German crypto tax reform: without a receipt, half the sale price is taxed

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry a high degree of risk. Always conduct your own research.The Federal Ministry of Finance's draft bill goes to the cabinet on October 14. Anyone who cannot prove their acquisition cost pays tax on 50 percent of the sale proceeds under the substitute assessment.Anyone who sells their coins and cannot prove the purchase price will in future have to pay tax on half the sale proceeds. This substitute assessment appears in the German Federal Ministry of Finance's draft bill on the "Act to reform the taxation of certain crypto assets held as private assets", and it is the point that has so far been lost in the debate about the one-year holding period. The cabinet is due to approve the draft on October 14, 2026. Associations and law firms may submit comments until October 6, 2026. For you this means two things. Your current holdings stay protected if you bought them by December 31, 2026. And from 2027 your purchase receipts become a document whose loss carries a price you can put a figure on. Substitute assessment: 50 percent of the sale proc...