TAX GUIDE

DAC8: Practical Guide for Crypto Investors in 2026

Published March 10, 2026 · Reading time: 12 min

Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax legislation changes regularly — consult a qualified professional for your personal situation.

Since January 1, 2026, the European directive DAC8 (Directive on Administrative Cooperation, 8th version) has come into effect. It requires crypto asset service providers to automatically transmit their users' transaction data to tax authorities. Here is what this concretely changes for you.

1. What is DAC8?

DAC8 is the eighth amendment to the European Directive on administrative cooperation in tax matters. Adopted in October 2023 by the EU Council, it extends automatic exchange of tax information to crypto assets.

Before DAC8, exchanges had no obligation to transmit your transaction data to European tax authorities. The administration relied entirely on your voluntary declaration. With DAC8, that's over: exchanges are now required to report automatically.

2. What data is transmitted?

Crypto asset service providers (CASPs) must communicate:

Full identity: name, date of birth, address, TIN (tax identification number)
Transactions: every buy, sell, exchange operation (including crypto/crypto)
Volumes: amounts in fiat and crypto per transaction
Balances: year-end balances per digital asset
Transfers: crypto asset transfers to external wallets

This data is automatically exchanged between EU member states. If you have an account with Binance (registered in France as PSAN), your data will be transmitted to the DGFiP.

3. Which platforms are affected?

All platforms registered or authorized in the EU are covered:

Binance (PSAN registered in France)
Kraken (present in the EU)
Coinbase (registered in Ireland and France)
Bybit, OKX, Bitstamp, Crypto.com
Any provider with a PSAN or MiCA registration in Europe

Platforms outside the EU not subject to DAC8 are still covered by form 3916-bis: you must still manually declare your foreign accounts.

4. What changes for your 2026 declaration

Before DAC8 (until 2025)

You declared your capital gains yourself on form 2086
The administration had no data to verify
Errors or omissions were rarely detected

After DAC8 (from 2026)

You still declare yourself on form 2086
BUT the administration now has your transaction data
Inconsistencies between your declaration and DAC8 data will be automatically detected
Increased risk of tax audit in case of error or omission

Important: DAC8 does not exempt you from declaring. It simply makes omissions much riskier because the administration can cross-reference your data.

5. How to prepare

Step 1: Gather all your transactions

Export the complete transaction history from each platform. Don't forget old transactions: DAC8 covers your entire history.

Step 2: Verify consistency

Compare your data with what exchanges have (or will) transmit. Manual entry errors, forgotten transactions, or duplicates must be corrected BEFORE declaring.

Step 3: Use a FIFO calculation tool

Manual calculation with dozens or hundreds of transactions is error-prone. An automated tool like KRYPTFOLIO applies the FIFO method correctly and generates a consistent summary.

Step 4: Don't forget form 3916-bis

Even with DAC8, form 3916-bis remains mandatory for accounts held on foreign platforms. The fine is 750 EUR per undeclared account.

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6. Penalties for non-declaration

With DAC8, risks increase significantly:

Omission of form 2086: surcharge of 10% to 80% depending on the case
Omission of 3916-bis: 750 EUR per undeclared account (1,500 EUR if value > 50,000 EUR)
Tax fraud: up to 500,000 EUR fine and 5 years imprisonment
Late interest: 0.20% per month of delay

DAC8 greatly facilitates the detection of inconsistencies by the administration. Declaring correctly is no longer optional, it's a necessity.

7. DAC8 and self-hosted wallets (cold wallets)

DAC8 does not directly cover self-hosted wallets (Ledger, Trezor, MetaMask in self-custody). However:

Transfers from an exchange to an external wallet are reported
The administration can therefore know you hold crypto off-exchange
Reporting obligations (2086 for disposals, 3916-bis for accounts) remain identical

8. DAC8 and MiCA: the new regulatory framework

DAC8 is part of the broader European crypto regulation framework:

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets): regulation of service providers and stablecoins
TFR (Transfer of Funds Regulation): crypto transfer traceability ("travel rule")
DAC8: automatic exchange of tax information

Together, these three regulations create a framework of complete transparency for crypto assets in Europe. Investors who declare correctly have nothing to fear.

DAC8 FAQ

Does DAC8 replace form 2086?

No. DAC8 provides data to the administration, but you must still fill out form 2086 to declare your capital gains. DAC8 simply allows the administration to verify your declaration.

Do I still need to declare 3916-bis?

Yes. Form 3916-bis for foreign crypto accounts remains mandatory, regardless of DAC8.

Does DAC8 cover NFTs?

Yes, NFTs are included in the DAC8 scope when traded on regulated platforms. NFT sales generating capital gains must be declared.

Prepare your 2026 declaration with confidence

With DAC8, accuracy is more important than ever. KRYPTFOLIO calculates your FIFO capital gains and automatically detects 3916-bis accounts.

Starting at 14.99 EUR per tax year

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Indicative summary — not tax advice.

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