Crypto Taxes in Poland: In-Depth Guide
Crypto taxes in Poland are fairly straightforward—a flat 19% tax on profits from selling or spending crypto. There’s no income tax on mining, staking, or getting paid in crypto—unless you later convert it to fiat.
Poland also follows EU regulations like MiCA and DAC8, but its local tax laws decide how your crypto gains and income are taxed. Whether you’re a resident or a foreign investor, you need to follow the rules set by KAS (the Polish Tax Office) to avoid penalties.
This guide covers everything—from crypto tax rate in Poland to taxable events, reporting requirements, and ways to reduce what you owe.
How Does the Polish Tax Office (KAS) View Cryptocurrency?
In Poland, crypto isn’t legal tender—you can’t use it like cash. But the Polish Tax Office (KAS) treats it as a property right (asset), similar to owning stocks or gold. So if you trade or sell crypto, you’re taxed on profits, just like with investments.
Poland follows EU regulations like MiCA and DAC8, which aim to tighten reporting rules. While local laws still apply, expect crypto taxes in Poland to get stricter as these EU-wide rules roll out.
How is Crypto Taxed in Poland
Poland takes a simple approach to crypto taxation. You pay a flat 19% tax on crypto gains, but only when you convert your crypto into fiat currency like PLN or EUR. That’s the key detail. No conversion to fiat? No tax due.
Let’s say you
- Sell Bitcoin for złoty.
- Use Ethereum to buy a laptop.
- Pay someone with crypto.
In all of these cases, you’ve triggered a taxable event. That’s when crypto taxes in Poland apply.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Unlike in many other countries, swapping one crypto for another isn’t taxed. So trading Bitcoin for Solana or ETH for USDT won’t count as a taxable event in Poland. You’ll only be taxed when you cash out to fiat later.
This same logic applies to crypto income too. If you earn rewards from staking, mining, or lending, you don’t pay tax when you receive the tokens. That income becomes taxable only when you sell those tokens for fiat. Most countries hit you twice—once on receipt as ordinary income and again when you sell. Poland skips that first step.
Also, you can offset your losses. If you bought crypto at a high and sold it at a loss, you can use that to reduce your taxable gains. And if your costs outweigh your profits in a given year, you can carry the loss forward to lower future taxes.
This system eliminates the usual split between capital gains tax on crypto and ordinary income tax. It makes filing simpler for most investors and traders dealing with crypto taxes in Poland.
How to Calculate Crypto Taxes in Poland
Calculating crypto taxes in Poland is pretty straightforward, but different from what you might see in other countries. Instead of tracking every trade or splitting income into categories, Poland uses a simpler formula:
Taxable income = Revenue from fiat sales − Tax-deductible costs
You only report gains when you sell crypto for fiat (like PLN or EUR). If you don’t cash out, there’s nothing to report. Also, crypto-to-crypto trades aren’t taxed, and their costs can’t be deducted.
Let’s break it down with an example:
In 2024, say you buy:
- 1 BTC for 200,000 PLN
- 2 ETH for 50,000 PLN
That’s a total cost of 250,000 PLN. You sell 1 BTC that same year for 250,000 PLN. Revenue equals costs, so no taxable income for 2024.
Now, in 2025, you buy more crypto worth 100,000 PLN, but only manage to sell your 2 ETH for 80,000 PLN. Your total cost (including 50,000 PLN carried over from 2024) is 150,000 PLN, while revenue is 80,000 PLN. That gives you a 70,000 PLN loss, which you can roll forward to future years.
You can deduct:
- Purchase costs of crypto
- Exchange fees
- Direct selling expenses
But you can’t deduct:
- Mining equipment or electricity (unless you’re a business)
- Loan interest
- Costs from crypto-to-crypto trades
This approach avoids the complexity of capital gains vs. income tax splits seen elsewhere. It still requires good recordkeeping though—especially if you plan to carry losses forward.
Crypto Taxable Events in Poland
In Poland, not every crypto transaction triggers taxes—but when you convert crypto to fiat or use it for payments, it counts. Here’s a quick list of crypto taxable events in Poland and why they’re taxed.
Selling crypto for fiat
Selling crypto for fiat, like PLN or EUR, is a clear taxable event in Poland because it turns your digital asset into real-world value. The Poland crypto tax system applies a flat 19% tax on any profit from this type of sale.
Spending crypto on goods/services
Spending crypto on goods or services is taxable in Poland because it’s treated the same as selling it for cash. You’re converting crypto into value, which means tax on crypto gains in Poland applies.
Settling Debts with Cryptocurrency
Using crypto to settle debts is taxable in Poland because it’s considered a form of payment. Just like selling for fiat, it triggers crypto taxes in Poland based on any profit made at the time of the transaction.
