What is the UK Crypto Tax Free Allowance for 2026?
For the 2026/27 tax year, the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowance remains at £3,000. This is also known as the annual exempt amount or annual tax free allowance, referring to the tax-free threshold for capital gains in a given tax year, allowing you to make a certain amount of profit from selling or exchanging cryptocurrencies before tax applies.
This allowance applies to all your capital gains combined, not just crypto. So if you've also made money selling shares or property, these all count towards your £3,000 limit. Working out exactly where you stand against that limit is where a crypto tax calculator earns its keep, since it tracks every disposal against the allowance for you rather than leaving you to add it up by hand.
HMRC views cryptocurrencies as "chargeable assets" rather than currency. This classification is why they fall under CGT rules rather than being treated like pounds or dollars. If you want a fuller picture of how HMRC treats digital assets generally, our guide to crypto tax in the UK covers the basics in more depth.
Each time you sell, trade, or spend crypto, it counts as a disposal for tax purposes. Even swapping between different cryptocurrencies triggers a potential tax event.
Remember, this £3,000 allowance is per person, and it cannot be transferred between spouses. If you're married or in a civil partnership, you can each use your own £3,000 allowance, effectively sheltering £6,000 between you.
