Beispielrechnung

DCA-Strategie: Sparplan richtig versteuern mit FiFo

Wer monatlich in Bitcoin oder andere Kryptowährungen investiert, hat schnell viele verschiedene Kaufchargen mit unterschiedlichen Anschaffungskosten und Haltefristen. Wir zeigen, wie das Finanzamt dabei vorgeht — nach dem FiFo-Prinzip.

Mein DCA-Sparplan (monatlich 100 € BTC)
Lot 1Jan 2023 — 0,005 BTC @ 20.000 € = 100 €
Lot 2Feb 2023 — 0,004 BTC @ 25.000 € = 100 €
Lot 3Mär 2023 — 0,004 BTC @ 25.000 € = 100 €
Lot 4Apr 2023 — 0,003 BTC @ 33.000 € = 100 €
Lot 5Mai 2023 — 0,003 BTC @ 33.000 € = 100 €
Lot 6Jun 2023 — 0,003 BTC @ 33.000 € = 100 €
VerkaufFeb 2025 — 0,022 BTC @ 90.000 € = 1.980 €

FiFo-Zuteilung: Welche Lots werden zuerst verkauft?

FiFo (First in, First out): Die zuerst gekauften Coins gelten als zuerst verkauft. Das hat direkten Einfluss auf die Haltefrist und damit auf die Steuer.

LotKaufdatumBTCKaufpreisVerkauf Feb 2025Haltefrist
1Jan 20230,005100 €✓ (FiFo)25 Mo. > 12 Mo.
2Feb 20230,004100 €✓ (FiFo)24 Mo. > 12 Mo.
3Mär 20230,004100 €✓ (Rest)23 Mo. > 12 Mo.
4Apr 20230,003100 €22 Mo. > 12 Mo.
5Mai 20230,003100 €21 Mo. > 12 Mo.
6Jun 20230,003100 €20 Mo. > 12 Mo.
ErgebnisAlle Lots sind steuerfrei
Verkaufserlös: 0,022 BTC @ 90.000 € = 1.980 € Kaufpreis alle: – 600 € ———————————————————————————— Gewinn: 1.380 €
Alle 6 Lots > 12 Monate gehalten → Komplett steuerfrei!
Ergebnis
Verkaufserlös1.980 €
Anschaffungskosten (alle Lots)600 €
Gewinn1.380 €
Status✓ Steuerfrei — alle Lots über 12 Monate

Häufige Fragen zum Sparplan

Kann ich statt FiFo auch eine andere Methode verwenden?

In Deutschland ist für Kryptowährungen nach herrschender Meinung die FiFo-Methode (chronologisch, pro Währung) anzuwenden. LiFo oder Durchschnittsmethoden sind für Krypto nicht offiziell anerkannt.

Was passiert, wenn ich nur einen Teil meiner BTC verkaufe?

Nach FiFo werden immer zuerst die ältesten Coins verkauft. Wenn du nur 0,009 BTC verkaufst, werden zuerst Lot 1 (0,005 BTC) und dann teilweise Lot 2 (0,004 BTC) abgerechnet.

Muss ich jeden Sparplan-Kauf dokumentieren?

Ja — jeder einzelne Kauf ist ein separates Anschaffungsgeschäft. Alle Kaufdaten, Mengen und Preise müssen für das Finanzamt nachvollziehbar sein, ggf. durch Exchange-Historien oder Blockchain-Daten.

Berechne deinen Sparplan-Gewinn

Gib deine Kaufchargen ein — der Rechner wendet FiFo automatisch an und prüft jede Haltefrist.

Zum kostenlosen Rechner →

← Alle Beispielrechnungen

Tax Example

DCA Crypto Tax: How to Calculate Tax on Dollar Cost Averaging

Investing a fixed amount in Bitcoin every month creates multiple purchase lots, each with its own cost basis and holding period. Here’s how FIFO works for a DCA strategy under IRS rules — and why the order of lots matters for your tax bill.

