Crypto taxation: distinguish private gains from company tax
Published 21/05/2026 · Updated 08/09/2026 · Houssen Issouf Aly, French chartered accountant
Crypto-assets · Companies · Directors
Practical guidance for companies and directors. Revised on 7 September 2026.
Put the rate in context
French tax guidance updated on 17 July 2026 states a 31.4% flat tax for gains within the private asset management regime: 12.8% income tax and 18.6% social levies. This rate should not be applied indiscriminately to every crypto receipt or every tax year.
A rate alone does not calculate the tax
First establish the regime, year and taxable gain. A €10,000 disposal does not necessarily represent a €10,000 gain. Conversely, the amount reaching a bank account does not describe every transaction requiring assessment.
For illustration, a hypothetical €5,000 taxable base at 31.4% gives €1,570 before any relevant election or case-specific adjustment. Multiplication comes after the tax base has been determined; it does not replace reconstruction of the portfolio.
The progressive-rate election is a separate provision
The election for these gains falls under article 200 C of the French Tax Code, which describes it as express and irrevocable. It should not automatically be equated with the article 200 A election for other investment income. A simulation needs the applicable provision, rather than a change announced for another income category.
This figure does not cover every crypto transaction
Classification comes before calculation: private portfolio management, activity conducted under professional conditions, mining, services paid in crypto and company transactions are different situations. Identify the holder and nature of each flow.
Calculating a private portfolio gain
Under article 150 VH bis, the calculation uses the adjusted total acquisition cost and the portfolio’s total value at disposal. It is not simply the purchase price of the particular token sold on one platform.
Simplified first-disposal example, without fees: a portfolio acquired for €10,000 is worth €20,000 when €4,000 is disposed of. Allocated cost is €10,000 × €4,000 / €20,000 = €2,000. The illustrative gain is therefore €2,000. Remaining acquisition cost must subsequently reflect that disposal. Source: French tax guidance on the tax base.
Identify transactions, not only bank withdrawals
A sale for euros, payment for goods or services, an asset swap and a transfer between your own wallets are different events. Exchanges without a cash adjustment have specific treatment under the private regime; do not transfer that rule to corporate-taxable companies. Keep movement records even when no bank receipt occurs.
Mining, remuneration and protocol income need their own assessments. A director’s personal file remains separate from the company’s investment file.
Prepare useful records
A reliable tax file starts with complete histories. A platform may calculate only the transactions it knows, while portfolio calculations need a coherent view of the relevant holdings.
- List accounts and holders: platforms used, closed accounts, wallets and relevant years.
- Recover histories: purchases, disposals, swaps, transfers, fees and unusual transactions, with evidence of funding sources.
- Check imports: missing periods, duplicates, unrecognised assets, transfers incorrectly labelled as income and missing prices.
- Reconcile positions: explain differences between reconstructed quantities and actual balances.
- Prepare the return: detailed calculation, relevant annexes and records allowing the result to be reproduced.
Gains reporting and foreign accounts
Form 2086 details gains and losses within the private regime. Reporting digital-asset accounts with foreign providers is a separate matter. No sales therefore does not automatically mean no reporting obligations.
Frequently asked questions
Can the software figure be copied without review? Check coverage, alerts and balance consistency. A calculation based on incomplete history remains incomplete.
Is a transfer between my wallets new income? Identify both ends and wallet ownership. Reconciliation prevents internal movements from being mistaken for acquisitions or revenue.
Does provider reporting replace my return? Provider tax reporting and your personal obligations are separate. Our DAC8 guide explains the records and reconciliations to prepare.
Should a simulation using 30% be discarded? Recover its year, regime and assumptions before recalculating. Do not mechanically replace a historical rate throughout every year’s records.