Cryptocurrencies: How will capital gains be taxed in 2026?

An individual residing in France who sells crypto-assets as part of their private wealth management is subject to a flat tax rate (PFU) of 31.4%, comprising 12.8% income tax and 18.6% social security contributions, according to impots.gouv.fr (page updated on 17/07/2026). They can opt for the progressive tax scale by checking box 3CN. The €305 threshold is an all-or-nothing threshold, calculated based on the household's sale prices. An exchange of one crypto-asset for another, without any cash payment, is not taxed at the time. Capital losses cannot be carried forward to subsequent years.

This page deals with individuals domiciled in France. It does not cover non-residents, NFTs, decentralized finance, airdrops, platform obligations (DAC8), or the reporting calendar.

Individual or professional: the status decides

Since January 1, 2023, the tax regime for gains on digital assets depends on your status.

The following section deals with the first case. Transfers by members of the tax household (spouse, civil partner, dependents) are taken into account together.

What triggers taxation, and what does not.

The BOFiP indicates that these transactions benefit from a deferral of taxation.

The rate: PFU of 31.4% % or optional tax scale

By default, the net capital gain for the year is subject to the flat tax of 31.4 %. The impots.gouv.fr page of 17/07/2026 breaks it down as follows: 12.8 % income tax and 18.6 % social security contributions.

You can opt out of the flat tax rate and choose the progressive tax scale. This option is indicated in box 3CN of your income tax return. It is separate from the option for your investment income (box 2OP). It applies to sales made since January 1, 2023.

The option is comprehensive: it applies to all capital gains on digital assets for the year, not to a single transaction. It must be exercised no later than the filing deadline. Otherwise, the flat rate of 12.8% (%) applies.

Regarding the nature of the option, impots.gouv.fr states that it is "final." The BOFiP (Official Bulletin of Public Finances) states that it is irrevocable, while allowing for modification as long as the filing deadline has not passed. The two sources do not use the same wording: it is advisable to check with the source before ticking the box.

The threshold of €305

Sales are exempt if the sum of their prices does not exceed €305 during the tax year. Four points to note:

• The criterion is the sale price, not the added value.
• It is appreciated at the level of the tax household, excluding suspended operations.
• If the threshold is exceeded, all Sales during the year are subject to taxation, including those whose price was less than €305.
• If the threshold is not exceeded, you only declare the price of each sale, without calculating capital gains.

Examples from the BOFiP (French Official Tax Bulletin): three sales of €100 each (total €300) remain exempt, even with a capital gain of €90. Four sales of €100 each (total €400) result in taxation of the entire capital gain, i.e., €120 in this example.

How is capital gains calculated?

Capital gains are not calculated asset by asset, by subtracting the purchase price from what you sold. They are calculated on the entire household portfolio, using the BOFiP formula:

Gross capital gain or loss = Selling price – [Total acquisition price × Selling price ÷ Total portfolio value]

• Sale price : the amount received or the value of the consideration obtained, reduced, upon presentation of supporting documents, by the expenses incurred in connection with the transfer. These expenses only reduce the first term of the formula, not the quotient.
• Total purchase price : the sum of the prices paid in legal tender and the value of the goods or services delivered in exchange for crypto-assets, including any cash payments. It is reduced by the portions of initial capital contained in previous transfers and any cash payments received in previous exchanges.
• Overall portfolio value : the sum of the values of all digital assets held by the tax household, regardless of their storage medium (platform, personal wallet), assessed at the time of each taxable disposal.

Keep a complete history of your acquisitions, disposals and expenses across all platforms.

Capital losses cannot be carried forward.

The capital loss can only be offset against capital gains of the same nature realized in the same year. It cannot be offset against other capital gains and cannot be carried forward to subsequent years.

Where and how to declare

• Online The annual total is reported in appendix no. 2086 (step 3, "Supplementary Declarations"). It automatically populates box 3AN in the event of a capital gain, or 3BN in the event of a capital loss.
• On paper : capital gain in box 3AN, capital loss in box 3BN of declaration no. 2042 C, with details in appendix no. 2086. The option for the scale is box 3CN.
• Contents of the appendix : for each taxable disposal, the disposal price, the total acquisition price of the portfolio, the overall value of the portfolio and the capital gain or loss.

Accounts opened abroad

Digital asset accounts held on foreign platforms must also be declared with your income tax return. According to impots.gouv.fr, online, this declaration is made at the end of the process; on paper, it is made using form no. 3916-3916 bis, with a separate form for each account (service-public.gouv.fr). Service-public.gouv.fr (verified on 09/07/2026) indicates that for an undeclared account: a fixed penalty of €750 per account, increased to €1,500 per account if its value exceeds €50,000 at any point during the year, and an additional 80% surcharge on tax arrears related to the failure to declare.

An update on service providers

The AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) indicates that July 1, 2026, marks the end of the transition period between the French regime and the European MiCA regulation: only authorized crypto-asset service providers (PSCAs) may offer crypto services in France. The AMF's whitelist is the authoritative source. This information does not pertain to taxation.

What changes depending on your situation

• Your status : individual, or activity which falls under BIC or BNC.
• The number and amount of your sales during the year, which play on the threshold of €305 and on the allocation of capital losses.
• The total purchase price of your portfolio and your supporting documents.
• The rate that applies to your other income, which decides whether the option for the scale is worth studying.
• The place where your assets are kept : French or foreign platform, personal wallet.
• Your tax residence : this page assumes a residence in France.

The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Marc, residing in France, manages his assets privately. During 2026, he sells cryptocurrencies twice for euros and exchanges some of his Bitcoin for Ether, without any cash outlay. Assumptions of this hypothetical scenario: his portfolio cost €20,000 in total, with supporting documentation. It is worth €30,000 at the time of the first sale of €6,000. The remaining portfolio is worth €27,000 at the time of the second sale of €5,400. Fees are ignored.

Issue. How much tax, and which transactions must be declared?

Strategy. Discard the bitcoin-for-ether exchange, which is currently suspended. Apply the formula to each sale, reducing the total acquisition price after the first sale by the fraction of initial capital it contained.

Result.

The sum of the sale prices is €11,400: the threshold of €305 is exceeded, and both sales are taxable. The net capital gain for the year is €4,200. At the flat tax rate, income tax is €537.60 (12.8% of %), and social security contributions are €781.20 (18.6% of %). €1,318.80 In total. The tax is levied on the profit margin contained in each sale, not on the price received.

Fictitious profile, hypothetical values. The calculation does not compare it to the scale, which depends on your other income. The figures illustrate the method; they do not predict your situation.