What is the crypto Capital Gains Tax allowance for 2026/27?

The annual exempt amount is £3,000 for 2026/27. Total gains across all assets, including crypto, up to £3,000 are tax-free; only the excess is taxed at 18% or 24%.

● 2026/27 · Crypto · Capital Gains Tax

Crypto Tax Calculator UK

Q: How is cryptocurrency taxed in the UK?

For most people, disposing of crypto — selling, swapping one coin for another, or spending it — is subject to Capital Gains Tax on the gain. After the £3,000 annual exempt amount, gains are taxed at 18% within the basic-rate band and 24% above it for 2026/27.

Q: Do I pay tax when I swap one crypto for another?

Yes. HMRC treats swapping one cryptocurrency for another as a disposal of the first asset, so any gain in sterling terms is a taxable event even though you never converted to pounds.

Sold, swapped or spent crypto this year? Enter your total proceeds and cost, and we'll estimate the Capital Gains Tax due after the £3,000 allowance — at the right 18% or 24% rate for your income.

₿ All cryptoassets 🧾 £3,000 allowance 📅 2026/27 rates

Crypto Capital Gains Tax

After the £3,000 allowance

Total proceeds (sale value)

Total cost (what you paid)

Your other taxable income

How crypto is taxed in the UK

HMRC treats most cryptoassets as property for Capital Gains Tax, not as currency. A taxable disposal happens whenever you sell crypto for pounds, swap one coin for another, spend it on goods, or gift it to anyone other than your spouse. The gain is the sterling value at disposal minus your allowable cost, worked out using HMRC's share-pooling rules.

Event	Tax
Selling crypto for £	Capital Gains Tax
Swapping coin A → coin B	Capital Gains Tax
Spending crypto	Capital Gains Tax
Staking / mining rewards	Income Tax (then CGT later)

Swaps are taxable even with no cash out. The single most common mistake is assuming tax only applies when you cash out to a bank. Swapping ETH for BTC is a disposal of ETH — if it had risen in value, you owe CGT, despite never seeing a pound.

Reporting your crypto tax

You report gains through Self Assessment or HMRC's real-time CGT service. Staking and mining income may be Income Tax — model that on the income tax calculator. Compare the same rules on shares with the capital gains tax calculator, and on property with the CGT on property calculator.

Crypto tax FAQs

How is cryptocurrency taxed in the UK?

Disposals are subject to Capital Gains Tax. After the £3,000 allowance, gains are taxed at 18% within the basic band and 24% above for 2026/27.

What is the crypto CGT allowance for 2026/27?

£3,000 across all your assets combined. Only gains above this are taxed.

Do I pay tax when I swap one crypto for another?

Yes — a swap is a disposal of the first coin, so any gain is taxable even without cashing out.

Is staking income taxable?

Usually yes, as Income Tax at the sterling value when received; a later sale can then trigger CGT on any further gain.

Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic

Founder, WebCalculator

Cryptoasset tax treatment follows HMRC's Cryptoassets Manual and CGT rates for 2026/27. Share-pooling and DeFi can be complex — this is a simplified estimate, not tax advice.

Total gain	£0
Less £3,000 allowance	£0
Taxable gain	£0
Taxed at 18%	£0
Taxed at 24%	£0
Total CGT due	£0