A short, practical, step-by-step reminder of how to report cryptocurrency taxes in Poland in 2026. If you’re after a full deep dive, including VAT, PCC, and documentation rules, see our more detailed guide to cryptocurrency taxation in Poland.

Do I have to pay tax on cryptocurrencies?

Yes. If, in a given tax year, you sold cryptocurrency, paid with it for goods or services, or used it to settle another obligation, you generated taxable income that must be reported in your annual tax return. This applies to anyone earning such income as an individual, whether trading occasionally or regularly.

Note: simply buying cryptocurrency (without selling) does not generate income. But if you incurred any crypto-related costs in a given year, you still have to file a return: see the section below.

What’s the tax rate in 2026?

Since the 2019 reform, a single flat rate applies: 19% of income (the difference between revenue and the costs of earning it). Crypto income is classified as income from money capital and is settled separately from other income, such as employment, business income, or income from selling shares.

This is not the pre-2019 rule anymore: before the reform, crypto income was combined with other income on PIT-36 or PIT-36L, taxed at 18%/32% (progressive scale) or 19% (flat business rate). Starting with income earned in 2019, a single 19% rate applies, reported on a dedicated PIT-38 form.

Step by step: filling out PIT-38

1. Gather documentation for every transaction in the year: transfer confirmations to the exchange, transaction-history exports, and the purchase/sale date and price for each cryptocurrency.
2. Calculate your revenue: the market value of the cryptocurrency on the day it was sold or exchanged for fiat, goods, or services. Convert foreign-currency amounts to PLN using the NBP average exchange rate from the business day preceding the day the revenue was earned.
3. Calculate your deductible costs: documented expenses for acquiring the cryptocurrency, plus exchange commissions and transfer fees related to its disposal. Mining equipment and electricity costs do not count toward this category.
4. Fill out PIT-38 (the section on the disposal of virtual currencies) and file it by April 30 of the year following the tax year.
5. If the sum of your income subject to the solidarity levy (including crypto) exceeds PLN 1 million in a given year, add an extra 4% on the excess.

What if I only incurred costs and didn’t sell?

If you bought cryptocurrency during the year but didn’t sell any, you still have to file PIT-38, even with zero income. You report your costs as an excess of costs over income (the crypto equivalent of a tax loss). This excess increases your deductible costs in the following tax year, but only within the same source of income (money capital from crypto); it cannot offset other income.

Will I owe VAT or PCC?

No. Trading in cryptocurrencies (buying, selling, crypto-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat exchange) is exempt from VAT, following the line of case law from the CJEU’s judgment of October 22, 2015, in case C-264/14, Hedqvist. Since 2020, buying, selling, and exchanging cryptocurrencies have also been statutorily exempt from the civil-law transaction tax (PCC) under Article 9(1a) of the PCC Act; earlier this was only a temporary discretionary non-collection policy, but today it’s a permanent statutory exemption.

Cryptocurrencies and B2B status under the 2026 PIP law

If, besides investing in crypto, you also run a sole proprietorship (e.g., as an IT B2B contractor), keep in mind that crypto income is a separate source of income and has no direct bearing on the assessment of subordination hallmarks under the 2026 PIP law. Report it separately on PIT-38, not as business revenue; this doesn’t by itself reduce reclassification risk, but it makes your paperwork cleaner in the event of an inspection. For more on B2B reclassification itself, see here.

FAQ

Do I have to file PIT-38 if I only bought crypto this year? Yes, if you incurred any crypto-related costs, even without income, you must report it (as a cost excess to carry forward to the next year).

Is exchanging one cryptocurrency for another (e.g., BTC for ETH) a taxable event? No. Such an exchange is tax-neutral: taxable income only arises on a sale for fiat currency, goods, or services.

What happens if I don’t file PIT-38 on time? You risk penalties under the Fiscal Penal Code (a fine, and in extreme cases other consequences); if the delay was an oversight, it’s worth considering filing a voluntary disclosure (czynny żal) together with the late return.

Bibliography and Legal Basis

  • Act of July 26, 1991, on Personal Income Tax, Article 17(1)(11), Article 30b(1a).
  • Act of March 1, 2018, on Counteracting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Journal of Laws 2018, item 723).
  • Act of September 9, 2000, on Civil-Law Transactions Tax, Article 9(1a).
  • CJEU judgment of October 22, 2015, in case C-264/14, Skatteverket v David Hedqvist.

Have questions about reporting your cryptocurrency income? Book a free consultation with our team.

Author: MojaFirma team.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation depends on the specific contract and individual circumstances. If something about your own situation isn’t quite clear, feel free to book a free consultation with our team.*