Crypto Taxes France

PFU 30% flat tax, Article 150 VH bis CGI, foreign-account declaration (form 3916-bis).

Tax year 2025 · filing year 2026

Reviewed by Stephan Kulik · Last updated: 2026-04-21 · How we rank

Short answer

France taxes occasional crypto disposals at the PFU 30% flat rate (12.8% income tax + 17.2% social charges) under Article 150 VH bis CGI. Gains under €305 total disposals per year are exempt. Foreign exchange accounts must be declared via form 3916-bis — penalties €750-€10,000 per undeclared account. Staking = BNC (progressive rates). Not tax advice — consult a fiscaliste.

The French regime

France's crypto tax rules were codified in 2019 (Article 150 VH bis du Code général des impôts). The framework treats retail crypto activity as "plus-values sur actifs numériques" (gains on digital assets), separate from securities or currency. Occasional investors pay the flat PFU 30%. Professional/habitual traders pay BIC (progressive rates + social charges + sometimes TVA).

Occasional vs habitual

The distinction matters enormously — occasional = 30% flat; habitual = up to ~66% marginal. DGFiP indicators for habitual:

High frequency (daily trading)
Use of sophisticated tools (trading bots, leverage)
Professional infrastructure (dedicated setup, time commitment)
Intent and organisation consistent with a profession

Most retail investors buying/selling a few times per month remain occasional. Day-traders and sophisticated operators risk reclassification. When in doubt, consult a fiscaliste.

Gain calculation (the specific French formula)

France uses a portfolio-weighted calculation:

Gain = sale proceeds − (acquisition price × sale proceeds / total portfolio value at disposal)

Where "acquisition price" is the total amount originally invested in the portfolio, and "total portfolio value" is the value of all remaining digital assets on disposal date. This means partial sales create complex calculations that depend on overall portfolio composition — not just the specific asset sold. Tools like Waltio or Finary automate this.

Foreign account declaration (form 3916-bis)

French tax residents must declare every foreign digital-asset account held in the relevant tax year, using form 3916-bis, attached to the annual declaration. This includes accounts at: Coinbase (US), Binance global, Kraken (US), Bitstamp (LU), any non-French-domiciled exchange.

Penalties for non-declaration:

€750 per undeclared account (under €50,000 value)
€10,000 per undeclared account (over €50,000 value)
Plus potential double prescription period (10 years instead of 3)

Staking, mining, airdrops

Staking rewards and received airdrops fall under BNC (Bénéfices Non Commerciaux) — taxed at progressive income-tax rates plus social charges. When you later dispose of the rewards, a subsequent PFU event applies to any gain since receipt.

Mining is BIC (commercial) if organized activity, BNC if occasional.

Annual declaration workflow

Aggregate all transactions from all exchanges and wallets
Apply the French portfolio-weighted gain formula (use Waltio or similar)
Declare gains in form 2042 (Cerfa 2042-C)
Declare foreign accounts in form 3916-bis
Pay by deadline (typically May-June for web declaration)

Where to hold crypto from France

See best crypto banks in France, MiCA-licensed crypto banks, best crypto banks in Europe.

Disclaimer

This page is general information, not tax advice. French tax law and DGFiP guidance evolve. Consult a fiscaliste familiar with crypto before filing. See terms.

Frequently asked questions

Comment les cryptos sont-elles imposées en France? +

In France, occasional cryptocurrency disposals by individuals are taxed under Article 150 VH bis du Code général des impôts (CGI) at the flat rate Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique (PFU) of 30% — composed of 12.8% income tax plus 17.2% prélèvements sociaux (social contributions). This applies when the disposal is "occasional" rather than habitual (see the next question). Some taxpayers can elect for the progressive income-tax scale (barème progressif) if it yields lower total tax — typically only for low-income households.

What is the difference between occasional and habitual trading in France? +

France distinguishes "occasional" crypto activity (PFU 30%) from "habitual/professional" activity (BIC — Bénéfices Industriels et Commerciaux — taxed at progressive rates + social charges as self-employment). Occasional = retail investor disposing of own capital. Habitual/professional = high frequency, use of sophisticated tools, treating activity as business. Thresholds are fact-pattern-based; the DGFiP (tax authority) uses frequency, volume, sophistication, and profit-seeking as indicators. Most retail investors remain occasional.

Do I need to declare foreign crypto exchange accounts? +

Yes. Article 1649 bis C of the CGI requires French tax residents to declare foreign digital-asset accounts (including accounts at non-French-domiciled exchanges — Coinbase, Binance global, Kraken, etc.) using form 3916-bis, attached to the annual tax declaration. Penalties for non-declaration: €750 per undeclared account, rising to €10,000 per account over €50,000. Enforcement has accelerated since 2023.

When is the gain calculated in France? +

Gain is calculated at disposal date. Cost basis uses a specific French formula involving the total portfolio value (not just the specific asset sold) — it's calculated as: gain = sale proceeds - (acquisition price × sale proceeds / total portfolio value at disposal). This is more complex than FIFO or specific-ID and requires careful tracking. Tools like Waltio, Finary, or dedicated French crypto-tax tools automate this. The formula means the tax calculation depends on your portfolio composition, not just the traded asset.

Is there a tax-free allowance for crypto in France? +

Yes: annual total disposals under €305 are exempt from PFU and do not need to be declared. Above €305 in total disposals in a year, full PFU applies on the calculated gain. Note: this is €305 on total disposals (sale value), not on gains — so even if you had a loss, exceeding €305 triggers the reporting obligation.

What about staking and airdrops? +

Staking rewards and received airdrops are taxed as non-commercial profits (BNC — Bénéfices Non Commerciaux) at progressive income-tax rates plus social charges. They are not covered by the PFU 30% flat rate. When you later dispose of those staking rewards, an additional PFU event occurs on the gain since receipt.