My DCA Plan ($100/month BTC)
Lot 1Jan 2023 — 0.00370 BTC @ $27,000 = $100
Lot 2Feb 2023 — 0.00408 BTC @ $24,500 = $100
Lot 3Mar 2023 — 0.00357 BTC @ $28,000 = $100
Lot 4Apr 2023 — 0.00333 BTC @ $30,000 = $100
Lot 5May 2023 — 0.00337 BTC @ $29,700 = $100
Lot 6Jun 2023 — 0.00330 BTC @ $30,300 = $100
SaleFeb 2025 — 0.02135 BTC @ $95,000 = $2,028.25

FIFO Lot Assignment

FIFO (First In, First Out): the IRS default method treats the earliest-purchased coins as the first ones sold. This directly determines which lots are long-term vs. short-term.

LotPurchaseBTCCostSold (FIFO)Holding
1Jan 20230.00370$10025 mo. > 12 ✓
2Feb 20230.00408$10024 mo. > 12 ✓
3Mar 20230.00357$10023 mo. > 12 ✓
4Apr 20230.00333$10022 mo. > 12 ✓
5May 20230.00337$10021 mo. > 12 ✓
6Jun 20230.00330$10020 mo. > 12 ✓
Step 1Long-Term Portion (Lots 1 & 2 — held > 12 months)
Lots 1+2 BTC: 0.00778 BTC Proceeds: 0.00778 × $95,000 = $739.10 Cost Basis: $100 + $100 = $200.00 ———————————————————————————— LT Gain: $539.10
Long-Term rate: 0%, 15%, or 20%
Step 2Long-Term Portion (Lots 3–6 — also held > 12 months)
Lots 3-6 BTC: 0.01357 BTC Proceeds: 0.01357 × $95,000 = $1,289.15 Cost Basis: $100 × 4 = $400.00 ———————————————————————————— LT Gain: $889.15
Result
Total Proceeds$2,028.25
Total Cost Basis (all 6 lots)$600.00
Total Long-Term Gain$1,428.25
Short-Term Gain$0.00
Tax Rate (LT)0%, 15%, or 20%
Report OnForm 8949 (one row per lot) + Schedule D
Federal rates only. State income taxes vary significantly — from 0% (TX, FL, NV) to over 13% (CA). State taxes apply to your long-term gains in addition to federal rates.
NIIT: If your Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeds $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly), an additional 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax applies to capital gains. Maximum effective long-term rate: 23.8%.
Pro tip — HIFO: The IRS allows you to specifically identify lots (Specific ID / HIFO method). Selling highest-cost lots first minimizes your taxable gain. You must identify the specific lot at the time of sale, not after. Talk to a tax professional before switching methods.
Method consistency: Unlike mutual funds, the IRS does not require crypto investors to use the same cost basis method year-over-year. You may switch between FIFO, LIFO, and Specific ID between tax years, though you must be consistent within a single tax year. Note: Rev. Proc. 2024-28 introduces new safe-harbor rules for basis allocation starting in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the IRS require FIFO for crypto?

No — the IRS allows Specific ID (HIFO/LIFO) if you identify the lot at the time of sale. FIFO is simply the default if you don’t specifically identify. Many investors use HIFO to minimize taxable gains.

Do I need to report every individual DCA purchase?

Yes — each purchase lot must be reported separately on Form 8949 when sold. This is why good record-keeping (exchange CSV exports, on-chain data) is essential for DCA investors.

What if I sell only part of my stack?

Under FIFO, the earliest lots are sold first. If you sell 0.005 BTC from a stack that started Jan 2023, Lot 1 is exhausted first. Under Specific ID, you choose which lot to sell — document the choice immediately.

Calculate your DCA tax

Enter each purchase lot — the calculator applies FIFO automatically and shows your gain per lot.

Use the Free Calculator →

← All Tax Examples