Cryptocurrencies as payment: how to charge in Bitcoin for your work is taxable

More and more professionals and companies accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment. From web designers to consultants, the practice of getting paid in BTC or ETH is growing. The tax regulations are clear in this regard.

How is cryptocurrency collection valued?

When you charge in cryptocurrencies for a service provided:

1. The income is valued in euros at the market price of the cryptocurrency at the time of collection.
2. That value in euros is the income that you must declare as income from economic activity or work.
3. The cryptocurrency received is registered in your inventory with that price as the acquisition cost.

Example:

• You provide consulting services for €3,000.
• The client pays you in ETH. On the day of payment, 1 ETH is worth €3,000.
• You receive 1 ETH.
• You declare €3,000 of income from economic activity.
• Your acquisition cost of that 1 ETH is €3,000.

Cryptocurrency invoices

If you are self-employed, you must issue an invoice for your services, even if you charge in crypto:

• The invoice must be in euros (the value of the service).
• If you charge in crypto, add a note: "Payment made in ETH at the exchange rate of €X/ETH as of MM/DD/YYYY."
• Normal VAT applies (21% on general services).

Invoice example:

Consulting service: €3,000.00
VAT 21%: €630.00
Total: €3,630.00
Paid in: 1.21 ETH at the exchange rate of €3,000/ETH (date: 03/15/2025)

Self-employed: eligibility for personal income tax

If you are self-employed who usually earns in crypto:

• Crypto income is income from economic activity.
• They are included in your general personal income tax base (progressive rate up to 47%).
• You can deduct the usual expenses of the activity (office, software, social security, etc.).

There is no difference between charging in euros or crypto for the purposes of the applicable tax rate. Crypto is just another means of payment.

Employed workers: the employee who is paid in crypto

If your company pays you part of your salary in cryptocurrencies (remuneration in kind):

• It is remuneration in kind for work.
• It is valued at the market price at the time of delivery.
• It is subject to personal income tax as income from work and to Social Security contributions.
• The company must declare it in form 190 (summary of withholdings).

Risk of fluctuation between invoice and collection

If you invoice €3,000 but the client takes 30 days to pay:

• On the day of the invoice: 1 ETH = €3,000.
• On the day of payment: 1 ETH = €2,500.
• You receive 1.2 ETH (to cover €3,000) or 1 ETH and assume the loss of €500.

The loss of €500 may be deductible as an activity expense or as a capital loss, depending on the context.

Crypto payments between businesses (B2B)

Companies that pay each other in cryptocurrencies:

• The income is recorded in euros (PGC requires recording in euros).
• The exchange difference between the date of the invoice and the collection is a financial result (positive or negative).
• VAT is always settled in euros.

Summary of obligations

Updated: April 2026 | Fiscal year: 2025