Tax-Free Crypto Transactions in Poland
Here are the tax-free crypto transactions in Poland—situations where you can hold, earn, or trade without triggering a taxable event.
Buying and holding crypto
Simply buying and holding crypto in Poland isn’t taxed. Since there’s no conversion to fiat, it doesn’t trigger any crypto tax obligations in Poland.
Transferring crypto between personal wallets
Transferring crypto between your own wallets is tax-free in Poland. There’s no sale or conversion involved, so no crypto tax applies.
Swapping one crypto for another
Poland only taxes crypto when you convert it to fiat, so swapping one coin for another, like BTC for ETH, is tax-free. Unlike many other countries, these trades aren’t taxable here.
Just remember: if you eventually sell for fiat, that’s when taxes kick in.
Airdrops
Since Poland only taxes crypto when it’s converted to fiat, receiving airdrops isn’t a taxable event. Unlike in many other countries, you don’t pay tax on airdropped tokens right away. But once you sell them for fiat, that’s when the Poland crypto tax rules apply.
Getting paid in crypto
Since Poland only taxes crypto when it’s turned into fiat, getting paid in crypto doesn’t trigger tax right away. However, you’ll still owe tax on crypto gains in Poland when you eventually cash out.
Mining, staking, and lending rewards
Mining, staking, and lending rewards are also tax-free in Poland at the time you receive them. Following the same rule, since there’s no fiat conversion, there’s no immediate crypto tax obligation—but you’ll be taxed once you sell those rewards for fiat.
NFT Taxation
NFTs are likely only taxable in Poland if you sell them for fiat currency. Selling NFTs for another cryptocurrency is tax-free, as it follows the same rule as crypto-to-crypto swaps under crypto taxes in Poland.
How to Reduce Crypto Tax Liability in Poland (Legal Strategies)
While you can’t completely avoid crypto taxes in Poland, there are a few smart ways to lower what you owe—legally.
The most common strategy? Offset your losses (or tax-loss harvesting).
If you sell crypto at a loss, you can subtract that from your taxable gains. For example, if you earn 50,000 PLN from selling Bitcoin but lose 20,000 PLN on Ethereum, you only pay tax on the 30,000 PLN difference.
Another easy tactic is to hold your crypto. Since Poland only taxes you when you convert to fiat, holding helps defer taxes. No sale = no tax.
Now here’s a more creative approach—use idle crypto to earn tax-free rewards. If you’re already selling some of your crypto and facing a tax bill, you can soften the blow by putting unused assets to work.
For example, if you have coins sitting in a wallet, you could stake or lend them and earn additional rewards. Since Poland doesn’t tax staking or lending income when it’s received, these extra earnings come in tax-free, for now. Later, when you sell them for fiat, you’ll be taxed. But in the meantime, those rewards can help offset the taxes you’re already paying.
It’s not a loophole—it’s just taking full advantage of how Poland’s crypto tax rules are structured. You’re legally delaying tax while boosting your holdings.
As always, keep clear records of all transactions, income, and costs. That’s your safety net if you ever get audited.
How to Report Crypto Taxes in Poland
Poland’s crypto tax year runs from January 1 to December 31. You must file between February 15 and April 30 of the following year.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Individuals file using the PIT-38 form
- Businesses use the CIT-8 form
- File online through the e-Urząd Skarbowy tax portal
You’ll need to report:
- Total revenue from crypto sold for fiat
- All tax-deductible costs
- Any gains or losses (losses can offset future gains)
Keep clear records of every transaction—dates, amounts, counterparties, and types. Many use Bitcoin.Tax or other crypto tax software in Poland to simplify the process.
Crypto Tax Penalties in Poland: What Happens If You Don’t Pay?
If you skip out on crypto taxes in Poland, it’s not just a slap on the wrist. The tax office takes it seriously, and the penalties can be steep.
Poland splits violations into two types: tax offenses and tax crimes.
If you owe less than PLN 21,500, it’s a tax offense. Fines range from PLN 430 to PLN 86,000. But if you owe more than that, it becomes a tax crime, with fines that can go as high as PLN 41 million, plus possible jail time or restriction of liberty.
On top of that, late payments rack up interest. The standard rate is 14.5% annually, but you might get a reduced 7.25% rate if you fix the mistake and pay before the tax office notifies you. If they catch it first, the rate jumps to 21.75%.
Poland doesn’t send reminders, so staying on top of crypto tax filing deadlines in Poland is on you. With the government keeping a closer eye on crypto activity, reporting late—or not at all—can cost you way more than just taxes.
Poland’s crypto tax rules are clear, but staying compliant takes planning. Keep good records, know what’s taxable, and use smart strategies to reduce your bill legally.