For long-term crypto investors, Germany is one of the most attractive countries in the world: hold your coins for more than a year and you sell the gain tax-free. On a €10,000 gain that means €0 tax — where France charges around €3,000 and Denmark up to €5,200.
This comparison shows where Germany stands, how the German rules work exactly, and what to watch in 2026 — now that DAC8 sends exchange data automatically to the tax authorities.
€10,000 gain: Germany in a country comparison
| Country | Tax on €10,000* |
|---|---|
| Germany (> 12 months) | €0 |
| Portugal (> 365 days) | €0 |
| Luxembourg (> 6 months) | €0 |
| Switzerland (private) | €0 (+ wealth tax) |
| Spain | ~€2,000 |
| France | ~€3,000 |
| United Kingdom | ~€1,800–2,400 |
| Denmark | up to ~€5,200 |
* Illustrative, long-term gain, before personal allowances and individual circumstances. All 19 countries in detail.
How crypto tax works in Germany
The 12-month rule (§23 EStG)
Cryptocurrencies count as “other assets”. Selling, swapping or spending within a year of acquisition is a private disposal and taxable. After more than 12 months of holding, the gain is tax-free — regardless of amount.
€1,000 Freigrenze — and the trap
For gains within the holding period there is an annual €1,000 exemption threshold (since 2024; €600 before). Important: it is a threshold (Freigrenze), not an allowance. If your gains are €1,001, the entire amount is taxable — not just the part above €1,000.
Rate, FIFO and swaps
Taxable gains within the period are taxed at your personal income-tax rate (up to 45%, plus solidarity surcharge and church tax where applicable) — not at a flat capital-gains rate. Coins are usually matched with the FIFO method. A crypto-to-crypto swap within the 12 months also triggers tax.
Staking, lending & Anlage SO
Staking or lending rewards are recorded at market value on receipt as other income; the once-feared extension of the holding period to ten years does not apply. You report crypto gains on the Anlage SO of your income-tax return.
Deadline
The income-tax return is due by 31 July of the following year (if self-filed); with a tax adviser it extends to the end of February the second year. Confirm the exact date with the Finanzamt or at bzst.de.
What to do in 2026
Documenting the holding period precisely is worth real money: selling a few days too early can make an otherwise tax-free gain taxable. With DAC8, exchange data flows automatically to the tax authorities from 2026 — a clean, complete record of your history matters more than ever. SafeTax imports your history from 500+ exchanges and wallets, computes holding periods and gains, and produces a report for your Anlage SO — in minutes, with zero data retention. safetax.io.
→ Crypto tax in 19 countries compared · DAC8, CARF & 1099-DA explained · Estimate your tax for free
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay in Germany on a €10,000 crypto gain?
If you held the coins for more than 12 months, the gain is tax-free under §23 EStG — so €0 on €10,000. If you sell within the 12-month period, the gain is taxed at your personal income-tax rate (at a 30% marginal rate, for example, that would be around €3,000).
When is crypto tax-free in Germany?
Private disposals of cryptocurrency are tax-free after a holding period of more than one year (§23 EStG). There is also an annual €1,000 exemption threshold (since 2024) for gains within the holding period — note: it is a threshold, not an allowance; if exceeded, the entire gain is taxable.
Is a crypto-to-crypto swap taxable?
Within the one-year holding period, yes: a swap (e.g. BTC for ETH) counts as a disposal and triggers a taxable private disposal. After the holding period ends, the swap is tax-free too.
By when must I file my crypto tax in Germany?
Crypto gains go on the Anlage SO of your income-tax return. The deadline is 31 July of the following year if you file yourself; with a tax adviser it extends to the end of February the second year. Confirm the exact date with the Finanzamt.
This article is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for personalised tax advice. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and rules can change; amounts are illustrative. Check details with the Finanzamt or a tax adviser.