💥 TAX & ACCOUNTING : BUYING/SELLING CRYPTO

The #1 Tax Mistake Crypto Traders Make: Thinking Everything Is Taxable…

What qualifies as “buying/selling crypto” in France?

Let’s break it down:

• Buying BTC with euros → Not taxable

• Selling BTC for euros → Taxable

• Swapping BTC for ETH or USDT → Not taxable

• Using crypto to buy a product or service → Taxable

📣 In France, crypto-to-crypto exchanges are not taxable as long as there's no conversion into fiat or use for payment.

1. Tax treatment for occasional individual investors

You trade from time to time, with no business structure?

✅ You fall under the regime of capital gains on digital assets, governed by Article 150 VH bis of the French Tax Code (CGI).

• Only sales for fiat currency or use of crypto for purchases trigger taxation

• Crypto-to-crypto trades are tax-neutral

• Flat tax: 30% (12.8% income tax + 17.2% social contributions)

• Report using Form 2086 + income tax return

Official source: BOFiP BOI-RPPM-PVBMC-30-10

2. Tax & accounting for professional traders (self-employed)

You trade frequently, with tools, bots, or a clear profit-making strategy?

➡️ You may be classified as a professional trader under French tax law.

Tax regime:

• You’re taxed under the BNC (non-commercial profits) or BIC (industrial/commercial profits) category

• Progressive income tax

• Deductible business expenses

• Use Form 2035 (BNC) or 2031 (BIC)

📊 Accounting:

• BNC: Cash-basis accounting + ledger of receipts/expenses

• BIC: Accrual accounting + balance sheet and P&L statement

• All based on the French General Chart of Accounts (PCG)

Note: A high volume of trades alone is not enough to be considered professional.It’s a combination of factors (organization, intent, regularity, tools) that matters.

🏢 3. Tax & accounting for companies (SASU, EURL, etc.)

If you trade through a company:

• Crypto assets are recorded as assets on the balance sheet

  • Either fixed assets or inventory, depending on your business model

• Profits are subject to corporate tax (IS)

• Assets must be valued at year-end as per ANC regulation 2020-01

📌 Source: ANC 2020-01

🧠 Summary: 3 regimes, 3 tax approaches

Status	Tax Regime	Accounting Obligations
Occasional individual	30% flat tax (Art. 150 VH bis)	None, just annual capital gains report
Professional (self-employed)	BNC/BIC + deductible expenses	Simplified or full accounting
Company (SASU, EURL…)	Corporate tax (IS)	Full French accounting (PCG)

✅ Pro Tips

• 📁 Keep a detailed record of every transaction

• ⚙️ Use tools like Waltio, CoinTracking, cryptoaccounting

• 📞 Have your tax status professionally assessed before filing