UK crypto tax,
explained plainly.
Practical, no-nonsense guides to how HMRC taxes crypto, from exchange trades to liquidity pools, airdrops, and bridges. Written by people who actually use these tools.
Start with your crypto tax question
These guides explain the rules and the records to check. Where rates or filing dates depend on the year, use the year stated in the guide.
How much crypto tax will I pay?
Capital Gains Tax, income, rates and allowances for the tax year you need.
Do I need to report crypto to HMRC?
Work through the reporting tests for sales, swaps and crypto income.
How do I calculate my crypto gains?
Combine supported history and inspect the UK matching behind each gain.
Can I claim crypto losses?
Reporting disposal losses, carrying them forward and checking the matching.
How does crypto cost basis work?
Section 104 pooling and why same-day and 30-day matching come first.
What if my purchase history is missing?
Trace original purchases and investigate a zero or unknown cost basis.
Are staking rewards taxable?
Check reward receipts, token exchanges and the records needed for review.
How are crypto airdrops taxed?
Separate receipt facts, possible income and the gain or loss on a later sale.
Preparing exchange records? Start with Coinbase tax UK, Binance tax UK or Kraken tax UK.
Latest guide
Missing Crypto Purchase History? Rebuild Your UK Tax Records
Missing crypto cost basis or old exchange records? Trace earlier purchases, rebuild your UK tax history and check what still needs review after importing.
Getting started
The HMRC rules, thresholds, and forms every UK investor needs to understand first.
Coinbase HMRC Letter: What to Do Next
Received an HMRC letter about Coinbase? Preserve the deadline, rebuild the full account-wide history, check the figures, and choose the right response route.
UK Crypto Tax Deadline 2025/26: File by 31 January 2027
UK crypto tax deadlines for the 2025/26 return: register by 5 October 2026, file online and pay by 31 January 2027, plus penalties and preparation.
How Much Tax Do You Pay on Crypto in the UK? (2025/26)
UK crypto tax rates explained: 18%/24% CGT, the £3,000 allowance, income tax on staking, and the £50,000 Self Assessment proceeds rule.
Can HMRC See Your Crypto? What CARF Means in 2026
In-scope providers began CARF collection in 2026 and first report by 31 May 2027. What providers report, when, and how to reconcile your records.
Declare Crypto to HMRC: The Voluntary Disclosure Guide
How HMRC's Cryptoasset Disclosure Service currently works, the evidence required, the 30-day payment deadline, and when professional advice matters.
What Happens If You Don't Report Crypto to HMRC?
How HMRC interest, penalties, assessment periods and CARF can affect unreported crypto, and how to reconstruct the facts before choosing a correction route.
How UK Crypto Tax Calculators Work (and Why FIFO Fails)
A FIFO crypto tax calculation can misstate a UK gain because UK CGT needs Section 104 pooling. Learn what a UK calculator must do differently.
Payments on Account for Crypto: Why July Ignores Your Gains
Crypto capital gains never enter payments on account, but staking and DeFi income does. The £1,000 trigger, the January 150% shock, and the 31 July deadline.
Year-End Crypto Tax Planning UK: What to Do Before 5 April
£3,000 AEA resets on 6 April. The UK year-end playbook: realising losses, the 30-day B&B trap, same-day consolidation, and what SA108 expects.
File Crypto Tax on Your UK Self Assessment 2025/26
How to report crypto on your 2025/26 Self Assessment: 5 October registration, SA100 income, SA108 boxes 13.1-13.8, UK matching rules and DeFi checks.
SA108 Crypto 2024/25: Boxes 13.1-13.8 Explained
2024/25 adds crypto boxes to SA108 and split-year CGT rates. See every box, worked examples, and the Box 51 adjustment too.
Do I Need to Report Crypto to HMRC? The Complete Checklist
Sold, swapped, staked or earned crypto? HMRC may require a Self Assessment. Review the main reporting triggers, DeFi considerations, and filing deadlines.
Crypto Bed & Breakfast Rule: HMRC 30-Day Matching
Sold and rebought crypto within 30 days? HMRC matches same-day buys first, then 30-day acquisitions, before Section 104. See worked examples and loss effects.
CARF 2026: What UK Crypto Investors Need to Know
In-scope providers began CARF collection in 2026 and first report by 31 May 2027. Check provider scope, reporting dates and your exchange and DeFi records.
How to Claim Crypto Capital Losses in the UK
How to report UK crypto capital losses, use them against gains, carry them forward and avoid the 30-day rule, with a worked example and HMRC deadlines.
Section 104 Crypto Pool: HMRC Cost Basis, Not FIFO
HMRC uses one Section 104 average-cost pool per cryptoasset across exchanges and wallets. See transfers, same-day and 30-day matching, and a worked example.
UK Crypto Tax 2024/25 Guide: SA108, £3K, Split-Year CGT
Prepare or amend a 2024/25 crypto return with SA108 guidance, split-year CGT rates, the £3,000 allowance and evidence checks for exchange and DeFi activity.
