Recap is a UK-focused crypto tax tool with accountant partnerships and portfolio tracking. Here's how it compares to ChainTax on pricing, DeFi classification, SA108 support, and the features that matter for filing 2024/25.
Best for Simple exchange trades
Both handle this well
Coinbase buys, Binance trades, Kraken ledgers — straightforward for either tool. Both apply Section 104 correctly.
Best for DeFi activity
ChainTax
28 protocol-specific classifiers vs generic matching. LP positions, bridges, and staking classified correctly with confidence ratings.
Best for HMRC compliance
ChainTax
SA108 boxes 13.1–13.8 auto-filled, Box 51 split-year CGT auto-computed, and Show Working per disposal. At 67% lower cost.
Side-by-side on the features that matter for UK crypto tax.
| Feature | Recap | ChainTax |
|---|---|---|
| Data import | ||
| Exchange CSV import | Major UK exchanges | Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, Koinly |
| Exchange API sync | API integrations | CSV import only |
| On-chain wallet sync | Multiple chains | 5 chains (Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base) |
| DeFi classification | ||
| Protocol-specific classifiers | Generic approach | 28 deterministic classifiers |
| LP position handling | Basic support | Correct cost basis change |
| Bridge detection | Some bridges supported | Non-taxable transfer (7 bridge protocols) |
| Staking reward detection | Basic coverage | Income at fair market value |
| Confidence indicators | No confidence rating | High / Medium / Low per transaction |
| UK tax rules | ||
| Section 104 pooling | UK-native | Native — the only method (as HMRC requires) |
| Same-day + B&B matching | Supported | Full HMRC rules with working shown |
| SA108 box mapping | Report generation | Boxes 13.1-13.8 auto-filled |
| Box 51 split-year CGT | Not supported | Auto-computed for 2024/25 |
| Show Working per disposal | No audit trail | Matching rule, S104 pool, price source |
| Other features | ||
| Accountant partnerships | Referral network | Direct to user |
| Portfolio tracking | Balance views | Tax-focused only |
| UK-built company | London | ChainTax Ltd, Northern Ireland |
Recap charges annually as a subscription. ChainTax is a one-time payment per tax year.
| Tier | Recap | ChainTax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £149/yr | £49 (500 txs) | 67% cheaper, no subscription |
| Mid | £249/yr | £99 (2,000 txs) | 60% cheaper, no subscription |
| Top | £349/yr | £179 (unlimited) | 49% cheaper, unlimited txs |
| Free | Limited preview | 75 txs (full report preview) | More generous free tier |
| Billing | Annual subscription | One-time per tax year | No subscription |
Pricing as of April 2026. Recap prices from recap.io. ChainTax prices at chaintax.co.uk/pricing.
Where the differences actually matter — real scenarios, real outcomes.
What happens when you interact with DeFi protocols
Uniswap V3 LP add
Recap
Generic approachGeneric classification may treat LP deposits as transfers or disposals, missing the cost basis change that HMRC requires.
ChainTax
LiquidityClassified as cost basis change — deposited tokens exit S104 pool, LP token enters. No phantom gain.
Hop bridge (ETH to Arbitrum)
Recap
InconsistentSome bridges recognised, but coverage varies. Less common bridge protocols may be taxed as disposals, creating phantom gains.
ChainTax
TransferClassified as non-taxable transfer. Cost basis carries across chains automatically. Covers Hop, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, and Socket/Bungee.
Curve CRV gauge rewards
Recap
InconsistentMay not distinguish between CRV reward claims (income) and pool swaps (capital gains). Classification depends on generic matching.
ChainTax
Income — High confidenceCRV gauge rewards classified as income at fair market value. Pool swaps classified as capital gains. Different tax treatments applied correctly.
Aave supply / withdraw
Recap
Usually correctGenerally handles simple deposit and withdrawal cycles correctly.
ChainTax
Transfer — High confidenceClassified as non-taxable transfer at high confidence. aToken interest is a known limitation for both tools.
Verdict: Recap handles basic DeFi but uses generic classification. For users with LP positions, bridges, and staking across multiple protocols, ChainTax's 28 deterministic classifiers produce more reliable results — and each classification shows its confidence level.
How each tool applies UK-specific tax calculations
Cost basis method
Recap
S104 nativeUses Section 104 pooling natively. As a UK-focused tool, the correct cost basis method is applied by default.
ChainTax
S104 nativeSection 104 is the only method — it's what HMRC requires. Same-day and B&B rules applied first in strict priority order.
Same-day rule
Recap
SupportedSupported as part of HMRC matching.
ChainTax
Full HMRC orderApplied first in strict HMRC priority order: same-day, then 30-day B&B, then S104 pool. Working shown for each disposal.
