- 10% capital gains tax on crypto for normal management (private investor) (above €10.000 exemption)
- 33% for speculative management (miscellaneous income)
- Up to 50% for professional trading (+ social contributions)
- 30% on staking rewards, lending interest and yield (investment income)
- Step-up: market value on 31/12/2025 = your cost basis
- No mandatory FIFO: weighted average for pre-2026 holdings, chronological FIFO administration as the defensible approach thereafter
- Losses offsettable within the same category and year - no carry-forward
- Costs not deductible, no withholding tax on crypto - always declare yourself
- DAC8: exchanges automatically report your transactions to the tax authority
Last updated: April 2026 · Reading time: 8 minutes
Crypto taxes in Belgium have fundamentally changed since 1 January 2026. There is a new capital gains tax of 10% on realised gains above €10.000 per year, a step-up on 31/12/2025, and automatic reporting via DAC8. You declare your 2026 crypto capital gains in the tax return you file in 2027, via Tax-on-Web or through your accountant.
On 3 April 2026 the Chamber of Representatives definitively approved the capital gains tax law; on 21 April 2026 it was published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad) as the Act of 6 April 2026. With this, Belgium has moved from a system where cautious crypto investors paid 0%, to a framework with fixed rates, reporting obligations, and automatic data exchange. In this article we set out all the rules of crypto taxes 2026, including how to concretely complete your tax return.
The new capital gains tax (10%)
From 1 January 2026 a capital gains tax of 10% applies to realised gains from crypto assets. Crypto falls under category C - together with listed shares, bonds, investment funds, investment gold and foreign currencies.
This rate applies to investors who manage crypto as normal management (private investor) of private assets: you buy, hold and occasionally sell. You do not use leverage and do not speculate on the short term.
Taxable events include: sale of crypto for euros, exchange of crypto for other crypto (every swap is a taxable transaction), payment with crypto for goods or services, and the exercise of options or futures on crypto.
The three investor profiles
| Profile | Rate | Exemption | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal management (private investor) | 10% | €10.000/year | Buying and holding, limited trading |
| Speculative management | 33% + municipal tax | None | Short holding period, frequent trading, leverage |
| Professional | Progressive up to 50% | None | Main activity, organised trading, professional structure |
The boundary between these profiles is determined by the tax authority based on holding period, trading frequency, diversification, use of leverage and the share of crypto in your total assets. Note: if part of your portfolio is actively traded, the tax authority can qualify your entire portfolio as speculative.
The €10.000 exemption
For normal management (private investor), the first €10.000 in net capital gains per year is exempt. Above that amount you pay 10% on the full excess. If you do not use the exemption in full, €1.000 can be carried forward each year to the following year, with a maximum of €15.000 total after 5 years.
Partners are taxed separately - each has their own exemption. Read more on our page about the €10.000 exemption.
Step-up rule: pre-2026 gains are free
The market value of your crypto on 31 December 2025 (the "snapshot moment") serves as your fiscal cost basis. Gains built up before 2026 are not taxable. If your actual purchase price is higher than the step-up value, you may use that higher price - but only for sales up to and including 31 December 2030. See our guide on the 5-year offset window for latent losses for three worked examples.
Read our full explanation on the step-up rule page.
Weighted average and FIFO administration
Contrary to what is often claimed, the law does not impose FIFO. For crypto you already held before 1 January 2026, the law prescribes the weighted average purchase price per asset (art. 102 §4 WIB 92): all your pre-2026 purchases of the same token are pooled together with one average price per unit.
For purchases from 1 January 2026 onwards, the law does not prescribe a selling order. A chronological FIFO administration (First In, First Out), where the earliest purchased tokens are considered sold first, is the most defensible approach and the one Cryptotax uses.
Offsetting losses (capital losses)
Crypto losses can be offset against capital gains within the same category (C) and the same tax year. A loss on crypto can therefore be offset against a gain on listed shares, but not against gains from category A or B.
Crucial conditions:
- No carry-forward of losses to the following year
- Offsetting is only possible if you declare all capital gains
- Pre-2026 losses do not count
- Costs and taxes are not deductible (transaction fees, gas fees, TOB)
Read the full rules on our page about offsetting capital losses.
Staking, lending and yield: always 30%
Staking rewards, lending interest and DeFi yield are taxed as investment income at 30%, regardless of your investor profile. The value at the time of receipt is taxable. These income types fall outside the €10.000 exemption and outside the 10% rate.
No withholding tax on crypto
Unlike shares held through a Belgian bank, withholding tax is never deducted on crypto capital gains. The law limits the withholding obligation to Belgian institutions on the sale of classical financial instruments. Crypto investors must always declare their capital gains themselves in the personal income tax return.
DAC8: automatic reporting
The DAC8 directive has been in force since 1 January 2026 (implementing act published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad) on 1 April 2026). All crypto exchanges serving Belgian clients must automatically report transaction data to FOD Financiën (the Belgian tax authority).
The first "crypto records" are expected in September 2027 (for income year 2026). The tax authority will compare these with your declaration - inconsistencies lead to additional assessments and fines.
CAP notification
Foreign crypto accounts (Kraken, Binance, Coinbase tax return, Bitvavo, ...) must be reported to the Central Contact Point (CAP) of the National Bank. This is a separate obligation in addition to your tax return. Failure to report can lead to fines of €50 to €1.250 per account per year.
See our CAP & DAC8 checklist for a step-by-step guide.
MiCA and Belgian banks
The European MiCA regulation has been fully in force in Belgium since 3 January 2026. The FSMA and NBB have been designated as supervisors. KBC became the first Belgian bank to offer crypto trading on 16 February 2026 (Bitcoin and Ether via Bolero), under a closed model without external wallets.
