A licensed crypto CPA firm that reconciles wallets, exchanges, DeFi activity, and 1099-DAs, then turns the complete record into an accurate, supportable US tax return.
Prepared and filed by a CPA, reviewed by an Enrolled Agent. Serving clients in all 50 states.
If that is you, good crypto tax software plus your current preparer will likely do the job.
A crypto CPA turns activity from your exchanges, wallets, and protocols into an accurate tax record. That work can include reconciling transfers, reconstructing missing cost basis, classifying DeFi, staking, NFT, and derivative transactions, tying out Form 1099-DA reporting to the return, and preparing the federal and state returns that apply to your situation.
See what a crypto tax accountant handlesA crypto tax return is only as accurate as the transaction history behind it. Exchanges, wallets, bridges, and protocols each hold one slice of the story. When one slice is missing, every gain calculated after it is wrong, and the software that produced it will not tell you. That is why every engagement starts with digital asset reconciliation, not with a form.
Why you need a crypto CPA: a crypto CPA rebuilds the complete record across every platform, matches each transfer, reconstructs missing cost basis, ties the result to your 1099-DAs, and signs the return. Software calculates from what it is given. A CPA is accountable for what is filed.
A withdrawal with no matching deposit becomes a taxable disposal in most software.
For most 2025 activity, brokers report what you sold for. Your cost is still on you to prove.
A missing wallet defaults to zero basis. The gain is overstated, and nobody flags it.
Tap what describes your situation. The marker shows the level of help that fits. Most visitors to this page land on level three, but not all of them, and we would rather tell you that now.
One exchange, clean imports, simple buys and sells, verified basis.
Any transfer it cannot match, any wallet it cannot see, any DeFi it cannot classify.
A clean, reconciled Form 8949 report and no on-chain activity.
They are handed a software export and have no way to test whether it is right.
Multiple wallets or exchanges, DeFi, NFTs, staking, mining, derivatives, missing basis, 1099-DA mismatch, amended years, or an IRS notice.
Rarely. If a matter turns criminal, we bring in counsel and keep doing the accounting.
Attorney first if you are under criminal investigation, facing a subpoena, or have a securities issue. We work alongside counsel when needed.
Attorneys do not reconcile wallets or prepare returns. You will still need the accounting done.
Want the longer version? Read crypto tax CPA vs advisor vs professional and how to choose a crypto tax CPA.
Ist year with COS and I feel like I made a good decision moving from my old CPA after 20 years. My crypto investments over the last few years complicated my returns but COS has a special team to work on this. They were able to reach back and capture losses that I thought were already taken care of. Ended up with a refund which is rare for me. Btw, we are a retired couple that appreciate the young smart team at COS.
Very professional, thorough and responsive. These folks have deep knowledge in all areas of taxes. I will be coming back next year!
Great communication and strategic mindset. Leanne and Garret walked me through every question I had, during a complicated tax year. Absolutely took the edge off!
I highly recommend this firm for their technical expertise and streamlined communication. They possess a deep understanding of complex tax codes and financial regulations, delivering results with high precision. What sets them apart is their commitment to efficiency and clarity. Rather than overwhelming clients with dense jargon, they provide insights in a clear, succinct format that prioritizes actionable information. Their ability to distill complex data into a readable, professional structure is invaluable for anyone who values their time and expects top-tier accuracy.
I got scammed to a fake crypto platform and lost a huge amount of money. A traditional accountant wasn’t able to help me until I found COS elite in reddit. Very knowledgeable, helpful and easy to contact. I appreciate what they have done for us.
Comprehensive tax and crypto accounting from a personable, professional, organized group. Highly recommend. They exceeded my expectations. In addition to traditional tax reconciliation they are also able to reconcile crypto transactions which can be a nightmare going it alone. They offered year end advice for tax loss harvesting. I highly recommend COS Elite.
