, exchanges are not required to report cost basis to the IRS for the 2025 tax year. This mean the IRS may not take cost basis into account when calculating how much you owe.
Understanding Form 1099-DA
Form 1099-DA basics
Who receives Form 1099-DA?
Any non-exempt U.S. taxpayer who had taxable dispositions through a U.S. brokerage or U.S. exchange. Some examples of taxable dispositions are:
- Crypto-to-fiat sales
- Crypto-to-crypto trades
- Stablecoin conversions
If you receive a 1099-DA, it means you had a taxable event in 2025 and need to report it.
Who issues Form 1099-DA?
Any U.S. custodial platform that facilitates digital currency transactions. These include brokerages like Robinhood, exchanges like Coinbase, and fintech apps like PayPal. Beginning in January 2026, they will be required to send Form 1099-DAs to customers who exchanged digital assets on their platforms in 2025.
Certain exchanges may not issue 1099-DAs, including international exchanges or exchanges that are now defunct.
Who submits Form 1099-DA to the IRS? Exchanges and brokerages will send Form 1099-DAs to the IRS. You do not need to submit a 1099-DA to the IRS, but you still need to submit a filing that includes taxable crypto events.
When will I receive my Form 1099-DA?
Many exchanges will deliver 1099-DAs through their platform's tax center in early 2026—look for "tax forms" or "tax documents" on their website or app. Timing for 1099-DA distribution varies by each exchange. Please reach out to your exchange if you haven't yet received it.
I use multiple exchanges but only some sent me a 1099-DA — can I still file?
Yes. You can complete the guided tax flow and file your return using only the 1099-DAs you've actually received. Not every exchange is required to issue a 1099-DA — smaller platforms, non-qualifying exchanges, and any platform you didn't have taxable activity on may not send one. CoinTracker still calculates your full tax picture from your transaction history across every connected exchange and wallet.
Reconciliation matters most for the exchanges that did issue a 1099-DA — the IRS already has those copies on file. Exchanges that didn't issue a form aren't part of that IRS cross-check.
If none of your exchanges sent a 1099-DA — for example, you only used non-reporting platforms or had no taxable activity — you can skip the 1099-DA step entirely and still generate your tax forms.
Form 1099-DA specifics
What does "Unknown" mean on the Form 1099-DA summary page?
If something is listed as "Unknown," it generally means you did not have a transaction or enough transactions that made that specific category a taxable event. And for the 2025 tax season, cost basis will not be reported, so cost basis may be listed as "Unknown" as well.
Do I need to input a value if my Form 1099-DA says "Unknown"?
No, you can leave it as "Unknown" in CoinTracker's portal. This typically means that category wasn't relevant for your tax situation.
Why do you only need my Form 1099-DA Summary numbers?
The summary page contains the total proceeds that exchanges report to the IRS. This is what CoinTracker needs to reconcile with our calculations. Individual transaction details can vary due to different pricing sources, but the summary totals are what matter for IRS compliance.
Is a Form 1099-DA the same as a 1099-MISC?
No, a Form 1099-MISC is a form for businesses or entities that made certain types of miscellaneous payments (typically of $600 or more) to individuals or unincorporated businesses during the tax year.
Does Form 1099-DA affect reporting on DEXes?
No, reporting on DEXes is not affected by Form 1099-DA.
Can Form 1099-DAs be inaccurate?
It's likely gross proceeds reported on Form 1099-DA and gross proceeds (sales) reported on CoinTracker will vary. This can occur due to pricing differences of crypto trades (e.g., trading BTC for ETH, the proceeds are based on the fair market value of ETH).
CoinTracker's reconciliation feature will help you compare exchange-reported proceeds with your CoinTracker calculations, and adjust your filing accordingly. If your Form 1099-DA is substantially overstated (or understated), we recommend you go back to the brokerage or exchange as they'll be reporting proceeds to the IRS.
For the 2025 tax year, issuers of Form 1099-DA aren't required to provide cost basis, but if you want accurate cost basis reporting, CoinTracker can calculate and reconcile it for you.
Form 1099-DA and cost basis
Does Form 1099-DA include cost basis?
While brokerages and exchanges may provide cost basis on your personal Form 1099-DA, they will not report your cost basis to the IRS for the 2025 tax year. CoinTracker will calculate cost basis for you based on your transaction history—this helps provide a complete record of your crypto taxes.
Without cost basis, the IRS assumes $0 cost basis on your transactions. If your 1099-DA shows $50,000 in proceeds, the IRS will calculate taxes on the full $50,000—even if you only gained $5,000. This is why accurate cost basis tracking is essential.
What if my cost basis changes after I complete the 1099-DA flow?
If you edit transactions or add new data that significantly changes your proceeds (more than 10% shift in adjustment amount), CoinTracker will mark your 1099-DA status as "Review suggested" and prompt you to revisit the reconciliation.
Form 1099-DA on CoinTracker
How does CoinTracker help with 1099-DA accuracy?
CoinTracker pulls data from all transactions across your linked exchanges. These transactions often have nuances that general reporting can miss, such as:
- Staking
- Wrapped transactions
- Cost basis
- And more
Which parts of the 1099-DA do I need to cross-check with CoinTracker data?
Only the Summary page (usually page one or two). This page shows totals by category (short-term, long-term, stablecoin). You don't need to cross-check individual transaction lines.
Is uploading my 1099-DA required?
Uploading a 1099-DA is not required to generate tax forms in CoinTracker. You can complete the guided tax flow without it and still download your Form 8949, Schedule D, and other tax reports.
Though, CoinTracker strongly recommends uploading any 1099-DA that's provided to you before filing, as the IRS already has a copy from your exchange. A significant mismatch between what you report and what the exchange reported could flag your return for review.
When is it OK to skip the 1099-DA step?
- Your 1099-DA form hasn't arrived yet. You can return to the 1099-DA portal after you receive this form.
- The exchange is too small to issue a 1099-DA.
- You already resolved any discrepancy with the exchange directly.
How do I skip?
In the 1099-DA portal, select the Continue option to move forward in the guided tax flow. Your tax forms are generated from your transaction history regardless of whether a 1099-DA is uploaded.
Can I change my decision after completing the 1099-DA flow?
Yes, you can return to the 1099-DA portal and update your choices before generating final tax forms. Once you've downloaded your final forms or shared them with TurboTax/H&R Block, we recommend returning to update your 1099-DA if your exchange data changes significantly.
How does CoinTracker handle adjustments?
CoinTracker follows IRS best practices to add an entry to increase or decrease your proceeds without adjusting any individual transactions. This adjustment appears on your Form 8949 attachment, ensuring your filing matches what exchanges reported to the IRS while preserving the accuracy of your underlying transaction data.
Does CoinTracker work with CPAs?
CoinTracker doesn't work directly with CPAs or other tax professionals, but if you have a tax professional helping you prepare and file your taxes, that tax professional will likely need Form 8949 from CoinTracker.
Ready to get started? Learn how to use CoinTracker's 1099-DA portal.
For more detailed information on how Form 1099-DAs are structured, please see our 1099-DA blog post.
Disclaimer: CoinTracker is provided for informational purposes and is not intended as tax, audit, accounting, investment, financial, or legal advice. For financial, tax, or legal advice, please consult your own professional. See our full disclaimer.