HMRC Crypto Warning Letters: What to Do Next
Received an HMRC crypto warning or nudge letter? Check its deadline, gather complete records, rebuild UK tax working, and choose the response route from the facts.
Exchange guides
Filing when you trade on Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, eToro, and more, and why exchange reports don’t satisfy HMRC.
eToro Tax UK: Crypto, CFDs and HMRC Reporting
Learn how eToro real crypto and CFDs are taxed differently in the UK, why USD statements need GBP conversion, and how HMRC matching applies across accounts.
Uphold Tax UK: XRP Trades, Staking and HMRC Reporting
CARF obligations began in 2026, with first reports due in 2027. Why Uphold’s anything-to-anything trades can create missed disposals and how Section 104 applies.
Gemini Tax UK: Trades, Staking and What HMRC Sees
Gemini reporting under CARF, why buying USDC disposes of the outgoing crypto, how Section 104 works, and what changes for eligible stablecoins from April 2027.
Does Revolut Report to HMRC? Crypto Tax UK 2025/26
Does Revolut share your crypto data with HMRC? What CARF changes from 2026, your CGT and income obligations, and how to prepare reviewable UK tax working.
Crypto.com Tax UK: Does It Report to HMRC?
When Crypto.com can fall within CARF, why one exchange export is not enough for an account-wide Section 104 pool, and how staking and card rewards may be taxed.
Kraken Tax UK: How to Report Your Kraken Trades to HMRC
Kraken's Ledgers CSV is the right export, but XXBT, refids, .S staking suffixes and margin trades need careful normalisation. Here's the UK tax treatment.
Binance Tax UK: How to Report Your Binance Trades to HMRC
Binance CSVs and FIFO reports don't fit HMRC rules. Learn the right Section 104 treatment for trades, staking, fees and multiple exchanges.
CEX vs DeFi Crypto Tax UK: Key HMRC Differences
HMRC pools tokens across exchanges and DeFi, but the tax records look very different. Learn the key UK crypto tax differences and risks.
Coinbase Tax UK: Why Your Tax Report Isn't Enough for HMRC
Download Coinbase history for UK tax, check HMRC reporting dates and combine your records for same-day, 30-day and Section 104 matching. CSV checklist included.
DeFi & advanced
LPs, bridges, staking, airdrops and NFTs: the cases that need explicit UK tax treatment and a reviewable history.
Negligible Value Claims: Tax Relief for Worthless Crypto
A rugged token still in your wallet may be worth a capital loss. How negligible value claims work under s.24 TCGA 1992, what qualifies, and the backdating trap.
DeFi NGNL Tax UK: HMRC's No Gain/No Loss Regime
Draft DeFi NGNL rules were published on 13 July 2026 for a proposed 6 April 2027 start. What may qualify, what current law still requires, and what to review.
Crypto Airdrops Tax UK: When HMRC Taxes Free Tokens
Treating every airdrop as a zero-cost token can overstate the gain when you sell. Here's how HMRC taxes crypto airdrops, and why the cost basis matters.
DeFi Income vs Capital Gains UK: HMRC Tax Guide
How UK rules distinguish taxable DeFi receipts from disposals, why Aave depends on beneficial ownership, and where ChainTax keeps review boundaries.
NFT Taxes UK: HMRC Rules for Buying, Selling and Minting
NFT taxes in the UK aren't intuitive. Buying with crypto is a disposal, selling is a disposal of the NFT, minting is an acquisition. Worked examples for HMRC.
How HMRC Taxes DeFi Token Swaps (Uniswap, 1inch, Curve)
How current UK rules tax DEX swaps and routing, plus the announced Capital Gains Tax exemption for eligible stablecoins from April 2027.
Aave Lending Tax UK: HMRC Rules for DeFi Lending
Aave tax depends on beneficial ownership, receipt-token rights, and the action. Learn current HMRC rules, ChainTax boundaries, and proposed NGNL changes.
Curve Finance Tax UK: CRV Rewards, Swaps and LPs
How current UK rules treat Curve rewards, stablecoin swaps and LP positions, plus the announced stablecoin and DeFi reforms from April 2027.
Wrapped Crypto Tax UK: WETH, wstETH, rETH & cbETH
UK tax on rETH, WETH, wstETH and cbETH: compare wraps with staking-token exchanges, follow a GBP worked example and check your purchase records.
Is Bridging Crypto Taxable in the UK? HMRC Facts Test
HMRC says cross-ledger tax treatment depends on the facts. Learn when same-owner bridges can carry basis, when a disposal can arise, and how ChainTax reviews them.
Report Staking Rewards to HMRC: Lido, Rocket Pool, Aave
UK staking tax for Lido, Rocket Pool rETH, Aave and exchange rewards: income, disposal costs, the trading allowance and records for Self Assessment.
Uniswap Tax UK: How HMRC Taxes Your LP Position
Check UK tax on Uniswap liquidity deposits, withdrawals and returns. Includes a GBP example, evidence checklist and the proposed April 2027 changes.
Stop guessing. Start with your own transaction history.
Import your exchange trades or paste any transaction hash to see how ChainTax classifies it, free and with no account needed.