I am so fortunate to have found Garrett, the head CPA of the COS Elite. After leaving my previous CPA, I was amazed by the level of service he provided. After my first meeting in the beginning of April, during the peak of a busy tax season, he managed to finalize my returns in under a week. He handled my transaction as a new client seamlessly, answering all my questions promptly usually by next day. Furthermore, his expertise in Crypto currency is unmatched. In my experience, he is the best CPA in San Diego for anyone trading with Crypto trading and losses. I strongly recommend this firm for anyone looking for a talented and experienced CPA.
Highly recommend Garrett and Leanne at COS Elite. They are both very friendly and provide a fast and quality service.
My husband and I were extremely pleased with the personal attention we received from COSElite tax service. They stayed in touch with us throughout the entire process of submitting information, having our questions answered, and assisting us with computer operations. We always felt supported. Their communication was clear and they were quick to respond. Thank you for a smooth tax tax year and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.
Garrett and Leanne were great to work with. Very responsive. Questions were answered quickly. Highly recommend.
I came to them several years behind on my crypto tax reporting, with transactions spread across multiple wallets and accounts, including some I had honestly forgotten about. They were able to go through everything in detail, reconcile it properly, and help get my reporting compliant and fully up to date. Before working with them, I had reached out to more than 10 CPAs, tax attorneys, and crypto tax specialists. Out of everyone I spoke with, they stood out for both their professionalism and competitive pricing. What impressed me most was the attention to detail. They took the time to account for every transaction and wallet instead of rushing through the process or giving me a broad estimate. Special thanks to Garrett for answering all of my questions, explaining things clearly, and working with me throughout the entire process. He was patient, responsive, and made a complicated situation much easier to deal with. If you’re behind on crypto taxes or have a complicated transaction history, I’d highly recommend them.
This is my first year working with Garret’s team, and I have to say I’m very happy with their quality and delivery. Two things that stand out about their firm compared to other CPAs: 1) Their word is their bond. They told me they would charge XYZ, and at the end of the project, they did exactly that. Unlike many other firms in this space that deceptively add bogus bonus charges or surprise you with prices that are completely divorced from reality. Their transparency is refreshing. 2) The other thing I enjoyed about working with this group is that they don’t force clients into using data-harvesting proprietary software that locks you in, sells your data, and leaves you vulnerable to phishing attacks. Their tech stack is lean, and they show you the actual work they’ve done instead of hiding behind some esoteric, vague trap. Honestly, I’m happy with them and would recommend them without hesitation.
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Choose the free intro or the $199 strategy consultation, pick a date, and the time slots appear right here.
Ten things, each one a sentence. Tap a tile for the two lines underneath it. This is crypto accounting and tax preparation from raw data to a signed return, not a review of somebody else's export.
Crypto tax preparation ends in a filing package you can hand to anyone. The forms shown are the official blank IRS forms, so you can see exactly which boxes our work fills in. Nothing here is client data.
200+ exchanges, wallets, and protocols. Centralized exchanges, self-custody wallets, DeFi and bridges, staking and restaking, NFTs, mining and validator income, perps and prediction markets, bankrupt exchanges and legacy wallets. Search yours.
Not listed? We import CSV and on-chain data directly. The list above is a sample of what we work with, not the ceiling. We also repair exports from Koinly, CoinTracker, CoinLedger, CoinTracking, ZenLedger, and Summ rather than starting over.
Real outcomes with numbers, anonymized. We do not promise savings. We show what the reconciliation found and what changed because of it.
A crypto tax accountant should be a person, not a team page. A CPA prepares and signs. An Enrolled Agent reviews. That is the whole chain, and both links are on this page with license numbers you can check.
Capability by capability, here is what each option actually delivers. Section three diagnosed your situation. This one compares the outputs. Filled circle means yes, hollow means partial, a dash means no.