The tax rules apply regardless of the platform: whether you trade via KBC, Binance or a DeFi protocol, the capital gains tax is identical. Bank-based trading does, however, simplify the administration.
Tax regularisation
Have you not declared crypto gains in the past? The government has announced a fifth round of fiscal regularisation. In previous rounds, regularisation led to tax at 33% + 30% fine = 63% total. The exact terms have not yet been established. Read more on our page about fiscal regularisation.
Exit tax on emigration
The law contains an exit tax: upon emigrating from Belgium, unrealised capital gains are fictionally realised. There is a 24-month trailing mechanism - if the relevant assets are not sold within 24 months, the exit tax lapses. When moving to countries without a tax treaty (Monaco, UAE) a security deposit is required.
Tax return and deadlines
Capital gains realised in 2026 are declared in the tax return you file in 2027. Expected deadlines:
| Method | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Paper tax return | 30 June 2027 |
| Tax-on-Web | 15 July 2027 |
| Via accountant | ~mid-October 2027 |
The specific Tax-on-Web codes for the new capital gains tax will be published later by FOD Financiën (the Belgian tax authority). In the meantime, use our step-by-step Tax-on-Web overview and do not forget the CAP notification for foreign crypto accounts.
Tax return checklist 2026
- Export all your 2026 transactions from every exchange (Bitvavo, Kraken, Binance, Coinbase, Revolut, ...) and every wallet.
- Document the market value of your portfolio on 31 December 2025 (step-up snapshot moment).
- Calculate your net capital gain per category (normal management 10%, speculative 33%, investment income 30%).
- Deduct your €10.000 exemption for normal management.
- Submit your CAP notification to the National Bank before your tax return.
- Complete your tax return via Tax-on-Web (deadline 15 July 2027) or through your accountant (mid-October 2027).
- Keep all supporting documents: exchange statements, wallet snapshots on 31/12/2025, screenshots of lending/staking positions.
Cryptotax automates steps 1-4: you connect your wallets and exchanges, the platform applies the step-up and FIFO, calculates the exemption, and delivers an accountant-ready tax report.
Practical example
Emma has held crypto since 2021. On 31 December 2025 her portfolio is worth EUR 50.000. In 2026 she sells a portion:
| Transaction | Sale price | Cost basis (step-up) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale 1 BTC | EUR 65.000 | EUR 47.000 | +EUR 18.000 |
| Sale 5 ETH | EUR 15.000 | EUR 17.000 | -EUR 2.000 |
| Net capital gain | EUR 16.000 | ||
Calculation: EUR 16.000 - EUR 10.000 exemption = EUR 6.000 × 10% = EUR 600 tax.
In addition, Emma received EUR 800 in staking rewards in 2026: EUR 800 × 30% = EUR 240 tax as investment income (to be declared yourself; no withholding tax is deducted).
Frequently asked questions
Is the law now final?
Yes. The Chamber approved the law on 3 April 2026 and it was published on 21 April 2026 in the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad) as the Act of 6 April 2026. It applies retroactively from 1 January 2026.
Do I need to declare my crypto now?
Capital gains from 2026 are declared in the tax return you file in 2027. For income year 2025 the old rules still apply (normal management was tax-free).
Are crypto-to-crypto swaps taxable?
Yes. Every exchange of crypto for other crypto is a taxable disposal. The capital gain is calculated based on the EUR value at the time of the swap.
What if I cannot prove my holdings on 31/12/2025?
You risk the tax authority using your original purchase price as cost basis - or in the worst case EUR 0. Document your holdings as soon as possible.
Do the rules also apply to NFTs?
Yes. NFTs used as a means of payment or investment fall under the capital gains tax.
How much crypto can you hold tax-free in Belgium?
There is no cap on how much crypto you may own - ownership itself is never taxed. The exemption does not apply to your assets but to your realised gain: under normal management (private investor) the first EUR 10.000 net capital gain per calendar year is exempt, and only the portion above that is taxed at 10%. You can therefore hold crypto of unlimited value; the tax only arises when you sell, swap or pay with crypto and realise more than EUR 10.000 in gains per year.
Is cryptocurrency tax-free in Belgium?
Not anymore since 1 January 2026. Buying and holding crypto remains tax-free, but realised capital gains are now taxable: 10% under normal management (private investor) above the EUR 10.000 exemption, 33% under speculative management, and progressively up to 50% for professional use. Gains built up before 2026 remain exempt thanks to the step-up at the market value of 31 December 2025.
How Cryptotax helps
Cryptotax automatically calculates your capital gains tax in accordance with the approved law. The platform applies the step-up and weighted average, uses a chronological FIFO administration for post-2026 purchases, offsets capital losses, and calculates the exemption. Import your wallets and exchanges and your tax report is ready.
Start a free scan and calculate your tax for 2026.
Want to read more? See our guides on the capital gains tax, the step-up rule, the €10.000 exemption and the DAC8 reporting. Do you use Revolut? Read our specific guide on crypto taxes Belgium 2026 via Revolut.
Sources:
- KPMG - Capital gains tax approved by Parliament
- Loyens & Loeff - Capital gains tax in Belgium becomes reality
- Simont Braun - The New Belgian Capital Gains Tax and Crypto Assets
- EY Belgium - The new Belgian Capital Gains Tax
- Wetboek van de inkomstenbelastingen 1992 (WIB 92)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual tax advice. The capital gains tax law was approved on 3 April 2026 and published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad) on 21 April 2026. Consult a recognised Belgian tax specialist for specific cases.
