Crypto Tax Ireland 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Revenue treats cryptocurrencies as chargeable assets under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. Disposals — selling for fiat, swapping for another crypto, using crypto to pay for goods or services, or gifting beyond exempt thresholds — are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) at a flat rate of 33%.

Each individual benefits from a Personal Exemption of €1,270 per year — the first €1,270 of net gains is tax-free. This exemption is per person (a married couple can effectively shield €2,540 combined if both have gains) and cannot be carried forward if unused.

Example: you sell €15,000 of BTC with an acquisition cost of €8,000. Gain = €7,000. After the €1,270 Personal Exemption: €5,730 taxable. CGT due: €5,730 × 33% = €1,891.

Mining, staking and airdrops received in connection with services are taxed separately as Income Tax (progressive up to 40%) plus USC (Universal Social Charge, up to 11%) and PRSI (4%) — significantly more than the flat CGT rate.

Ireland uses the FIFO method (First In, First Out) to determine acquisition cost: the first units bought are the first considered sold. This contrasts with the UK's Section 104 pooling.

Example: you buy 1 BTC at €20,000 in January 2025 and 1 BTC at €35,000 in May 2025. If you sell 1 BTC at €40,000 in October 2025, FIFO matches it to the January purchase — gain = €40,000 − €20,000 = €20,000. After the €1,270 Personal Exemption: €18,730 taxable at 33% = €6,181 CGT due.

Same-day rule: any disposal is first matched against any acquisition of the same asset on the same day, before FIFO applies.

Four-week rule (anti-bed-and-breakfasting): if you sell at a loss and repurchase the same asset within 4 weeks (28 days), the loss is restricted — it can only be set against gains on the matched repurchase. This rule prevents artificial loss harvesting and is similar to the UK's 30-day rule but with a 28-day window.

Unlike most countries, Ireland operates a two-date payment system for CGT — and the payment is decoupled from the return filing:

Initial Period (1 January – 30 November): CGT on disposals in this window is payable by 15 December of the same year. So gains realised in March 2026 are due by 15 December 2026.

Later Period (1 – 31 December): CGT on disposals in December is payable by 31 January of the following year. So gains realised in December 2026 are due by 31 January 2027.

The CGT return itself (Form CG1 or via Form 11 if you're already self-assessed) is filed by 31 October of the year following the tax year — separately from the payment dates. This separation traps many crypto users who confuse return-filing with payment.

If you miss the payment date, interest accrues at 0.0219% per day (around 8% annualised). Missing the filing deadline also triggers surcharges.

Mining and staking — Generally treated as miscellaneous income (Schedule D Case IV) at fair market value in euros on the date received. Subject to Income Tax (20%/40% marginal), USC (up to 11%) and PRSI (4%). If your activity is organised and systematic enough to be considered a trade, full trading taxation applies (Schedule D Case I).

Once received, the staking/mining rewards enter your cost base. Subsequent disposal triggers CGT at 33% on any further gain (above the value at which income tax was paid).

Airdrops — Tax treatment depends on whether they're received for a service (income) or as a free distribution (capital, with €0 base cost meaning the full disposal value is gain).

DeFi — Revenue has not issued comprehensive guidance, but the general approach is that liquidity provision and lending may be treated as disposals depending on the protocol's smart-contract structure. For substantial DeFi activity, consult a tax advisor.

If you're a chargeable person (self-employed, company director, or significant non-PAYE income), report crypto disposals on Form 11 via Revenue's ROS (Revenue Online Service) — section on Capital Gains.

If you're a PAYE worker with crypto disposals but no other self-assessment obligation, use Form CG1 (a dedicated capital gains return) — submitted by 31 October of the year following the tax year.

Even if your gains are entirely covered by the €1,270 Personal Exemption, you must still file a return if your total disposal proceeds exceed €2,540 (i.e. twice the Personal Exemption). This catches many casual crypto users.

SafeTax calculates every value you need — FIFO cost basis with same-day and four-week matching, individual disposal gains/losses, total net gain, Personal Exemption applied — and presents them ready to enter on Form 11 or CG1.

Mistake 1: confusing CGT payment dates with the return filing deadline. CGT is payable by 15 December (Jan-Nov disposals) or 31 January (Dec disposals). The Form 11/CG1 return is filed by 31 October the following year. These are separate.

Mistake 2: not filing if disposal proceeds exceed €2,540, even when no tax is due. The reporting threshold is based on total proceeds — not gains.

Mistake 3: treating crypto-to-crypto swaps as non-taxable. In Ireland, every swap is a disposal subject to 33% CGT.

Mistake 4: missing the four-week rule. Selling and rebuying the same crypto within 28 days restricts loss relief.

Mistake 5: forgetting that staking and mining are taxed twice: first as income (up to 40% IT + 11% USC + 4% PRSI = potentially 55% combined) when received, then as CGT at 33% on any subsequent gain.

Mistake 6: applying the €1,270 Personal Exemption to a couple. Each individual has their own €1,270 — it cannot be transferred between spouses, but a couple with separate gains can each use their own allowance.