This article in brief
- In 2026, capital gains on disposals of crypto-assets by individuals are taxed at 31.4%: 12.8% income tax and 18.6% social levies.
- Only disposals in exchange for euros or for goods are taxed. An exchange between crypto-assets without a cash adjustment (soulte) benefits from a tax deferral.
- You are exempt if the total of your disposals for the year does not exceed €305, but form 2086 must still be filed.
- The capital gain is calculated using a global formula based on the value of your entire portfolio, not line by line.
- Each wallet opened abroad must be declared on form 3916-3916 bis, failing which a fine of €750 per wallet applies.
- Platforms report to the tax authorities their clients’ transactions carried out since 1 January 2026, with a first report in 2027 (DAC8 Directive).
Cryptocurrency taxation comes down to a few rules, but each one has its pitfalls. This guide covers them in the order in which you encounter them: what is taxable, how much, how to calculate, how to declare, and what changes with the automatic exchange of information. The rules described are those of the French Tax Code (CGI) as at 1 October 2026. Since 1 July 2026, the Code no longer refers to “digital assets” (actifs numériques) but to “crypto-assets” (crypto-actifs), within the meaning of the European MiCA Regulation. This guide therefore uses that term.
Who is subject to crypto taxation
The standard regime is that of Article 150 VH bis of the French Tax Code (CGI). It applies to individuals who are tax-resident in France and who dispose of crypto-assets for consideration, directly or through an interposed person. This is the case for the vast majority of private individuals who buy and sell cryptocurrencies from time to time.
Two situations fall outside this regime. The first concerns people who carry out their transactions under conditions similar to those of a professional: their gains fall under non-commercial profits (BNC). The second concerns commercial activities, taxed in the category of industrial and commercial profits (BIC). We come back to this below.
Which transactions are taxable
The law taxes “disposals for consideration”. The tax authorities specify in their administrative guidance (doctrine) that this covers sales for legal tender, such as the euro, and exchanges for goods or services. The following table summarises the common cases.
| Transaction | Taxable in the year in which it takes place? |
|---|---|
| Sale of bitcoins for euros | Yes |
| Purchase of goods or services paid for in crypto-assets | Yes |
| Exchange of one crypto for another, without a cash adjustment | No: tax deferral until the next disposal |
| Purchase of crypto-assets with euros | No: it is an acquisition, not a disposal |
| Transfer between two wallets that belong to you | No: there is no disposal |
| Total disposals for the year less than or equal to €305 | No: exempt, but must be declared |
One point is worth stressing. An exchange between two crypto-assets is not exempt: it is simply neutral in the year in which it takes place. The accumulated gain will be taxed on the day you dispose of the assets for euros or for goods.
The €305 exemption threshold
You are exempt if the sum of the disposal prices for the year does not exceed €305. The threshold applies to the total amount of sales, not to the capital gain. Selling for €400 with a gain of €20 therefore exceeds the threshold. Exchanges between crypto-assets without a cash adjustment are not included in this calculation.
The exemption does not release you from declaring: form 2086 must be attached to your income tax return, even below the threshold.
How much tax: 31.4% or the progressive scale
In 2026, taxable capital gains are subject to a flat tax (PFU) of 31.4%. It breaks down into 12.8% income tax (Article 200 C of the CGI) and 18.6% social levies. The latter rate results from the increase in the CSG (generalised social contribution) on capital and property income (revenus du patrimoine), raised to 10.6% by the Social Security Financing Act for 2026 (loi de financement de la sécurité sociale). Guides that still quote 30% are out of date.
You can opt for the progressive income tax scale instead of the 12.8%. The option is express, irrevocable and global: it applies to all your capital gains on disposals of crypto-assets for the year, independently of the option relating to investment income (revenus de capitaux mobiliers). It is exercised by ticking box 3CN. It may be worthwhile if your marginal tax rate is below 12.8%. Social levies remain payable in both cases. If you are unsure, our article on the crypto flat tax details the comparison.
Calculating your capital gain: the formula and an example
This is the step where most mistakes are made. The law does not require the gain to be calculated unit by unit. It requires a global formula:
Capital gain = disposal price − (total acquisition price × disposal price ÷ overall portfolio value)
Three concepts need to be mastered:
- The disposal price is the price actually received, less the documented disposal costs.
