7.3[Tax & Legal Considerations](https://wealtii.com/learn) # Crypto Tax Records: What to Keep and for How Long By [Zayd Ahmed](https://wealtii.com/editorial-policy#zayd-ahmed), Founder & CEO, Wealtii · Published 10 February 2026 · Last reviewed 21 October 2026 **Crypto tax record keeping** means keeping a dated log of every purchase, sale, swap, transfer and reward, with its value in your home currency, so you can calculate gains and income accurately. HMRC, the IRS and other tax authorities can ask for these records, and how long you must keep them depends on your country and situation. ## What records do you need to keep for crypto taxes? - **Date and time** of each transaction, which sets holding periods and matching. - **Type and number of tokens** bought, sold, swapped, received or sent. - **Value in your home currency** at the time, plus the price source you used. - **Fees** paid, including network fees, which can form part of your allowable cost. - **Wallet addresses and transaction hashes**, to show transfers between your own wallets are not disposals. - **Platform statements and exports** from every exchange or app you used. - **Income records** for staking, mining, airdrops or payments: date received, amount and value on receipt. - **Pool calculations** (UK): HMRC asks for the number of tokens left and pooled costs before and after each disposal, plus bank statements. Our guide to [how crypto is taxed](https://wealtii.com/learn/crypto-taxation-basics) explains which of these events count as disposals or income. ## How long should you keep crypto tax records? | Country | Authority | Minimum period | | --- | --- | --- | | United Kingdom | HMRC | At least 22 months after the end of the tax year if you file on time; 15 months after filing if late; 5 years after the 31 January deadline if self-employed. Longer if HMRC opens a check. | | United States | IRS | Generally 3 years; 6 years if you leave out income worth more than 25% of the gross income on your return; 7 years for a worthless securities or bad debt loss claim; indefinitely if you file no return or a fraudulent one. | | Australia | ATO | 5 years from the latest of when you prepared or obtained the records, completed the transaction, or the CGT event happened. | | Canada | CRA | At least 6 years from the end of the last tax year the records relate to. | These minimums run from the year you report a disposal, not from the year you bought. If you bought bitcoin in 2020 and sell it in 2027, you need the 2020 purchase records until the retention period for the 2027 disposal ends. EU countries set their own periods, so check your national tax authority. ## Why do records matter more for crypto than for shares? A share broker usually tracks your cost for you. Crypto often moves between several exchanges and self-custody wallets, and each move breaks the platform's view of your original cost. US brokers only began reporting cost basis on Form 1099-DA for sales from 1 January 2026, and only for covered assets acquired and held in the same account, so assets transferred in from elsewhere still depend on your records. Exchanges also close: when a platform fails, its transaction history can disappear with it. Without proof of cost, you risk being taxed on more than your real gain. ## How do you retrieve historical crypto transaction data? - **Exchanges and apps:** download full CSV or PDF statements from the account's history or tax section, and repeat at least once a year while the account is open. - **Blockchain explorers:** Etherscan, BscScan and similar sites show every transaction for a wallet address, with dates and hashes. - **Bank and card statements:** confirm the cash you paid in and withdrew. - **Crypto tax software:** can import exchange files and wallet addresses and apply your country's matching rules, but check its classifications, especially for DeFi and transfers. ## How should you organise crypto tax records? 1. Keep one master spreadsheet or software file covering every platform and wallet. 2. Label transfers between your own wallets so they are not mistaken for sales. 3. Record the price source (for example a named exchange or data provider) and use it consistently. 4. Reconcile your records with any Form 1099-DA or platform tax statement before you file. 5. Back up files in two places, and never store private keys or seed phrases with your tax records. Our [guide to storing recovery phrases](https://wealtii.com/learn/safe-storage-of-recovery-phrases) covers that separately. Platforms are also collecting more data about you. UK cryptoasset service providers have gathered user details since 1 January 2026 under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, so the figures HMRC receives should match your own. On Wealtii, deposits and withdrawals are USDT transfers on BNB Smart Chain, so each one has a transaction hash you can look up on BscScan and keep with your records; Wealtii is not regulated. Good records also make the strategies in our guide to [legal ways to reduce crypto tax](https://wealtii.com/learn/crypto-tax-optimization-strategies) possible. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What records do I need to keep for crypto taxes? For every transaction keep the date, the type and number of tokens, the value in your home currency at that time, fees, the platform or wallet used and what the transaction was (purchase, sale, swap, transfer or reward). HMRC also asks for running pool totals and bank statements; the IRS needs dates acquired and sold, proceeds and cost basis. ### How long should I keep crypto tax records in the UK? If you file a Self Assessment return on time and are not self-employed, GOV.UK says to keep records for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year, or 5 years after the 31 January deadline if you are self-employed. Keep them longer if you file late or HMRC opens a check, and keep purchase records for as long as you hold the tokens. ### What if I have lost my crypto transaction history? Rebuild it from exchange account exports, bank and card statements, email confirmations and public blockchain explorers, which show the full history of any wallet address you control. Where you have to estimate values, note how you did it and discuss it with a tax adviser before filing. ### Do I need records if I only bought and held crypto? Yes. Buying is not usually taxable, but you will need the purchase date, amount and cost when you eventually sell, swap or give the crypto away. Without them you may be unable to prove your cost, which can leave you taxed on a larger gain than you really made. ## Sources & References 1. [HMRC — Check if you need to pay tax when you sell cryptoassets (records you must keep)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-to-pay-tax-when-you-sell-cryptoassets) (accessed 21 Oct 2026) 2. [GOV.UK — How long to keep your tax records](https://www.gov.uk/keeping-your-pay-tax-records/how-long-to-keep-your-records) (accessed 21 Oct 2026) 3. [IRS — How long should I keep records?](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records) (accessed 21 Oct 2026) 4. [Australian Taxation Office — Keeping crypto records](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/crypto-asset-investments/keeping-crypto-records) (accessed 21 Oct 2026) 5. [Canada Revenue Agency — Books and records for crypto-asset transactions](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/programs/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/compliance/cryptocurrency-guide/books-records-crypto.html) (accessed 21 Oct 2026) Reviewed against the cited official sources on 21 October 2026. Disclaimer: Educational content only. Wealtii is early-stage and is not regulated by any financial regulator. Tax and legal rules change frequently and differ by country. This article is general information, not tax or legal advice — consult a qualified professional in your jurisdiction. ## Further reading from official sources - [OECD: Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework](https://www.oecd.org/tax/exchange-of-tax-information/crypto-asset-reporting-framework.htm) - [IRS: Virtual currencies](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/virtual-currencies) Tax and legal rules differ by country and change often. This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice — check your local tax authority or a qualified adviser. [Zayd Ahmed](https://wealtii.com/editorial-policy#zayd-ahmed) Founder & CEO, Wealtii Computer Science Engineer | 5+ Years in DeFi & Digital Assets