What tax forms do you need for Kalshi?
Which forms you file for Kalshi isn't one fixed list, it depends on how you treat your trading income, plus any rewards or interest you received. This guide maps the forms to each path.
It is educational, not tax advice.
- Because event-contract income can be treated three ways, the forms differ by path.
- Section 1256 treatment flows through Form 6781, which applies the 60/40 split and carries to Schedule D.
- Separate from trading, you may receive a 1099-MISC for rewards, referrals, or bonuses, and a 1099-INT for interest on your cash.
- The notable absence is a comprehensive 1099-B for your trading gains, which Kalshi generally does not issue.
It depends on your treatment
Because event-contract income can be treated three ways, the forms differ by path. The first step is settling on a treatment with your preparer; the forms follow from that choice.
Below is the map for the common paths.
The trading forms by path
Section 1256 treatment flows through Form 6781, which applies the 60/40 split and carries to Schedule D. Capital-style reporting uses Form 8949 and Schedule D. Ordinary-income treatment typically lands on Schedule 1.
An aggressive position, such as claiming 1256 on event contracts, is often paired with a Form 8275 disclosure to flag the stance.
The rewards and interest forms
Separate from trading, you may receive a 1099-MISC for rewards, referrals, or bonuses, and a 1099-INT for interest on your cash. These are reported as their own income, not folded into your trading total.
Report whatever forms you receive, and the income even if a form doesn't arrive.
The form you won't get
The notable absence is a comprehensive 1099-B for your trading gains, which Kalshi generally does not issue. That's the form a stock broker would send, and its absence is why you reconstruct your gains yourself.
No 1099-B does not mean no reporting; it means the work is on you.