Andrew Duca

January 26, 2025

6 mins

How to do taxes on your Phantom Wallet

Tax season is here, and if you’re a cryptocurrency user, navigating tax obligations can feel daunting—especially when dealing with wallets like Phantom. As one of the most popular wallets for Solana (SOL) and other blockchain assets, Phantom Wallet offers seamless crypto management, but it also comes with tax responsibilities. This guide will help you understand how to do taxes on your Phantom Wallet while maximizing compliance and minimizing headaches.

Summary: What This Guide Covers

  • Why Crypto Taxes Matter: Key taxable events on Phantom Wallet.
  • Step-by-Step Tax Filing Process: From tracking transactions to reporting gains.
  • Tools to Simplify Taxes: Recommended software to streamline the process.
  • Tips for Compliance: Staying organized and avoiding penalties.
  • FAQs: Common questions about Phantom Wallet taxes.

Why Crypto Taxes Matter

Cryptocurrency is no longer the Wild West of finance. The IRS considers crypto a taxable asset, meaning your activities on wallets like Phantom are subject to reporting. Whether you’re trading Solana, staking tokens, or buying NFTs, it’s crucial to report gains, losses, and income accurately.

Taxable Events on Phantom Wallet

Here are common taxable activities you might engage in:

  • Trading Solana (SOL) or other tokens: Selling or swapping one cryptocurrency for another.
  • NFT Transactions: Buying, selling, or minting NFTs.
  • Staking Rewards: Receiving rewards for staking SOL or other assets.
  • Airdrops: Claiming tokens distributed by projects.

Step-by-Step Guide: Filing Taxes for Phantom Wallet

1. Track All Your Transactions

Phantom Wallet doesn’t offer built-in tax reporting, so it’s up to you to track your activity. Here’s how:

  • Export Transaction History: Connect Phantom to a portfolio tracker like Solscan, which lets you view wallet activity.
  • Use a Crypto Tax Tool: Tools like Awaken integrate with Phantom Wallet to organize transactions into a tax-friendly format.
  • Manual Tracking: For smaller wallets, you can manually record transactions, including dates, amounts, and types of activities.

2. Calculate Gains and Losses

Cryptocurrency is subject to capital gains tax. You’ll need to determine whether each transaction resulted in a profit or loss.

  • Short-Term Gains: Assets held for less than a year are taxed at your regular income rate.
  • Long-Term Gains: Assets held for more than a year are taxed at lower capital gains rates.

Example: If you bought 10 SOL for $200 and sold it for $500, your capital gain is $300. This must be reported on Form 8949 and Schedule D of your tax return.

3. Report Staking Rewards and Income

If you’re staking SOL or receiving airdropped tokens:

  • Report the fair market value (FMV) of the rewards at the time of receipt as income.
  • Keep detailed records of staking rewards, as these will be taxed as ordinary income.

4. Offset Gains with Losses

If you experienced losses during the year, use them to offset your gains:

  • Net Gains: Subtract losses from gains. For example, if you earned $2,000 in gains but incurred $500 in losses, you’re taxed on $1,500.
  • Carry-Over Losses: Unused losses can be carried forward to future tax years.

Tools to Simplify Phantom Wallet Taxes

Managing crypto taxes doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are some tools that make the process easier:

  • Awaken: Automatically imports Phantom Wallet transactions and calculates taxes.
  • Dexscreener: a real-time analytics platform for decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
  • StakeTax: a crypto tax solution designed specifically for staking activities.
  • Netrunner: a tool designed to monitor and optimize blockchain network performance.

Why use Awaken Tax?

Handling taxes for a wallet like Phantom requires precision, and Awaken Tax is purpose-built for the job. Here’s why it stands out:

  • Seamless Wallet Integration: Awaken Tax directly connects with your Phantom wallet, automatically pulling transaction data.
  • Accurate Reporting: It identifies taxable events, calculates capital gains/losses, and tracks staking rewards.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Even if you’re new to crypto taxes, Awaken’s intuitive design makes the process easy.
  • Comprehensive Crypto Support: Awaken handles not just Phantom but also other wallets and exchanges, giving you a one-stop solution.
  • Audit-Ready Reports: Generate IRS-compliant tax reports in minutes.

Tips to Minimize Your Crypto Tax Burden

  1. Hold for the Long Term: Assets held for over a year are subject to lower long-term capital gains tax rates.
  2. Track Losses: Offset gains by reporting capital losses from losing trades.
  3. Stay Organized: Keep your Phantom wallet transaction data up-to-date with Awaken.
  4. Use Tax-Loss Harvesting: Sell underperforming assets before year-end to reduce your taxable income.
  5. Consult a Tax Professional: For complex situations, seek advice from a CPA experienced in crypto.

Tips for Staying Compliant

1. Keep Your Records Updated

Stay on top of your wallet activity to avoid scrambling during tax season. Regularly download transaction records and reconcile them with your tax tool.

2. Know Your Deadlines

For the 2025 tax year, the federal filing deadline is April 15, 2026. File early to avoid penalties or interest.

3. Seek Professional Help

Crypto taxes can be complex. Consult a tax professional familiar with cryptocurrency to ensure accuracy and compliance.

FAQs about Phantom Wallet Taxes

1. Do I Have to Pay Taxes on NFTs in My Phantom Wallet?

Yes. NFT sales and purchases are taxable events. You’ll owe taxes on profits made from selling NFTs and may deduct losses in some cases.

2. Are Airdrops Taxable?

Yes. Airdropped tokens are considered taxable income based on their value when received.

3. What Happens If I Don’t Report Phantom Wallet Transactions?

Failure to report crypto transactions can result in IRS penalties, audits, or even legal action. Transparency is key.

Conclusion

Final Thoughts

Filing crypto taxes doesn’t have to be overwhelming, even if you use a decentralized wallet like Phantom. With Awaken Tax, you can streamline the process, ensure compliance, and save time. Start preparing your crypto taxes today and make tax season stress-free.

For more information or to get started, visit awaken.tax and take control of your crypto taxes!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for guidance tailored to your specific situation.