Investing
Crypto tax in Ireland: Capital Gains Tax on selling, swapping and spending
Last updated 16 October 2026
Selling, swapping or spending crypto is usually a disposal for Capital Gains Tax: 31% from 7 October 2026, after the first €1,270 of gains each year.
Ireland has no special tax for crypto. Revenue applies the ordinary rules, set out in Tax and Duty Manual 02-01-03. For most people holding crypto as an investment, that means Capital Gains Tax.
What counts as a disposal
Selling crypto for euro, transferring it, or using it to pay for goods or services is most likely a disposal. Revenue's own example is buying a coffee with crypto: the gain on the crypto spent has to be worked out, declared and taxed. Revenue also counts exchanging an asset as a disposal, so swapping one crypto-asset for another is taxed on the euro value of what you swapped.
Prices differ between exchanges, so Revenue asks for ‘a reasonable effort’ to use an appropriate euro value for each transaction.
Working out the tax
Each disposal is worked out on its own: proceeds less cost, both in euro. Losses on other disposals in the same year come off first, then losses carried forward, then the €1,270 annual exemption.
Someone bought crypto for €6,000 in 2024 and sold it for €14,000 on 20 November 2026. They made a €1,500 loss on another coin earlier in 2026:
| Gain on the sale | €8,000.00 |
| Less loss on the other coin | (€1,500.00) |
| Less annual exemption | (€1,270.00) |
| Taxable gain | €5,230.00 |
| Capital Gains Tax (CGT) at 31% | €1,621.30 |
The CGT rate fell from 33% to 31% for disposals on or after 7 October 2026. This Budget 2027 measure becomes permanent when Finance (No. 2) Bill 2026 is enacted. The same sale on 2 October would have cost €1,725.90.
When to pay and file
Pay by 15 December for disposals from January to November, and by 31 January for December disposals. The return is due by 31 October of the next year, even when no tax is due. See CGT payment deadlines.
When it isn't CGT
- Trading. Buying and selling on a scale and in a way that amounts to a trade is taxed as income. Calling it trading doesn't make it so; Revenue applies the same tests as for share dealing.
- Paid in crypto. Wages paid in crypto are taxed through payroll at their euro value when paid. Businesses paid in crypto count the euro value as income, and charge VAT on what they sell as normal.
- Gifts and inheritances of crypto may bring Capital Acquisitions Tax, on the euro market value at the valuation date.
Records
Keep records of every purchase, sale, swap and transfer, with dates and euro values, for six years. Records kept in a wallet on your phone or computer must be produced if Revenue asks. Since 1 January 2026, crypto exchanges also report customers' transactions to tax authorities; see crypto-asset reporting.
The shares and crypto calculator works out the tax from your list of trades, oldest coins first.
Work it out
Sources
- Revenue: How to calculate CGT (checked 25/10/2026)
- Revenue: When and how do you pay and file CGT? (checked 25/10/2026)
- Revenue: eBrief No. 142/26: CGT standard rate reduced to 31% from 7 October 2026 (checked 25/10/2026)
- Revenue: Tax and Duty Manual Part 02-03-01A: Capital Gains Tax rate of charge (S.28) (checked 25/10/2026)
- Irish Statute Book: Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, s.546(6): losses set against the highest-rate gains first (checked 20/10/2026)
- Revenue: Tax and Duty Manual Part 38-03-17: keeping records (s.886) (checked 20/10/2026)
General information, not tax advice. HeyPenny is not a tax agent.