Home › Guides › Crypto tax records

Crypto tax records for HMRC

HMRC expects you to keep records of every Bitcoin or crypto transaction so you can work out any tax. Good records take minutes a month and save hours at tax time. This is general information, not tax advice.

Why records matter

In the UK, selling, swapping or spending crypto can be a disposal for Capital Gains Tax. To work out a gain or loss you need to know what you paid and what you got, in pounds. HMRC can ask for your records, and an exchange may close or delete your history years later. Our Bitcoin tax UK guide covers when tax applies.

What to record for each transaction

• The date.
• What kind of transaction it was: buy, sell, swap, spend, gift, or sending between your own wallets.
• How much Bitcoin or crypto was involved.
• The value in pounds at the time.
• Fees you paid.
• Your running pool total and pooled cost.
• Bank statements and exchange exports that back it up.
• Wallet addresses for moves between your own wallets, so you can show they were not disposals.

HMRC guidance says records must be kept, and for people who file Self Assessment they generally need to be kept for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year, or longer if you file late or HMRC opens an enquiry. Many people keep them for longer.

Pooling in plain English

HMRC treats all your Bitcoin as one pool, called a section 104 pool. Each time you buy, you add the coins and what you paid. When you sell, you take a share of the pooled cost. There are two special rules: coins bought on the same day, or within 30 days after a sale, are matched first. A spreadsheet or crypto tax software can do this for you, but only if your records are complete.

Reporting by UK firms

From 1 January 2026, UK crypto firms collect details about their users and transactions and report them to HMRC under the international Cryptoasset Reporting Framework. In practice, HMRC will increasingly see what you bought and sold on UK platforms. Your own records are how you show the correct gain, loss and costs. The Self Assessment return also has a dedicated section for cryptoasset gains.

A simple way to keep records

1. Export a full transaction history from every exchange at the end of each tax year (5 April).
2. Keep a simple spreadsheet with the columns above.
3. Add a line each time you move coins between your own wallets, with the addresses.
4. Save the files somewhere safe and backed up. Do not store recovery words in the same place.

Official guidance: HMRC: Tax on cryptoassets and HMRC Cryptoassets Manual.

Not tax advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. For anything complex, speak to a qualified accountant.

Questions people ask

Do I need records if I only bought and never sold?
Yes. You will need the purchase records later to work out your cost when you do sell, swap or spend.

Is moving Bitcoin to my own wallet a taxable event?
Moving between wallets you own is not a disposal, but keep a record with the addresses to show it was your own wallet.

Can HMRC see my crypto?
Increasingly yes. From 1 January 2026 UK crypto firms report user and transaction details to HMRC under the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework.

Not financial advice. General education only. Do your own research.