UK to Tighten Crypto Tax Rules from 2026 as Exchanges Must Report All Transactions
New guidelines force crypto platforms to submit detailed user and trading data to HMRC under international reporting standards
Starting January 1, 2026, all cryptocurrency exchanges and other crypto-asset service providers in the United Kingdom will be obliged to collect and retain comprehensive transaction records and user information under new regulations from the tax authority.
This requirement stems from the UK’s adoption of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which brings crypto platforms under the same transparency regime as traditional financial institutions.
Under the new rules, exchanges must gather data including customers’ names, dates of birth, addresses, residency status, and tax identifiers.
For each transaction — buying, selling, transferring, or disposing of digital assets — platforms must log the type of asset, number of units, value, and nature of the operation.
The first full reports based on data collected from 2026 will be submitted to the tax authority by 31 May 2027, enabling automatic cross-checking of crypto activity against self-assessed tax returns.
Non-compliant platforms face penalties of up to £300 per user, while users who provided false or incomplete information may also be penalised.
Authorities say the move is a decisive bid to curb tax avoidance in the booming crypto sector.
The tax office estimates the new measures could generate over £300 million in additional revenue by the end of the decade.
The changes place crypto on par with traditional investment and financial assets in terms of regulatory scrutiny, prompting investors and traders to review their tax positions ahead of the new year.
Industry groups and tax advisers welcome the transparency, arguing the reforms offer greater clarity for legitimate holders.
For many in the crypto community, 2026 marks a turning point: digital asset trades will now be treated with the same standards of disclosure and accountability as other taxable income and gains, fundamentally reshaping the UK’s crypto landscape.
This requirement stems from the UK’s adoption of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which brings crypto platforms under the same transparency regime as traditional financial institutions.
Under the new rules, exchanges must gather data including customers’ names, dates of birth, addresses, residency status, and tax identifiers.
For each transaction — buying, selling, transferring, or disposing of digital assets — platforms must log the type of asset, number of units, value, and nature of the operation.
The first full reports based on data collected from 2026 will be submitted to the tax authority by 31 May 2027, enabling automatic cross-checking of crypto activity against self-assessed tax returns.
Non-compliant platforms face penalties of up to £300 per user, while users who provided false or incomplete information may also be penalised.
Authorities say the move is a decisive bid to curb tax avoidance in the booming crypto sector.
The tax office estimates the new measures could generate over £300 million in additional revenue by the end of the decade.
The changes place crypto on par with traditional investment and financial assets in terms of regulatory scrutiny, prompting investors and traders to review their tax positions ahead of the new year.
Industry groups and tax advisers welcome the transparency, arguing the reforms offer greater clarity for legitimate holders.
For many in the crypto community, 2026 marks a turning point: digital asset trades will now be treated with the same standards of disclosure and accountability as other taxable income and gains, fundamentally reshaping the UK’s crypto landscape.