2024/25 split-year CGT
Recap
Not supportedDoes not compute Box 51. Users must manually calculate the blended rate across the 30 October 2024 boundary.
ChainTax
Auto-computedAutomatically splits disposals at the 30 October 2024 boundary. Box 51 adjustment computed and included in the SA108 report.
Loss carry-forward
Recap
SupportedSupported — carries losses to offset future gains.
ChainTax
HMRC-preciseSupported — losses reduce net gain to the annual exempt amount only, not below, matching HMRC rules.
Verdict: Both tools implement Section 104 correctly — Recap is a UK-native tool and gets the basics right. The difference is Box 51: ChainTax auto-computes the 2024/25 split-year CGT adjustment, Recap does not. And Show Working lets you verify every calculation.
What you and your accountant can verify
Per-disposal breakdown
Recap
Summary onlyShows gain and loss per transaction. Does not expose which HMRC matching rule was applied or how the cost basis was derived.
ChainTax
Full workingEvery disposal shows: matching rule (same-day, B&B, or S104), the pool snapshot before and after, the price source, and a confidence rating.
Price sources
Recap
OpaqueUses market data but does not surface which source was used per transaction or how confident the price is.
ChainTax
Source + confidenceEvery event shows its price source (DefiLlama, CoinGecko, or manual) and whether the price is high, medium, or low confidence.
Accountant review
Recap
Trust-basedAccountants receive a PDF report with final numbers. Recap has accountant partnerships, but verifying the underlying methodology requires trusting the tool.
ChainTax
Fully verifiableThe accountant can trace every disposal from raw transaction to final gain — matching rule, S104 pool state, price source. Nothing is a black box.
Verdict: Recap produces a report. ChainTax produces an audit trail. If your accountant needs to understand why a number is what it is — or if HMRC opens an enquiry — Show Working is the difference.
Already on Recap? You don't need to start from scratch.
Add your Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, or Base wallet addresses. ChainTax fetches your full on-chain history automatically.
Export your transaction history from Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken. Upload the CSV — ChainTax auto-detects the format.
28 protocol-specific classifiers handle on-chain activity. Exchange rows are imported directly. One unified, HMRC-ready report with Show Working.
No tool is perfect for everyone. Here's where Recap has the edge.
Recap has an established referral network of crypto-aware accountants. If you want a recommendation for someone who already uses Recap, that's a real advantage.
ChainTax's Show Working panel gives any accountant what they need to verify your calculations — they don't need to use the same tool.
Recap connects to exchanges via API for automatic transaction syncing. No CSV export needed.
ChainTax uses CSV import from Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken — the three most-used exchanges among UK traders. Most users import once per tax year.
Recap has been operating since 2019 and has a larger user base in the UK market.
ChainTax's classification engine is independently audited with 1,700+ automated tests covering tax calculations, classifiers, and HMRC matching rules.
Recap includes portfolio views with real-time balances and performance tracking across your connected wallets and exchanges.
ChainTax is tax-focused. It does one thing — produces an HMRC-ready tax report with full working shown — and does it at a fraction of the cost.
Yes. ChainTax is a one-time payment of £49–£179 per tax year. Recap charges £149–£349 per year as a recurring subscription. Over two tax years, ChainTax costs £98–£358 total versus Recap's £298–£698.
Recap does not auto-compute Box 51, the split-year CGT rate adjustment for 2024/25. CGT rates changed from 10%/20% to 18%/24% on 30 October 2024, and every disposal must be checked against this boundary. ChainTax automatically splits disposals by date and computes the Box 51 adjustment.
Recap generates tax reports compatible with Self Assessment, but does not auto-fill the new 2024/25 crypto-specific SA108 boxes 13.1–13.8 with the same granularity as ChainTax, which maps every disposal directly to each box.
Yes. Export your exchange transaction history as CSV from Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken and import it into ChainTax — the format is auto-detected. For on-chain activity, add your wallet addresses and ChainTax re-fetches and re-classifies your full history using 28 protocol-specific classifiers.
Yes. Every disposal has a Show Working panel showing the HMRC matching rule applied (same-day, 30-day bed & breakfast, or Section 104), the S104 pool state before and after, the price source and confidence rating, and the full gain calculation. This is the audit trail accountants need to verify your return.
ChainTax has 28 protocol-specific deterministic classifiers covering Uniswap, Aave, Curve, Lido, 1inch, Balancer, Hop, and more. Each classifier understands the protocol's contract events and produces the correct HMRC classification. Recap uses a more generic approach to DeFi classification, which can misidentify LP positions, bridges, and staking interactions.
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