Taxation of crypto cards in France: do you need to declare your cashback?

You use a crypto card for your daily purchases and accumulate cashback in Bitcoin or Ethereum. Excellent instinct to make your spending work for you! But when you fill out your tax return, a question haunts you: are these cryptocurrency rewards taxable? Do you need to declare them to the French tax authorities?

Thousands of crypto card holders ask themselves this question every year. And unfortunately, clear answers are hard to come by. Between the vague positions of the administration, divergent interpretations by accountants, and rumors on forums, it's hard to find your way. Before choosing your card, remember to compare offers on CryptoCardCompare and use our earnings simulator to estimate your annual cashback.

In this article, we decode the official position of the French tax authorities on crypto rewards, the declarative obligations that result from them, and best practices to stay compliant. A crucial topic given that France now has more than 6 million cryptocurrency asset holders.

Crypto cashback: income like any other?

What exactly is cryptocurrency cashback?

Crypto cashback works on the same principle as traditional loyalty programs, with one difference: instead of receiving points or euros, you receive cryptocurrencies. Concretely, when you pay with your crypto card at a merchant, a percentage of your purchase is returned to you in the form of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or the native token of the card issuer.

The most common forms of rewards:

• ▸Cashback in BTC or ETH (Crypto.com, Binance)
• ▸Rewards in native tokens (CRO for Crypto.com, BNB for Binance)
• ▸Staking programs integrated into the card
• ▸Welcome bonuses in cryptocurrencies

The legal qualification of cashback

This is where things get complicated. In French tax law, the qualification of income determines its tax regime. However, crypto cashback can be analyzed in several ways:

1. 1.As a commercial discount: in this case, it would not be taxable income but a reduction in the purchase price
2. 2.As a benefit in kind: taxable as miscellaneous income
3. 3.As potential capital gains: taxable only when converted to euros

The position of the tax authorities is not yet fully clarified, but several elements allow us to see more clearly.

Position of French tax authorities in 2025

What the DGFiP officially says

The French tax authority (DGFiP) has not published a specific doctrine on crypto cashback. However, it has expressed itself on cryptocurrency assets in general in the BOFiP (Official Bulletin of Public Finances).

The fundamental principle applicable to crypto assets:

Gains from the sale of digital assets are taxable under article 150 VH bis of the General Tax Code, when these assets are converted into fiat currency or used to acquire a good or service.

In other words, simply receiving cryptocurrencies is not in itself a taxable event. It is their conversion or use that potentially triggers taxation.

The majority interpretation by experts

According to most tax lawyers and specialized accountants, crypto cashback should be treated as follows:

Crucial point: even if the cashback is not immediately taxable upon receipt, you must keep a precise record of its value at the time of acquisition. This value will constitute your "acquisition price" for calculating any future capital gains.

Concrete declarative obligations

Form 3916-bis: account declaration

Since 2020, any French tax resident holding an account on a foreign digital asset platform must declare it via form 3916-bis. This obligation concerns:

• ▸Crypto.com, Binance, Bybit accounts opened abroad
• ▸Wallets held on non-French platforms
• ▸Even accounts with zero balance if you used them during the year

Warning: failure to declare is sanctioned with a fine of €750 per undeclared account, potentially reaching €1,500 if the account exceeds €50,000 in value.

Form 2086: capital gains declaration

If you have converted your cashback to euros or used your rewards for a purchase, you may need to complete form 2086. Here are the rules:

Exemption threshold: €305 in annual capital gains

• ▸Below this threshold: no taxation, but declaration recommended
• ▸Above: taxation at the flat rate of 30% (flat tax) or optionally at the progressive rate

Concrete example:

You received 0.005 BTC cashback in January 2025, valued at €200 at that time. In December 2025, you convert this BTC to euros when it's worth €350.

• ▸Acquisition price: €200 (value at the time of cashback)
• ▸Sale price: €350
• ▸Taxable gain: €150
• ▸Tax owed: €0 (below the €305 threshold)

The special case of native tokens

Rewards in native tokens (CRO, BNB, etc.) follow the same rules, but watch out: their high volatility can create significant capital gains. A token received at €0.10 worth €0.50 a few months later generates a 400% gain on resale.

Best practices for peace of mind on taxes

Keep a precise record of all your rewards

The key to controlled taxation is traceability. For each cashback received, note:

• ▸The date of receipt
• ▸The amount in crypto
• ▸The value in euros at the time of receipt
• ▸The issuing platform
• ▸The type of transaction (cashback, bonus, staking...)

Practical tip: regularly export your transaction histories from your crypto card application. Most (Crypto.com, Binance) offer CSV exports.

Use a tax tracking tool

Several French solutions facilitate the calculation of your capital gains:

• ▸Waltio: French certified solution, integration with most exchanges
• ▸Coqonut: simple interface, adapted to individuals
• ▸Koinly: international solution with French support

These tools automatically calculate your capital gains according to the weighted average price method (WAP) required by the French tax authorities.

Consult a professional if in doubt

If your annual cashback exceeds a few hundred euros, or if you have complex situations (staking, lending, arbitrage), consult a tax lawyer or accountant specialized in cryptocurrency. The cost of a consultation (€150-300) is trivial compared to the risks of audit adjustments.

What could change in 2026

The European DAC8 directive

The European Union has adopted the DAC8 directive, which requires digital asset service providers (DASP) to automatically transmit their clients' information to tax authorities starting in 2026.

Concretely, this means:

• ▸Platforms will directly report your transactions
• ▸French tax authorities will have a complete view of your crypto activities
• ▸"Involuntary" oversights will become risky

Toward clarification of cashback taxation?

Several proposals are circulating to simplify the taxation of small crypto gains:

• ▸Raising the exemption threshold above €305
• ▸Total exemption for cashback below a certain amount
• ▸Creation of a specific regime for rewards

Nothing is finalized, but pressure from user associations and industry professionals could lead to changes.

FAQ: your questions on crypto cashback taxation

Is crypto cashback considered taxable income upon receipt?

No, according to the majority interpretation, cashback is not taxable upon receipt. It is its conversion to euros or its use for a purchase that can generate taxable capital gains.

Do I need to declare my Crypto.com or Binance account?

Yes, if you are a French tax resident and the platform is based abroad (which is the case for most), you must declare this account via form 3916-bis, even if your balance is zero.

What happens if I don't declare my cashback?

Failure to declare the account exposes you to a minimum fine of €750. If an audit reveals undeclared capital gains, you risk an adjustment with penalties that can reach 80% of the amounts owed.

How do I calculate my capital gains on cashback received progressively?

You must apply the weighted average price method (WAP). Each cashback received modifies your average acquisition price. Tools like Waltio automate this calculation.

Are welcome bonuses treated differently?

No, they follow the same regime as cashback: no taxation on receipt, but obligation to note their value to calculate any future capital gains.

Conclusion: anticipate rather than suffer

The taxation of crypto cards in France remains a field in evolution, but the main lines are now clear: cashback is not taxable upon receipt, but its subsequent conversion may be. The essential thing is to keep accurate records and respect declarative obligations.

With the arrival of the DAC8 directive in 2026, transparency will be key. It's better to adopt best practices now rather than having to regularize in a rush.

To choose the crypto card best suited to your tax profile and maximize your rewards with peace of mind, compare all crypto cards on CryptoCardCompare. Our comparator helps you identify the most advantageous offers, with clear information about cashback programs and how they work.