Partial means the option can do it in the easy cases and fails in the hard ones. A traditional CPA can sign a return built on a software export, but cannot tell you whether the export was right. Longer comparison: crypto tax CPA vs advisor vs professional.
Crypto CPA fees depend primarily on tax years, transaction volume, wallet and exchange count, DeFi complexity, missing records, and whether return preparation or IRS response is required. Everything is quoted in writing as estimated hours after a scoping call, because the price of the work is the price of the data. Set the six dials to your situation and read the sentence below.
Your quote will lean higher because high volume means more legs to match and more exceptions to clear; every additional platform is another source to map and verify; bridges, LP positions, and perps each need hand classification.
Free 15 minutes to confirm fit, or the $199 strategy consultation if you want advice on the call.
Estimated hours for the scope we agree on, before any work starts.
If the data footprint changes, the estimate is updated in writing before we continue.
Want context on what drives crypto CPA cost across the market? Read our guide to how much a crypto tax CPA costs.
Bring these to any crypto tax professional you interview. Flip each card for what a good answer sounds like, what a red flag sounds like, and how we answer.
Do you reconcile raw wallet and exchange data, or do you require a clean report?
“We pull your data ourselves and reconcile it before anything is filed.”
“Just send me your Koinly report and I will file it.”
We reconcile raw data across 200+ platforms. A software export is an input, never the answer.
Which tools, chains, and protocols do you actually work with?
“Named chains, named protocols, and a plan for anything not on the list.”
“We handle all crypto. Long pause when you name a bridge.”
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, and the rest of the majors, plus DeFi, perps, and prediction markets from raw records.
Who reviews and who signs the return?
“Two named, licensed people, and you know which one is which.”
“Our team of experts.”
Garrett Taylor, CPA #133092, prepares and signs. Leanne Grant, EA #00167954-EA, reviews every return.
How do you handle missing cost basis and unmatched transfers?
“Trace the transfer, reconstruct the basis from chain data and historical pricing, document the method.”
“The software defaults it to zero, that is conservative.”
Zero basis is not conservative, it is wrong. We reconstruct it and show our work in the exceptions report.
How do you reconcile 1099-DA reporting?
“Line by line against your disposals, with a documented explanation for every difference.”
“We just report what the broker sent.”
Every 1099-DA is tied out to Form 8949. Where the broker has no basis, we supply and document it.
What deliverables and supporting records do I receive?
“A reconciled ledger, an exceptions report, a cost basis summary, and the filed return.”
“A copy of your return.”
Everything in the deliverables section above, plus a defense file that answers any letter that arrives.
What happens if the IRS questions the filing?
“We respond from the same records we filed from, and we can represent you.”
“You would need to find someone for that.”
Both of us are licensed to represent you before the IRS. The defense file exists so the response is fast.
A crypto CPA turns activity from your exchanges, wallets, and protocols into an accurate tax record. That work can include reconciling transfers, reconstructing missing cost basis, classifying DeFi, staking, NFT, and derivative transactions, tying out Form 1099-DA reporting to the return, and preparing the federal and state returns that apply to your situation.
The key difference is where the work begins. A general tax preparer may expect a finished gain and loss report. A crypto CPA can help build and test the transaction record behind that report before using it on the return. Read our full guide to what a crypto tax accountant does.
Crypto CPA costs depend on the number of tax years, transactions, exchanges and wallets, the complexity of DeFi or other on-chain activity, the condition of your records, and whether you need filing or IRS-response work. After a scoping call, COS Elite provides a written hourly quote with estimated hours for the agreed scope. Any scope change is discussed before additional work begins.
Transaction count alone does not determine the fee. A clean export from one exchange takes less work than records spread across closed exchanges, unsupported wallets, and missing transfer history. The pricing section above explains the factors we use, and our cost guide covers common pricing models across the market.
