CoinTracker's tax reports combine activity from every wallet and exchange connected to your account. A tax report from a single exchange only covers what happened on that one platform. When the two don't match, the difference usually traces back to how each report scopes the data.
Why the totals differ
A few structural differences explain most mismatches:
- CoinTracker sees your full portfolio. When you move crypto between exchanges and wallets, CoinTracker carries the original cost basis forward. An exchange only sees what happened inside its own platform, so any tokens that arrived from elsewhere may show up with a missing or zero cost basis on that exchange's report.
- Cost basis methods can differ. CoinTracker calculates capital gains using the cost basis method set in your tax settings. Your exchange may use a different method, which produces different gain and loss figures even on the same trades.
- Some exchange reports don't show gains and losses. Forms like 1099-K and 1099-B report transaction totals or gross proceeds, not realized gains and losses. Comparing those numbers to a CoinTracker capital gains figure won't line up because the two are measuring different things. For more on 1099 differences, see Why your CoinTracker tax report might differ from your 1099 forms.
Comparing CoinTracker to other tax software
The same logic applies when comparing CoinTracker's tax report to results from another crypto tax product. Differences typically trace to one of the following:
- Missing transactions or out-of-sync wallets in one product.
- Different cost basis methods.
- Different handling of transfers, fees, or specific transaction categories.
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.