Disposal
Also known as: taxable disposal, disposal event
A taxable event that occurs when you part with a crypto asset — by selling, swapping or spending it — triggering a gain or loss calculation.
Definition
A disposal is any event where you give up ownership of a crypto asset. For tax it is the trigger that crystallises a gain or loss, calculated as the proceeds (in rands) less the base cost of the units disposed of. Disposals include selling crypto for fiat, swapping one crypto for another, and using crypto to pay for goods or services. Moving crypto between your own wallets is not a disposal. Whether the resulting gain is capital or revenue depends on your intention in holding the asset.
Example
You swap 0.5 ETH for SOL. Even though no fiat changes hands, swapping is a disposal of the ETH, so you calculate the gain or loss in rands at the time of the swap.
Jurisdiction notes
- South Africa: SARS treats crypto-to-crypto swaps and crypto spending as disposals, not just sales for fiat.