Crypto Taxation In The UK In 2026

As you may know, the United Kingdom is very strict about its regulatory system, and with tax payment being no exception, it is better to know about the crypto taxing system in the UK. How much tax do you pay on cryptocurrency in the UK?

Do you have to pay capital gains tax on cryptocurrency in the UK? You will find the answers to these questions and many more when you are done reading this article. Recently, I have started cooperating with a company in the private sector for the content writing on their website. After accepting the job, I brought up the matter of salary and compensation.

I asked them if they could pay me in crypto, as I am not a native to the country where they do business and must cooperate with them remotely. I have been an active crypto enthusiast for quite a while, and it is only natural that I like HODLing (keeping) or receiving most of my payments in crypto.

They were glad to do so and referred me to their accountant. I had an insightful conversation with him about how they will pay me and the monthly payment I will receive after they cut taxes. I wanted to know how much tax I need to pay on cryptocurrency in the UK and if there are ways to avoid paying tax, and Jason explained everything to me thoroughly.

I’m sure there are others out there in the same situation as me, so I thought I would share what I’ve learned. Here is a simple guide to understanding crypto taxation in the UK for 2023.

What is Crypto Tax?

To understand what crypto tax is, you have first to understand what income tax is.Income tax is a tax you pay on your income. On some income, you are not required to pay taxes.

However, you must pay taxes on money earned from employment, profits made from investments and personal savings, rental incomes, and so on. The laws governing cryptocurrencies, though, are still relatively new and still developing.

The HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) does not view any crypto assets as a form of money, and it does not matter if they are exchange tokens, utility tokens, or any other type of token.

Exchange tokens such as Bitcoin are often used as a payment method. Therefore, even if you own cryptocurrency as a personal investment and make a profit from it, you will still be required to pay capital gains tax.

Why do you need to pay taxes on your crypto assets? Well, with Bitcoin being the first cryptocurrency, it has gone through many ups and downs in pricing. Since it appeared on the market, it went from costing next to nothing to an all-time high price of $67000 back in 2021.

As a result, many people who have invested in crypto since the beginning have made unbelievable million-dollar profits. As in the case of the UK, any profits over £12,300 are subject to taxation. Therefore, regardless of your opinion on the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies, you will always be required to pay tax on your investment earnings.

If you are considering living in the UK, starting up a crypto-based business, or going there for higher education and you have a crypto-based job, stay with me for the next part, because it pertains to you.

How much is the Tax on cryptocurrency in the UK?

You have to pay capital gains tax on any profit made from crypto. This includes selling, exchanging, spending, trading, or giving away cryptocurrency. Depending on your earnings, your capital gains tax rate ranges from 10% to 20%

The capital gains tax is the levy on an investor’s profit when an investment is sold and is owed for the tax year during which the asset is sold. As I said, you are subject to pay capital gains tax only if you make profits over £12,300.

As Albert Bushnell Hart said: “Taxation is the price which civilized communities pay for the opportunity of remaining civilized.” Some methods will make you eligible to be taxed:

• If you are a crypto miner
• If you are a crypto trader
• If cryptocurrency is a compensation/salary payment method by your employer
• If your business is run by crypto instead of fiat payment

(In which case, you will also have to pay both income tax and national insurance) You don’t have to worry as long as you are making profits under £12,300 – you are not eligible for taxation. But, as soon as you hit that mark point or anything above it, as a law-abiding citizen, it is your duty to pay your taxes.

Your regular income and the income tax band will determine how much capital gains tax you must pay on your cryptocurrency profits. You might be wondering, what is the tax rate on cryptocurrency gains? Well, depending on your earnings from crypto, it varies from 10% to 20%. Take a look at the following:

• If you have a Basic Rate Income Band (up to £57,270), you must pay a tax rate of 10%.
• If you have a Higher Rate Income Band (up to £150,000), you must pay a tax rate of 20%.
• If you have an Additional Rate Income Band (above £150,000), you need to pay a tax rate of 20%.

Keep in mind that UK Income Tax rates are slightly different from the capital gains tax rates. Capital gains tax is calculated on the profits you make on your crypto investment, whereas income tax is calculated on your total earnings + profits. After reading all this, you might be worried about how exactly you pay your tax in the UK, so let’s get into that.

How to pay your tax on cryptocurrency in the UK?

Those who invest in cryptocurrencies must include gains on crypto investments in their yearly self-assessment tax return.

On the other hand, they can utilize the HMRC’s real-time capital gains tax reporting facility to pay tax on those investments. So, what exactly needs to be done to pay your crypto tax?

The Annual Exempt Amount, a yearly exemption granted to every taxpayer in the UK, is £12,300 per person. This implies that if your total gains are less than £12,300, you won’t be subject to capital gains tax and don’t need to notify the HMRC.

However, the Chancellor stated in the Autumn Budget Statement 2022 that this amount will be reduced by half to £6,000 in April 2023 and then to £3,000 in April 2024.

This implies that you will still be eligible for the £12,300 allowance for the 2021–2022 tax year, for which you should have already reported in January 2023. Similarly, you’ll continue to receive the £12,300 allowance for the 2022-2023 tax year, for which you’ll submit a report in January 2024.

However, if you want to make full use of the £12,300 limit before it is reduced for the following tax year, you may want to optimize your tax situation and realize your profits before April 2023, as April is the month that every tax year starts. With that being said, here is what you need to do to pay your crypto tax:

1. First, be sure to register for the Self Assessment tax return.
2. Throughout the tax year, keep thorough records of your cryptocurrency transactions, trading gains, and costs.
3. Pay the tax amount that you owe by midnight of 31st January.

If you need professional help, DO NOT hesitate to use an accountant. In my case, the accountant for my company helped me save almost £4000 just by sorting and submitting the proper crypto records.