TL;DR: This page helps determine which assets qualify as long-term (tax-free or tax-privileged) and which remain short-term (fully taxable) based on the holding period and selected filters. It is especially relevant for tax planning in jurisdictions with holding period incentives, such as Germany’s 1-year rule or Portugal’s distinction between short- and long-term crypto gains. The tool allows you to simulate and analyze holding timelines based on selected dates, filters, and cost basis methods.
Core Definitions
Long-Term Assets
Assets held for more than one year. Depending on the jurisdiction, these may be tax-free or taxed at a reduced rate.
Short-Term Assets
Assets held for less than one year. These are typically fully taxable under most tax regimes.
The classification is dynamic and depends on the selected reference date and the chosen cost basis method, such as FIFO or LIFO.
How do crypto-to-crypto swaps affect the holding period?
When you swap one crypto asset for another, the transaction does not reset the acquisition date or the cost basis for tax purposes in most jurisdictions. Instead, the original acquisition date and cost basis carry over to the new asset, and the swap itself is not treated as a separate taxable event for long/short-term classification. This means the holding period clock keeps running from the original purchase date, which is important to keep in mind when reviewing why a swapped asset appears as long-term or short-term in the report.
Key Controls
You can customize how CoinTracking evaluates and displays long- vs. short-term positions using the following options.
Date Picker
Select the date for which the analysis should be calculated. This is useful for simulating future or past tax scenarios. The default value is the current day at 23:59:59.
Holding Period Length Selector Allows you to project future holding outcomes by adding predefined offsets:
+6 days
+6 weeks
+6 months
+12 months This helps preview when assets transition from short-term to long-term status.
Cost Basis Method
Select the accounting method used to match asset lots when determining holding periods:
- FIFO, LIFO, HIFO, LOFO, HPFO, LPFO, HAFO, LAFO, OPTI, ZERO
Transaction Filter
Choose which transaction types are included in the analysis:
All taxable transactions, including spending, mining, gifts, income, and donations
All transactions (including depot separation), which treats wallets and exchanges independently
Trades only, focusing exclusively on buy and sell trades
Balance Filter
Filter positions based on balance relevance:
Hide or show zero balances
Hide coins below 10 EUR or 100 EUR
Currency DisplayDisplay values in BTC, EUR, or any other supported fiat or crypto currency.
Chart View: Total Long vs. Short Volume
A visual line chart displays total BTC-equivalent long- and short-term positions over time. Mouse-over interactions reveal date-specific volume values. The chart is useful for identifying trends and tax-planning opportunities and can be exported as PNG, JPG, PDF, or SVG.
**Tables Available
Long-Term Calculation Table**Shows which asset holdings are already tax-free or will become tax-privileged in the future. The table is organized into future time buckets:
Today
+2 months
+4 months
+6 months
+8 months
+10 months
+12 months
Each row includes the coin or token name, the quantity qualifying for long-term status, and the value in the selected display currency.
How to interpret the table
If a token appears under a column such as “+1 month,” it means the holding will exceed the one-year holding period in one month and will then qualify as long-term. Tokens shown under “Today” already meet the holding requirement as of the selected analysis date. This forward-looking structure helps plan disposals to avoid short-term taxation.
Short-Term Calculation Table
Displays assets that are still within their taxable holding period. The layout and filter options are identical to the Long-Term table and help identify positions that should not yet be disposed of.
Country-Specific Tax Rules
How does CoinTracking handle Portugal's crypto tax rules?
Portugal applies a distinct tax treatment for crypto gains based on the holding period: short-term gains (assets held for less than one year) are taxed at 28%, while long-term gains (assets held for more than one year) are tax-free (0%). CoinTracking's long/short-term reports support this distinction by classifying holdings according to the selected reference date and cost basis method, allowing Portuguese users to identify which assets already qualify for the 0% long-term rate and which are still subject to the 28% short-term rate. As with any jurisdiction, always confirm current rates and rules with a local tax advisor, since tax regulations can change.
Common Considerations
Only coins with positive balances are shown by default unless filters are adjusted
Manually imported or edited transactions can affect long- or short-term classification
The report is time-based and does not evaluate market value or realized gains
Depot separation must be configured correctly to avoid misclassification
Crypto-to-crypto swaps carry over the original acquisition date and cost basis rather than starting a new holding period
Tax regulations vary by country and should always be confirmed with a tax advisor
Why is a coin showing up in the wrong long/short-term bucket?
If a holding appears to be classified incorrectly, first check the following before assuming there's a reporting error:
Confirm the selected Date Picker value matches the reference date you intend to analyze
Verify the Cost Basis Method (FIFO, LIFO, HIFO, etc.), since different methods can change which specific lots are considered held long- or short-term
Check the Transaction Filter setting, as excluding or including certain transaction types (such as swaps, spends, or income) can shift classification
Review whether depot separation is enabled or disabled, since this affects how wallets and exchanges are treated independently
Confirm that any manually imported or edited transactions have the correct date and cost basis, as these directly influence holding period calculations
Remember that crypto-to-crypto swaps carry over the original acquisition date rather than resetting the holding period
If the classification still appears incorrect after verifying these settings, reach out to support with the specific transaction or coin in question so it can be reviewed in detail.
Export Options
Charts can be exported as PNG, JPG, PDF, or SVG. Tables can be exported as PDF, Excel, CSV, or copied to the clipboard.
Tips
Use future holding previews to time disposals for tax efficiency
Test ZERO or OPTI cost basis methods to model alternative strategies
Combine this report with the Gains Report to compare holding periods with realized gains
Use the information tooltips on the page for explanations of advanced filters and modes
If you're unsure why a holding appears as long- or short-term, review the Date Picker, Cost Basis Method, Transaction Filter, and depot separation settings before contacting support