- The total acquisition price is the sum of everything you paid to build up your portfolio. After each disposal, it is reduced by the “fraction of initial capital” contained in that disposal.
- The overall portfolio value is the value of all your crypto-assets at the time of the disposal, across all platforms and all wallets.
Let us take an example. You bought €10,000 of crypto-assets in total, with no subsequent purchases. In March, you sell for €4,000 when your portfolio is worth €20,000. In October, you sell for €6,000 when it is worth €12,000. We ignore costs for simplicity.
| Step | March disposal | October disposal |
|---|---|---|
| Disposal price | €4,000 | €6,000 |
| Overall portfolio value | €20,000 | €12,000 |
| Total acquisition price used | €10,000 | 10 000 − 2 000 = €8,000 |
| Fraction of initial capital | 10 000 × 4 000 ÷ 20 000 = €2,000 | 8 000 × 6 000 ÷ 12 000 = €4,000 |
| Capital gain | 4 000 − 2 000 = €2,000 | 6 000 − 4 000 = €2,000 |
The capital gain for the year amounts to €4,000. At the rate of 31.4%, the tax due is €1,256. Note that the second disposal uses an acquisition price reduced by the €2,000 already “used up” in March. Forgetting this reduction distorts the calculation of all subsequent disposals. Our article on form 2086 goes through this calculation line by line.
Two further practical cases
Sales below the €305 threshold
Let us take another example. During the year, you sell small quantities of crypto-assets three times, for €90, €110 and €80. The total disposal price amounts to €280. It does not exceed €305: any capital gains are exempt. You must nevertheless attach form 2086 to your return. Had you sold €30 more, the total would have reached €310 and all the capital gains for the year would have become taxable, not just the portion above €305.
A capital gain and a capital loss in the same year
Now suppose that a first disposal generates a capital gain of €3,000 in April, then a second generates a capital loss of €1,200 in November. The capital loss is offset against the capital gain of the same year: the taxable gain is €1,800, i.e. €565.20 of tax at the rate of 31.4%. Had the capital loss occurred in January of the following year, it could not have reduced the April gain.
Capital losses
A disposal may generate a capital loss. It can only be offset against capital gains of the same kind realised in the same year. The law makes no provision for carrying it forward to subsequent years. A capital loss not used during the year is therefore lost. This is a reason to review all your disposals before the end of the year, rather than when you file your return.
Keeping a record of your transactions
The calculation formula requires information that platforms do not always provide. It is better to gather it throughout the year rather than when you file.
- Proof of purchase. Keep the statements for each purchase in euros: they make up your total acquisition price. Without them, this price is difficult to justify in the event of an audit.
- The portfolio value at each disposal. The formula requires the value of all your crypto-assets at the time of each taxable sale, including those held on other platforms or in a personal wallet. Note it down on the same day.
- Costs. Keep a record of disposal costs: they are deducted from the disposal price, provided they are documented.
- Exports from each platform. Regularly download the full history of your transactions. A platform may close or stop serving France, and the history then disappears with it.
- The list of your accounts. Keep an up-to-date list of the platforms established abroad on which you have an account, even if inactive or closed during the year: it is used for form 3916-3916 bis.
Declaring your crypto-assets
The declaration is made in the spring, together with the income tax return for the year of the disposals. Two forms are involved.
Form 2086 for disposals
Form 2086 details each taxable disposal of the year and the calculation of the capital gain. The result is carried over to form 2042 C: in box 3AN for a capital gain, in box 3BN for a capital loss. The step-by-step guide is in our article on form 2086.
Form 3916-3916 bis for accounts abroad
Article 1649 bis C of the CGI requires crypto-asset wallets opened, held, used or closed abroad to be declared every year. NFTs held or used abroad are also covered. An exchange platform established outside France falls within this scope. The obligation applies even if you have not sold anything. Our article dedicated to form 3916-bis explains how to fill it in.
What an omission costs
Article 1736, X of the CGI penalises failure to declare wallets held abroad.
| Breach | Fine | If the value exceeded €50,000 during the year |
|---|---|---|
| Undeclared wallet or NFT | €750 per wallet | €1,500 |
| Omission or inaccuracy | €125 per omission, up to a limit of €10,000 per return | €250 |
These fines are in addition to any tax due on undeclared capital gains and the penalties that go with it. The risks in the event of an audit are detailed in our article on crypto tax audits.
