Paying tax on cryptocurrencies

Do entrepreneurs have to pay tax on cryptocurrencies?

Yes, if you are required to file a tax return, you must include your cryptos in it. The tax you pay depends on how you use your cryptos. They may be taxed as personal income in Box 1 or Box 3 of your income tax return. If the cryptocurrencies are held by a BV, you pay corporate income tax on any gains made on them.

Eenmanszaken and cryptos

I invest in cryptos

With an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship), you can invest in cryptocurrencies in addition to your regular activities. Investment and savings fall under box 3 of the income tax system. A part of your assets in this box is tax-exempt. The remainder is subject to tax. View the tax rates for 2026.

I actively trade cryptos

You can also actively trade cryptos as an eenmanszaak. That means that your company wants to make a profit by buying and selling cryptos. The Belastingdienst (Netherlands Tax Administration) will then look at whether you are engaging in  ‘more than standard asset management' (in Dutch). 

• Under standard asset management, the value of your cryptocurrencies falls under box 3. This is the same  when investing in cryptocurrencies.
• For more than standard asset management, the profit is taxed in box 1. This box calculates tax on your income from employment and property. The profit on cryptocurrencies is also included in this calculation.

There is no hard line between 'standard' and 'more than standard' asset management. The shift depends on:

• how much knowledge and experience you have
• how much time you put into crypto trading
• how many tools you use

Any combination of these 3 factors could, in theory, shift your assets from box 3 to box 1. Look at an overview of the current tax rates. 

Income tax return box 3

If your cryptocurrencies fall under Box 3, you must state their value as at 1 January of the tax year in your income tax return. As there are no official exchange rates for cryptocurrencies, you may choose a reliable source yourself. Make sure you use the same source every year.

In practice, you should use the exchange rate from the trading platform where the cryptos are held or from which they originate. Price fluctuations during the rest of the year no longer affect the tax on cryptos. Not even if the price rises or falls sharply on 2 January.

When do cryptocurrencies shift from box 3 to box 1?

In the following cases, your assets can shift from box 3 to box 1:

• Do you have special (prior) knowledge when buying and selling crypto? Do you know more about this than other people? This could be a sign that your profits will be taxed in box 1. 
• You spend all day buying and selling cryptos. You also spend a lot of time picking the right moment to trade. If so, you will almost certainly pay tax on your profits in box 1.

 If there is speculation, the profit stays in box 3. Speculation means that you think it is a good time to trade cryptos, but you do not know for sure. This is a feature of investing and therefore the profit falls in box 3.

BVs and cryptos

My BV trades in cryptos

Do you have a  BV and does it actively trade in cryptocurrencies to make a profit? In that case, trading in cryptos is one of the BV’s business activities. The value of the cryptos is recorded as ‘inventory’ on the balance sheet at the purchase price or the lower market value. Any profits or losses you make during the year from the sale of the crypto assets are subject to corporate income tax. 

I invest through a BV

You can also invest in cryptos through a BV. In that case, the main purpose of the business is not to actively trade cryptos. The BV holds crypto assets as an investment but its business activities are something else. For example, clothing retail or car repair. The value of the cryptos is recorded on the balance sheet as an investment at the price for which you purchased them. Any profit you make on the eventual sale of the cryptocurrencies is subject to corporate income tax in that year.

Is your business paid in cryptos?

Do your clients want to be able to pay you in crypto? Then read what you need to consider when accepting crypto payments. In any case, you must convert the turnover into euros at the exchange rate applicable at the time. You then include this turnover in your accounts and tax returns in the usual way. If you do not sell the cryptocurrencies, they are recorded as assets on the balance sheet at their value at that time. Any capital gains are only taxed upon a subsequent sale

Avoid a fine

Do not forget to declare cryptos in your income tax or corporate tax return. The Tax Administration can go back 5 years to see when and how many cryptos you bought and sold. The Tax Administration can then contact you and collect any tax owed. You will also be fined if you file an incorrect tax return. The fine can be up to 300% of the tax payable per year.

New legislation for cryptos

The DAC8 directive came into force on 1 January 2026. This directive means the Tax Administration can carry out more checks. Crypto services must share information on clients and transactions with the Tax Administration. Tax authorities inside the EU will exchange this information.

The more general MiCA regulations came into effect on 30 December 2024. MiCA includes rules for better consumer protection and countering market abuse. For instance, crypto service providers must better protect customers' digital wallets. And they may be liable in case of loss of customers' money.

New legislation makes crypto services subject to roughly the same requirements as traditional financial services.