Bitcoin Tax in Austria (2026)

Flat crypto rateResearch in progressLast reviewed 2026-09-06

The full guide for this country is being researched

What is on this page now is verified against the sources listed below: the tax authority, the governing rule and the shape of the regime. Rates, exemptions and the reporting duty land here once our research is reviewed.

You pay tax when you sell bitcoin for euros in Austria: since 1 March 2022 the Eco-Social Tax Reform has treated income from cryptocurrencies as income from capital assets under § 27b EStG, taxed at the special rate of 27.5 percent regardless of how long you held the coins, and without pushing the rest of your income into a higher bracket. Realized gains include selling for euros, exchanging for a legally recognized foreign currency such as US dollars, and paying for goods or services with bitcoin. Swapping one cryptocurrency for another is not a disposal and is not taxed; the acquisition cost carries over to the coins you receive. The gain is the sale proceeds minus acquisition cost, and incidental acquisition costs such as advisory fees or transaction fees reduce it. For capital income arising after 31 December 2023, domestic service providers withhold capital gains tax (KESt), which settles the tax so you do not report that income on your return.

Regime: Flat crypto rate
Tax authority: Bundesministerium für Finanzen (BMF)
Framework: § 27b EStG (Ökosoziale Steuerreform), with the KryptowährungsVO (2022)
Losses: Gains and losses from cryptocurrency income can be offset under the general rules against gains and losses from other capital income, such as dividends or gains on selling shares.
Reporting duty: For capital income arising after 31 December 2023, domestic debtors and service providers must withhold capital gains tax (KESt) and pay it to the tax office; that withholding settles the income tax (Endbesteuerung) and you no longer include the income in your tax return. Income from cryptocurrencies that arose before the withholding duty took effect must be declared and taxed through the income tax return. For income arising from calendar year 2025, a KESt withholding agent must produce a tax report on your request for use in your assessment.

What is not taxed

Exchanging one cryptocurrency for another cryptocurrency is not a disposal and is not taxed; the acquisition cost of the coins given up transfers to the coins received, and the costs of the swap are disregarded for tax.
Exchanging legal tender such as euros for bitcoin and back is exempt from VAT under the Court of Justice of the EU's Hedqvist judgment (C-264/14), and bitcoin mining is not subject to VAT.

Mining income

Coins acquired through mining are current income from cryptocurrencies under § 27b Abs 2 Z 2 EStG, taxed on receipt at their value at that time, and that value becomes the acquisition cost of the coins received. A commercial miner is taxed at the progressive income tax rate instead of the special rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is swapping bitcoin for another cryptocurrency taxable in Austria?

No. The BMF says exchanging one cryptocurrency for another is not a disposal and is not taxed. The acquisition cost of the coins you gave up carries over to the coins you received, and transaction costs of the swap are disregarded.

Do I pay less tax if I hold bitcoin for more than a year in Austria?

No. Since 1 March 2022 realized gains on cryptocurrencies are taxable regardless of any holding period. The exception is coins acquired up to 28 February 2021, which are old holdings taxed under the rules that applied before the reform.

Is paying for something with bitcoin a taxable event in Austria?

Yes. Exchanging cryptocurrencies for other assets or services, for example buying an item and paying in cryptocurrency, counts as a realized gain under § 27b Abs 3 EStG. The fair market value of the coins at the time of the exchange is treated as the sale price.

Can I offset bitcoin losses against other income in Austria?

Gains and losses from cryptocurrency income can be offset under the general rules against gains and losses from other capital income, such as dividends or gains on selling shares.

Do I have to declare bitcoin gains on my Austrian tax return?

If a domestic service provider withheld KESt on capital income arising after 31 December 2023, the tax is settled and you do not include that income in your return. Income that arose before the withholding duty applied must be declared and taxed through your income tax return.

Sources

Bundesministerium für Finanzen: Steuerliche Behandlung von Kryptowährungen

The authority itself: Bundesministerium für Finanzen (BMF). Rules change with each budget; check the figure that matters to you there before you file.

Buying is the other question: how to buy bitcoin in Austria covers exchanges, payment methods and legality for residents.