You may benefit from a crypto CPA if your activity spans multiple exchanges or wallets, includes DeFi, staking, NFTs, mining, or derivatives, has missing cost basis, conflicts with a Form 1099-DA, involves unfiled or amended years, or has led to an IRS notice. A simple account with complete records may only need reliable tax software and a qualified return preparer.
The right level of help depends on the condition of the records, not simply whether you own crypto. Our complexity guide above separates situations that software may handle from those that usually require reconciliation or specialized tax review.
A general CPA can handle cryptocurrency when the transaction history is complete and the gain and loss report is accurate. Complex portfolios may require a specialist who can test that report, trace wallet transfers, reconstruct missing basis, classify on-chain transactions, and address Form 1099-DA differences before the figures reach the tax return.
Ask where the CPA's work begins. Some firms prepare the return from a completed Form 8949 report but do not reconcile the underlying crypto activity. That may be enough for a simple portfolio. It is a material limitation when the records contain gaps, unsupported protocols, or unexplained balances.
A crypto CPA may be worth the fee when incomplete records could overstate gains, omit income, create duplicate transactions, or leave you unable to support the return if the IRS asks questions. The value is usually highest for fragmented, multi-year, or high-value portfolios. A clean account with complete records may not require specialist-level work.
Compare the fee with the specific risk being resolved, such as missing basis, an unexplained Form 1099-DA difference, or years of unreconciled wallet transfers. Our first case study shows a reconciliation that surfaced 0.86 BTC the client did not know remained in the portfolio, but results vary by engagement.
Yes. COS Elite works with exports from Koinly, CoinTracker, CoinLedger, CoinTracking, ZenLedger, and Summ, as well as CSV files and on-chain records. We can review and repair an existing software workspace when the underlying data supports it, or rebuild the transaction record from source data when the existing file is unreliable.
You do not need to choose new software before the scoping call, and an existing workspace does not automatically need to be discarded. We first assess its imports, balances, transfer matches, classifications, and missing-data warnings, then recommend the most efficient path.
Yes, when reliable source records are available. We trace transfers to their origin, review exchange history and on-chain transactions, identify acquisition dates and amounts, apply supportable historical pricing when needed, and document unresolved gaps. The goal is a basis calculation supported by records and a stated method, rather than an unsupported zero-basis default.
The exceptions report shows each gap, the evidence reviewed, how the item was resolved, and what remains uncertain. Available cost basis methods are evaluated under the rules that apply to the tax year, and the method used is documented in the cost basis summary that accompanies the filing schedules.
First, compare the Form 1099-DA with your reconciled transaction record and ask the broker to correct inaccurate information. If basis was not reported to the IRS, the correct supported basis is generally entered on Form 8949. If incorrect basis was reported, Form 8949 generally uses code B and an adjustment. The treatment depends on what the broker actually reported.
We tie out the broker form to the ledger line by line, document each difference, and prepare the applicable Form 8949 treatment from the records. Clear support matters because an unexplained mismatch can increase the chance of IRS correspondence. Our Form 1099-DA guide explains why broker data, tax software, and the underlying transaction history can differ.
Yes. COS Elite serves crypto investors, traders, founders, and businesses nationwide from San Diego, California. Engagements can be completed remotely through secure document upload, read-only data connections, and video calls. When state returns are included in the agreed scope, they are prepared with the federal return for the jurisdictions in which you have filing obligations.
For crypto tax work, relevant experience can matter more than physical distance because the records are usually digital and the federal reporting rules are national. Clients near San Diego may also have the option to meet in person.
A clean, single-year engagement may take days to reconcile once all records are available, while multi-year, high-volume, or DeFi-heavy work can take several weeks. Filing follows reconciliation and your review. COS Elite confirms the expected schedule in the written quote and discusses an extension when more time is needed for an accurate return.
Timing depends heavily on when complete records become available. Providing exchange exports, wallet addresses, prior-year returns, tax-software files, and requested read-only access at the start reduces delays. Missing accounts or records from closed platforms can extend the reconciliation period.
