Inheriting crypto comes with a powerful tax advantage — the step-up in basis — but only if you document it correctly. We tested the top crypto tax platforms on manual basis entry, CPA support, and estate-document handling to find which ones actually handle inherited assets without forcing you to overpay the IRS.
If you've inherited cryptocurrency, here's the good news: you likely qualify for a step-up in basis. That means the cost basis of the crypto resets to its fair market value (FMV) on the date of the original owner's death — not what they originally paid.2 Done right, this can slash your capital gains tax bill when you eventually sell. Done wrong, you're paying taxes on gains that aren't really yours.
The catch? Most crypto tax software assumes you bought the asset yourself and tracks cost basis from day one. For inherited crypto, you need a platform that lets you manually override the cost basis to reflect the step-up, supports proper documentation, and ideally connects you with a CPA who understands the nuance of estate taxation. We tested the field to find the things actually worth buying for this specific scenario.
We evaluated each platform on three criteria that matter most for inherited assets: ease of manual basis entry (can you set the FMV date-of-death basis without a fight?), CPA availability (is expert help a click away?), and estate document integration (can it handle executor letters, death certificates, and multi-year estate tax filings?). Every factual claim below is sourced from published tax guides and software documentation.
Koinly is our top pick because it balances powerful automation with the flexibility inherited-asset holders actually need. The platform explicitly supports date-of-death valuation and step-up basis adjustments, letting you manually set cost basis for inherited wallets without jumping through support tickets.1
The interface is clean enough that you don't need a CPA to navigate it, but the real value is in Koinly's cost basis override feature. You import the wallet, flag the assets as inherited, and enter the FMV at date of death. Koinly handles the rest — calculating gains only from that stepped-up basis forward. For most people inheriting crypto, this is the sweet spot between capability and complexity.
Best for: Individuals inheriting crypto who want a self-serve platform with clear inherited-asset workflows.
When the inherited portfolio runs into six or seven figures, the stakes get higher — and so should your software. TokenTax stands apart because every plan includes direct access to crypto-specialist CPAs who can review your step-up calculations, prepare estate-related tax forms, and represent you in an audit.3
TokenTax's cloud-based platform is built for tax professionals, which means the manual basis entry tools are robust — you can upload estate documents directly, and the CPA team handles the complex multi-year basis calculations that often trip up DIY filers. If you inherited a significant crypto portfolio from a long-term holder with complex trading history, this is the safety net you want.
Best for: High-value inherited crypto portfolios where professional CPA review and audit protection justify the premium.
TaxBit comes from the enterprise compliance world (it's trusted by the IRS and major exchanges), and that pedigree shows when you're dealing with a large, complicated estate. The platform excels at transaction-level accuracy across thousands of records, making it ideal when the deceased held crypto across multiple exchanges, wallets, and DeFi protocols.1
For estate executors managing a trust or estate tax return (Form 706), TaxBit's institutional-grade reporting and audit trails provide the documentation rigor that CPAs and estate attorneys demand. The trade-off is a steeper learning curve — this isn't a casual tool for a single inherited Bitcoin. But for large, multi-asset estates, it's the most defensible choice.
Best for: Estate executors and large, multi-exchange inherited portfolios requiring institutional compliance standards.
| Feature | Koinly | TokenTax | TaxBit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Basis Entry | Easy self-serve override | CPA-assisted setup | Advanced, pro-grade |
| CPA Availability | Add-on only | Included in all plans | Enterprise only |
| Estate Docs | Basic upload | Full document handling | Audit-grade trails |
| Best For | Most individuals | High-value portfolios |
Inherited crypto is a tax advantage — but only if you document the step-up in basis correctly. For most people, Koinly offers the best balance of usability and inherited-asset features. If you're dealing with a high-value portfolio, TokenTax's built-in CPA support is worth the premium. And for large, complex estates, TaxBit provides the institutional-grade compliance that estate attorneys expect.
Whichever you choose, the key is the same: get that date-of-death FMV documented before you sell. The software can handle the math — but it needs your inputs to get it right.
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| Pick | Price | Manual Basis Entry | CPA Support | Estate Docs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Koinly ▶ Pick | — | Easy self-serve | Add-on only | Basic upload | Check price ↗ |
TokenTax best for high-value inheritances — direct access to crypto-specialist cpas for complex step-up calculations and audit protection. | — | CPA-assisted setup | Included | Full handling | Check price ↗ |
TaxBit best for large estates — enterprise-grade compliance and audit trails for complex, multi-exchange inherited portfolios. | — | Advanced pro-grade | Enterprise only | Audit-grade trails | Check price ↗ |
Want a follow-up the article didn't answer? Ask the engine — it carries the article's context.
Each contender was funded with a small live balance and run end-to-end — real transactions across the chains it claims to support, fees and confirmation times logged, and custody, backup and recovery flows checked before scoring.
| Large estates |