Crypto Tax in Austria 2026: The 27.5% Rule Explained for Beginners

Photo: Flocci Nivis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

If you live in Austria and own Bitcoin, you will eventually ask how crypto tax in Austria works. The short answer: since the 2022 tax reform, most crypto gains are taxed at a flat 27.5%, however long you held the coins. But there are exceptions, including tax-free "old assets," tax-neutral crypto-to-crypto swaps and special staking and airdrop rules. This beginner guide explains them in plain English, based on official Austrian sources.

Crypto tax in Austria: the basics in one minute

Austria's eco-social tax reform moved crypto into income from capital assets (EinkÃ¼nfte aus KapitalvermÃ¶gen), the same bucket as shares and dividends. The rules apply from 1 March 2022 and sit mainly in Â§ 27b of the Income Tax Act (EStG).

Gains and ongoing crypto income are taxed at a special flat rate of 27.5%.
It does not push up the tax rate on your salary.
There is no holding period that makes new coins tax-free. Selling after one day or after five years is taxed the same way.

Example: you buy Bitcoin for EUR 2,000 and later sell it for EUR 3,000. Your gain is EUR 1,000, so the tax is EUR 275. Transaction fees paid when buying count as acquisition costs and reduce the gain.

This differs from Germany, where private crypto gains can be tax-free after one year; see our guide to Bitcoin taxes in Germany and the one-year rule.

Old assets vs new assets: the 1 March 2021 cut-off

The date you bought your coins matters a lot:

Old assets (AltvermÃ¶gen): crypto acquired up to 28 February 2021. These stay under the old rules: a private sale after the one-year speculation period is generally tax-free, if you can prove when you bought.
New assets (NeuvermÃ¶gen): crypto acquired after 28 February 2021. These fall under the new regime and are taxed at 27.5% when you realise a gain.

Two traps: if your Austrian provider does not know when you bought a coin, the law says it must treat it as bought after 28 February 2021. And coins you receive by using old assets after the reform, such as staking rewards, always count as new assets. Keep old purchase records and wallet histories safe.

Which crypto transactions are taxable?

According to the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), tax is triggered when you:

sell crypto for euros;
swap crypto for another government currency, such as US dollars;
pay for goods or services with crypto.

Crypto-to-crypto swaps are not taxed. Swapping Bitcoin for Ether is not a sale; the acquisition cost of the coin you gave up carries over to the new coin. Tax is due later, when you sell for euros or spend the crypto.

For coins of the same type bought at different times and held in the same wallet, the cost is calculated using the moving average price in euros.

Staking, lending, mining and airdrops

Lending and DeFi liquidity rewards: interest-like payments for lending out your crypto are taxed at 27.5% when you receive them, based on their euro value at that moment.
Mining: coins earned through mining are also taxed when received.
Staking, airdrops, bounties and hard forks: not taxed when received. Instead, the coins get an acquisition cost of zero, so the full value is taxed when you later sell them for euros or spend them.

Be careful with labels: the staking exception only covers genuine transaction validation. A product called "staking" that is really a payment for lending your crypto is taxed on receipt. Private crypto loans that were not publicly offered are taxed at your normal progressive rate, and business-level trading follows different rules.

KESt withholding: Austrian vs foreign exchanges

Since 1 January 2024, Austrian crypto service providers must withhold the 27.5% capital gains tax (Kapitalertragsteuer, KESt) and pay it to the tax office. When KESt is withheld correctly, your income tax on those gains is generally settled, so you usually do not declare them yourself.

One detail: if an Austrian provider does not know your real purchase price, it must assume the cost was half of the sale proceeds. That withholding is not final, so you still declare the correct figures. From 2025 income, providers must give you a tax report on request.

Foreign exchanges generally do not withhold Austrian KESt, so you must declare that crypto income yourself. Before choosing any platform, check its licence; our guide on how to check if a crypto exchange is MiCA-licensed shows you how.

How to declare crypto: E1kv in FinanzOnline

Crypto income without Austrian KESt goes into the E1kv, the capital income attachment to the E1 income tax return. Its crypto section separates ongoing income, gains and losses, and domestic from foreign sources.

Log in to FinanzOnline. If you usually file only an employee assessment, you may first need to switch to the full income tax return.
Calculate your gains and losses in euros, using your exchange statements or a tax report.
Enter the amounts in the crypto section of the E1kv. Enter the income, not the tax.
File by 30 June of the following year online (30 April on paper).

Can you offset crypto losses?

Yes, within limits. Crypto losses can be offset against other private capital income in the same year, such as share gains or dividends. However:

losses cannot be offset against bank deposit interest;
losses cannot be offset against salary or other types of income;
unused private capital losses cannot be carried forward to later years.

Quick summary table

Situation	Tax treatment in Austria
Sell old assets (bought up to 28 Feb 2021) after 1+ year	Generally tax-free with proof of purchase date
Sell new assets for euros	27.5% on the gain, no holding period
Swap crypto for crypto	Not taxed; cost basis carries over
Pay for goods with crypto	Taxable like a sale
Lending or mining rewards	27.5% on receipt
Staking, airdrops, hard forks	Not taxed on receipt; cost basis zero, taxed on later sale
Austrian provider	KESt withheld automatically since 2024
Foreign exchange	Declare yourself in the E1kv via FinanzOnline

DAC8: more transparency from 2026

Austria has implemented the EU's DAC8 directive through the Crypto Reporting Obligation Act (Krypto-Meldepflichtgesetz), in force since 1 January 2026. Crypto service providers must report customer and transaction data each year; the first reports, covering 2026, are due by 31 July 2027, and tax authorities exchange this data across borders. Read our explainer on what DAC8 means for crypto users.

FAQ

Is Bitcoin tax-free in Austria after one year?
Only for old assets bought up to 28 February 2021. Coins bought later are taxed at 27.5% on the gain, however long you hold them.

Do I pay tax if I swap Bitcoin for Ether?
No. Crypto-to-crypto swaps are not taxed. Tax applies when you sell for euros or another government currency, or spend crypto.

I only use an Austrian exchange. Do I need to file anything?
If KESt was withheld correctly, your gains are usually settled. You may still declare them to offset losses from another platform.

Important disclaimer

This article summarises general Austrian tax rules from official sources at the time of writing. It is not financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Tax law changes, and your situation may differ, especially if you trade often, run a business or moved countries. Consult a qualified Austrian tax adviser (Steuerberater) for your own return.

Bottom line

In Austria, crypto bought after 28 February 2021 is taxed at a flat 27.5% when you sell for euros or spend it; swaps are tax-neutral and staking or airdrop coins are taxed only when sold. Austrian providers withhold KESt; with foreign exchanges, you declare income in the E1kv yourself. Keep good records, especially for old assets, because DAC8 makes crypto increasingly visible to tax offices.

Sources

Advice Me publishes general information only. It is not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

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