Survey: Most U.S. Crypto Investors Want to Pay Taxes Correctly, But Struggle With Compliance

A survey of 3,000 U.S. crypto investors, published in the 2026 Crypto Tax Readiness Report, reveals a stark gap between intentions and execution when it comes to cryptocurrency tax compliance ^[1].

While nearly three-quarters of respondents acknowledged that their crypto activity is subject to taxation, 61% reported significant confusion surrounding new IRS regulations. The central challenge remains accurate cost basis calculation — the process of determining the original purchase price of assets. Because 71% of users regularly move funds between wallets and platforms, maintaining complete transaction records often breaks down ^[1].

Despite the complexity, only 8% of those surveyed currently use dedicated crypto tax software. The majority rely on general-purpose tax tools (78%) or traditional accountants (52%). Coinbase's Vice President of Tax, Lawrence Zlatkin, underscored the need to help users reconcile incomplete cost basis data and file with confidence ^[1].

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a potential solution, with 30% of respondents expressing comfort delegating their entire tax process to AI, and 47% seeing strong potential for AI in calculating taxable income and capital gains. However, CoinTracker's Head of Tax Strategy, Shehan Chandrasekera, cautioned that users remain personally responsible for accurately tracking cost basis, holding periods, and net gains or losses — a problem he described as uniquely difficult to solve ^[1].