Knowledge guide
German tax knowledge

DAC8: why the tax office already knows your crypto trades

Last reviewed: August 31, 2026
Under DAC8, regulated crypto providers must send user and transaction data to tax authorities. For 2026 the first report is due in 2027. That does not replace your return. It makes mismatches visible: what the exchange reports and what sits in Annex SO should come from the same history.
The facts in brief
FromExchange reporting for 2026, first filing 2027
IssueThe ELSTER figure differs from the exchange report
ProtectionA closed history before you enter figures

What exchanges report — and what they do not

Central platforms with an EU nexus send identities and transactions. Self-custody, DEXs and foreign wallets without a reporting duty often stay out. That is where gaps appear: a Binance sale without the imported hardware-wallet purchase creates cost basis zero in the software and too much gain in ELSTER. The exchange only has its side.

Why mismatched figures stand out

If ELSTER shows a €12,000 gain and the exchange report knows different outflows, the office asks for the calculation. What the report must contain is then not a matter of style. A warning list in another tool is not an answer. You need the closed lot.

What you check before you type

Every exchange and wallet imported? Transfers matched? Prices present? Smart contracts classified? In chain.report that is CleanUp. Only then enter the totals. DAC8 does not change the rate. It changes how easily a gap is seen.

Sources

German Ministry of Finance letter of 10 May 2022 — virtual currencies

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the return because the exchange already reports?

No. The report is a control file, not a finished Annex SO. You remain responsible for the calculation.

Does DAC8 already apply to 2025?

The operational duty targets 2026, first delivery 2027. For 2025 the return is still yours — and a closed history still helps.

Does a second tax tool fix the reporting mismatch?

No. Two PDFs with the same gap are still a gap. The history has to close, whatever logo is on the report.

Read next

How to enter crypto on the German tax return — ELSTER, Annex SO and KAP

How to enter crypto in ELSTER: Annex SO crypto assets, services and KAP. Close the history first, then copy totals from chain.report.

What must a crypto tax report contain for the tax office?

Traceable lots, cost basis, holding period, no lasting negative balances. What a reviewable crypto tax report looks like.

Why is my crypto tax bill unrealistically high?

An unrealistically high crypto tax bill almost never comes from the tax rate. Usually cost basis, purchases or classification are wrong.

This guide structures the data issues and common German administrative practice. It is not tax advice. The assessment in your case stays with you and your tax advisor.

The same history as the exchange, plus the wallets

Import the exchange and self-custody, close CleanUp and generate the report. Then you can explain the ELSTER figure against a DAC8 file.

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