Your Guide to Crypto Taxes in Germany: File with Confidence

If you bought or sold crypto last year and you live in Germany, it’s time to think about your taxes. Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not the only one who finds it confusing at first.

With the right information, reporting your crypto taxes is simpler than you think. And with bunq, it’s even easier to stay on top of things.

Let’s break it down so you can file with confidence.

Is Crypto Taxed in Germany?

Yes—depending on what you did with your crypto.

In Germany, the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) requires you to report crypto gains and income, but only under certain conditions.

You may owe taxes if you:

• Sell crypto within one year of buying it for more than you paid (short-term capital gains)

• Trade crypto for another coin, token, or even an NFT

• Spend crypto on goods or services

• Earn crypto through mining, staking, referrals, or payments

But here’s the good news: some activities are totally tax-free.

You can see the latest BZSt Income Tax rates here.

What’s Not Taxed

You don’t need to report or pay tax when you:

• Buy crypto with euros — simply purchasing with fiat isn’t a taxable event.

• Transfer crypto between your own wallets — moving assets within wallets you control is not considered a disposal and doesn’t trigger tax.

• Hold crypto for over a year (long‑term gains are tax‑free!) — any gains from disposals (sales, swaps, spending) after holding for more than 12 months are completely tax‑exempt under German law (§ 23 EStG).

• Earn less than €1,000 in short‑term capital gains — profits from selling crypto within one year are only taxable if total net gains in a calendar year exceed €1,000. If you’re under that threshold, the gain is tax‑free and does not need reporting.

• Earn less than €256 in other crypto income — miscellaneous crypto income (e.g. staking, mining rewards, referral bonuses) is only taxable if it exceeds €256 per year, under § 22 EStG. Income below that threshold is tax‑free.

• Gift crypto (within allowance limits) — giving crypto is typically tax‑free for recipients as long as gift tax allowances are not exceeded (e.g. up to €20,000 for friends and up to €500,000 for immediate family within 10 years).

• Donate crypto to a registered charity — donating crypto to a recognized nonprofit generally isn’t taxable and may even be deductible, similar to cash donations (subject to documentation rules).

•  Receive airdrops—if you didn’t do anything in return — purely free airdrops are not considered taxable income, unless they were conditional (e.g. required registration, posting, or referrals).
  
  

How to Report Crypto Taxes in Germany

Your financial year runs from January 1 to December 31. You’ll need to file your crypto taxes by July 31 of the following year (or later, if the deadline is extended again).

Here’s what to report:

• Short-term capital gains (crypto sold within 12 months)

• Additional income (from mining, staking, bonuses, etc.)

• Capital losses (if you want to offset gains or carry forward)

You can file online via Elster or use paper forms:

• Hauptvordruck ESt 1 A (general tax return)

• Anlage SO (for other income)
  
  

Crypto Tax Filing Tips

1. Track Your Activity

Keep records of all your trades and transfers throughout the year. Don’t wait until tax season.

2. Export Your bunq Bank Statements

If you used bunq for crypto-related activity, your transaction history is ready whenever you need it:

1. Open the bunq app and tap your Profile in the top left

2. Select ‘Accounting’

3. Tap ‘Export Bank Statement’

4. Choose your date range and file format (PDF, CSV, or MT940)

5. Tap ‘Export Statement’

This will include all relevant transactions across your bunq accounts, which is helpful when calculating your crypto tax declaration.

Visit help.bunq.com for more information on this topic.  

3. Use a Local Tax Tool

Tax rules vary by country. Use a local tax platform or speak with a certified advisor who understands crypto investing in the EU. This helps ensure you file accurately and avoid any surprises.

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Filing Your Crypto Taxes Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful

Whether you’re holding for the long-term or actively trading, bunq helps you stay compliant, stay in control, and file your crypto taxes with confidence.

Disclaimer: For authoritative, up-to-date tax rates and rules, refer to the March 2025 BMF circular and the BZSt for updates

Sources:
Kraken: Germany Crypto Tax Guide