Special cases
Professional-type activity
Article 92, 2, 1° bis of the CGI classifies as non-commercial profits (BNC) the income from buying, selling and exchanging crypto-assets carried out under conditions similar to those of a professional. The law sets no numerical threshold. The assessment is based on your actual practices. A commercial activity, for its part, falls under industrial and commercial profits (BIC). Our article on the professional crypto trader reviews the indicators to watch.
Mining and staking
Mining falls under non-commercial profits when the remuneration corresponds to participation in the creation or operation of the system. For staking, the tax authorities state on impots.gouv.fr that it also falls under non-commercial profits. No statutory provision or BOFiP commentary expressly provides for this: it is the position published by the tax authorities. We detail it in our article on the taxation of staking and mining.
NFTs
Article 150 VH ter of the CGI, created by the Law of 25 June 2026 and applicable to disposals carried out since 1 January 2026, provides for a specific regime for unique, non-fungible crypto-assets. Their disposals are taxed under the regime of the goods or rights they represent, and no longer under that of cryptocurrencies.
Gifts and inheritance
Crypto-assets transferred by gift or inheritance are subject to gift and inheritance duties. For the recipient, the value used to calculate these duties becomes the acquisition price on a future disposal. Our article on inheritance including bitcoins (in French) also covers the transfer of keys.
DAC8, MiCA: the tax authorities can now see your transactions
The European DAC8 Directive organises the automatic exchange of information on crypto-assets. In France, Article 1649 AC bis of the CGI requires crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to report their users’ transactions. This applies to transactions carried out from 1 January 2026, with a first report in 2027. Since 1 July 2026, only providers authorised under the MiCA Regulation may operate in France.
In practice: your returns for the 2026 tax year will be cross-checked against the data reported by the platforms. An inconsistency will be easier to detect than before. Our article on DAC8 details this timetable.
Regularising or defending yourself
If past years have not been declared correctly, a regularisation on your own initiative puts your case in a better position than a reassessment initiated by the tax authorities. If you have already received a request from the tax authorities, the quality of the documents gathered from the very first reply carries a lot of weight. In both cases, every situation is different: a crypto tax lawyer assesses the years concerned, quantifies the tax and chooses the appropriate course of action.
Frequently asked questions
Is crypto taxable in France?
Yes, when you dispose of crypto-assets for euros or for goods or services, and your disposals for the year exceed €305. The capital gain is then taxed at 31.4% in 2026, unless you opt for the progressive scale.
When do you have to declare your crypto?
With the income tax return you file in the year following the disposals. Form 2086 details the disposals, and form 3916-3916 bis declares wallets opened abroad, even without any sale.
What amount should you declare?
You declare the price of each taxable disposal and the capital gain calculated with the global formula. The total capital gain or loss is carried over to box 3AN or 3BN of form 2042 C.
Do you have to declare your crypto if you have not sold anything?
Without a taxable disposal, there is no capital gain to declare on form 2086. However, wallets opened on foreign platforms must be declared every year on form 3916-3916 bis, even without any sale.
I received crypto as a gift: what is my acquisition price?
It is the value used to calculate the gift duties or, failing that, its actual value at the time it entered your assets. This amount is added to your total acquisition price for calculating your future capital gains.
How can you legally avoid paying tax on your crypto?
Several rules limit the tax: staying below €305 of annual disposals, favouring exchanges between crypto-assets, which benefit from a deferral, and offsetting the year’s capital losses. Our article how not to pay tax on crypto (in French) details them.
Sources
- Article 150 VH bis of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- Article 150 VH ter of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- Article 200 C of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- Article L. 136-8 of the French Social Security Code (Code de la sécurité sociale) (in French)
- Article 1649 bis C of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- Article 1736 of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- Article 92 of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- Article 1649 AC bis of the French Tax Code (CGI) (in French)
- BOFiP, BOI-RPPM-PVBMC-30-10 (in French)
- impots.gouv.fr: declaring capital gains or losses on crypto-assets (in French)
- Directive (EU) 2023/2226 (DAC8)
