Why Am I Getting a Missing Cost Basis Warning, and How Can I Fix It?

Learn why Missing Cost Basis Warnings occur and how to resolve them effectively.

What Is Cost Basis?

Cost basis represents the original value of an asset for tax purposes. It determines capital gains/losses when you dispose of crypto (trade or sell).

Example:

If you bought 1 Litecoin for $250, your cost basis is $250.
Selling it at $300 yields a $50 capital gain ($300 - $250).

👉 Master crypto tax calculations here

Why Do Missing Cost Basis Warnings Happen?

CoinLedger flags transactions as Missing Cost Basis when:

It detects a sale/trade of crypto with no prior acquisition record.
Incomplete transaction history is imported (e.g., missing exchanges/wallets).

Key Cause: Missing data imports.

How to Fix Missing Cost Basis Warnings

Step 1: Import Missing Data

Upload CSV files from unimported exchanges.
Connect exchange accounts via API.
Manually enter transactions for unsupported platforms.

👉 Troubleshooting guide

Step 2: Use the MCB Troubleshooting Tab

Select the asset with missing basis.
Follow on-screen instructions to resolve issues.

Tip: Repeat for each affected asset.

Step 3: Enter a Manual Position

If unresolved, manually input cost basis via Transactions Page > Manual Position.

FAQ

Q1: Why doesn’t CoinLedger auto-calculate my cost basis?

A: It requires complete transaction history. Garbage in = garbage out.

Q2: What if I’ve imported all data but still see warnings?

A: Verify imports or use the MCB Troubleshooting Tab.

Q3: Can I ignore these warnings?

A: No—inaccurate cost basis leads to incorrect tax filings.

Need help? Contact CoinLedger Support.


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