Coinbase Tax Reporting Canada: The Complete Guide 2026

How to Export Coinbase Transaction History for Canadian Taxes

A step-by-step guide to generating API keys and exporting CSV files from Coinbase for CRA tax reporting.

1. Method 1: API (Auto-Sync)

   The most accurate method that automatically pulls your transaction history into tax software without manual formatting.

2. Method 2: CSV Export

   A manual backup method useful for auditing your own records or if the API connection fails.

Let’s be honest, figuring out crypto taxes is about as fun as a root canal. If you have been trading on Coinbase, you might be looking at your transaction history and wondering how on earth you translate that into something the Canada Revenue Agency will accept.

You are not alone. Coinbase is great for buying and selling, but their native tax reporting tools are often built with American users in mind. If you just take their default “Gain/Loss” report and slap it onto your Canadian tax return, you could be asking for trouble. Canadian tax laws regarding Adjusted Cost Base (ACB) are unique, and US-centric reports rarely get it right.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to get your data out of Coinbase and ready for filing, whether you are doing it yourself or handing it off to an accountant.

Does Coinbase Report to the CRA?

This is the most common question I get. The short answer is: assume yes.

Coinbase is now fully integrated into the Canadian market as “Coinbase Canada Inc.” To operate legally here, they have to play by the rules. In the past, the CRA has successfully issued legal requirements (Unnamed Persons Requirements) to exchanges to hand over user data for high-volume traders. With Coinbase now formally registered, the flow of information is likely much smoother.

There are two main forms you need to worry about:

• Schedule 3 (Capital Gains): You must report every taxable event (selling crypto for CAD, swapping one coin for another, or using crypto to buy goods). Coinbase does not fill this out for you.
• Form T1135: If the cost of your total foreign property (including crypto held on foreign exchanges) exceeded $100,000 CAD at any point in the year, you must file this form. Since Coinbase is a global entity, many accountants advise treating assets held there as “funds held outside Canada.”

Method 1: Connecting via API (The Easy Way)

Using the Application Programming Interface (API) is the best way to handle this. It sounds technical, but it is actually just a secure way to let your tax software “read” your Coinbase history. It is better than CSVs because it updates automatically and handles complex things like staking rewards more accurately.

Here is how you generate your API keys:

1. Log in to your Coinbase account on a desktop browser.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right and select Settings.
3. Click on the tab labeled API.
4. Select + New API Key. You will likely need to enter your 2-factor authentication code here.
5. Crucial Step: Under accounts, select “all”. Under permissions, check ONLY the “View” or “Read” boxes (e.g., wallet:accounts:read, wallet:transactions:read). Never check “transfer” or “trade” permissions for tax software.
6. Hit create. You will see an API Key and an API Secret.
7. Copy the API Secret immediately. Coinbase will never show it to you again. If you lose it, you have to delete the key and start over.
8. Paste both the Key and Secret into your tax software.

Method 2: Exporting Coinbase CSV History

If you prefer doing things manually or if the API is glitching, you can download a raw file of your history. This is often necessary if you have thousands of transactions, as APIs sometimes time out with massive datasets.

How to get your CSV files:

1. Click on your profile picture and go to Reports.
2. Look for the “Transaction History” section.
3. Click Generate Report.
4. Select “CSV” as the format and choose “All Time” (or the specific tax year) for the date range.
5. Click Generate Report again.
6. Wait. If you have a lot of trades, this can take a while. You will get an email when it is ready to download.
7. Click Download in the email or refresh the reports page.

Warning: Do not open the CSV in Excel and hit “Save” unless you know what you are doing. Excel sometimes changes date formats (like swapping Day/Month), which will cause errors when you try to upload that file to tax software later.

Common Coinbase Import Errors (Troubleshooting)

Even with the API, things can get messy. Here are the most common issues Canadian users face.

Missing “Coinbase Pro” Data

If you used Coinbase Pro before it was merged back into the main app, that transaction history might be separate. Depending on when you migrated, you might need to generate a separate report for your legacy Pro activity to ensure your cost basis is correct.

Staking Rewards

Coinbase pays out staking rewards for assets like ETH or ATOM. Sometimes, these imports show up as general deposits rather than “income.” In Canada, staking rewards are generally considered income at the time of receipt. You may need to manually tag these transactions as “Reward” or “Income” in your tax software so they are taxed correctly.

Internal Transfers

If you moved crypto from Coinbase to a hardware wallet (like a Ledger), the software might think you “sold” the crypto and charge you capital gains tax. You need to ensure these are marked as “Transfers.” The software usually detects this if you add your Ledger wallet address, but if you don’t, you’ll see a massive fake profit on your report.

Canadian Specifics: ACB vs. FIFO

This is where most Canadians get burned.

The United States uses a method called FIFO (First-In, First-Out) or Specific ID to calculate gains. Coinbase’s built-in dashboard usually displays your “All time return” based on these principles.

Canada uses Adjusted Cost Base (ACB).

ACB basically averages the cost of all identical assets you own. If you bought 1 Bitcoin at $10k and 1 Bitcoin at $50k, your cost basis for any sale is $30k per Bitcoin.

If you use a generic report from Coinbase, it might assume you sold the $10k Bitcoin first (FIFO), resulting in a huge capital gain. But under Canadian ACB rules, your gain would be calculated against the $30k average.

This is why you cannot rely on the “Profit/Loss” number you see on the Coinbase screen. You must take the raw transaction data (via API or CSV) and run it through a calculator that is specifically programmed for Canadian tax law.

Conclusion

Reporting your Coinbase taxes in Canada doesn’t have to be a nightmare, but it does require attention to detail. The CRA is getting smarter about crypto every year, and ignoring it is not a valid strategy.

By using the API method with “Read-Only” permissions, you ensure the most accurate data transfer. If you use the CSV method, just be careful with date formatting. Most importantly, ignore the “Gains” displayed on the Coinbase dashboard and ensure your final calculations use the Canadian ACB method.

Get your data out, run the numbers, and file with confidence.

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