Crypto Taxes 2026 in Germany: Automatic Reporting Under DAC8, What Applies Now

Update 26 September 2026: The rules described in this article apply. They are based on the EU directive DAC8 (Directive (EU) 2023/2226), which Germany implements with the Crypto Asset Tax Transparency Act (KStTG). Since 1 January 2026 providers of crypto asset services record their customers' data. For calendar year 2026 they report to the Federal Central Tax Office by 31 July 2027, and the first exchange between EU member states is scheduled by 30 September 2027.

What does this mean for the 2026 tax return?

Anyone declaring gains for 2026 should expect the tax office to be able to match the providers' data later. The rules and deadlines for the next two tax years are summarised in crypto tax in Germany 2026 and 2027, and exchanges that provide clean tax reports are compared in our exchange comparison.

The article from 1 January 2026

Crypto investors in Germany are facing a major regulatory shift. Starting in 2026, gains from $Bitcoin, $Ethereum, and other digital assets will no longer rely solely on voluntary tax reporting. Instead, a new legal framework will introduce automatic reporting of crypto transactions to tax authorities, significantly increasing transparency across the market.

New Law Introduces Automatic Crypto Reporting

The new regulation establishes a system where crypto-related income and transactions are systematically collected and reported to tax authorities. Until now, tax offices largely depended on investors to disclose crypto gains themselves. Under the new rules, this information will be transmitted automatically, reducing gaps in reporting and enforcement.

The goal is to make crypto taxation more consistent with traditional financial assets and to close long-standing visibility issues around digital asset trading.

EU-Wide Data Exchange Framework

At the core of the new system is an EU-wide exchange of information. Crypto service providers will be required to collect user data and transaction details and submit them to national tax authorities. These authorities will then share relevant information with other EU member states when users are tax residents abroad.

This coordinated approach aims to prevent crypto gains from slipping through national borders and ensures that similar tax rules apply across the EU.

New Obligations for Crypto Platforms and Wallet Services

Crypto exchanges, brokers, and wallet providers will face significantly expanded compliance requirements. These include verifying user identities, determining tax residency, and compiling detailed annual reports.

Reportable data will cover:

• User identification details
• Transaction types such as buying, selling, and swapping
• Activities like staking and lending
• Asset holdings and value changes over time

The reporting obligations extend beyond trading to include custody, advisory, and other crypto-related services.

What This Means for Private Investors

For private investors, the impact is clear: tax authorities will gain automatic visibility into crypto holdings and transactions. This makes it easier to verify whether gains have been declared correctly and increases the importance of accurate record keeping.

Some providers may also request self-declarations from users to complete missing data. Failure to comply with reporting or cooperation requirements can lead to penalties, including substantial fines.

Given the growing complexity of crypto taxation, many investors rely on dedicated tools to track transactions and calculate gains accurately.

👉 A comparison of available solutions can be found here.

Timeline: When the Rules Take Effect

The new crypto transparency framework is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

• The first reporting period will cover the 2026 tax year
• Automatic data exchange between EU states is expected to begin by September 2027

From that point on, crypto transactions within the EU will be subject to a level of oversight similar to traditional financial markets.