NFTs and Taxes: Complete 2026 Guide
Buying, selling and creating NFTs: everything you need to know about the taxation of non-fungible tokens in Europe.
Written by Elena Marchetti
Tax specialist in digital assets
The NFT tax framework
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are crypto assets and are therefore subject to the same tax rules as traditional cryptocurrencies. Buying an NFT with crypto is a taxable event (crypto-to-crypto exchange). Selling an NFT generates a capital gain or loss. NFT creators are taxed as business income.
Buying and selling NFTs
Purchasing an NFT with ETH is fiscally a crypto-to-crypto exchange: if you are in France, it is not taxable, but in Germany or Spain, it is a taxable event. Selling an NFT for crypto or euros generates a capital gain calculated using your country's method.
NFT creators and artists
If you create and sell NFTs, the income is generally treated as professional or non-commercial income. In France, this falls under BNC or BIC depending on the volume of activity. Minting fees (gas fees) are deductible from income. The treatment varies considerably from country to country.
Royalties and recurring income
Royalties received on secondary sales of NFTs constitute taxable income at the time of receipt. Taxes Crypto includes NFT tax treatment in the DeFi option to help you declare these transactions correctly.
Creating and selling NFTs: creator tax regime
For NFT creators, revenues from initial sales (minting) and royalties on secondary sales are generally taxable as professional income (BNC in France, Einkünfte aus selbständiger Arbeit in Germany). If NFT creation is a regular activity, it may qualify as commercial with VAT obligations. Creation costs (gas fees, marketplace commissions) are deductible.
NFTs and capital gains: when a buyer resells
For NFT buyer-resellers, the capital gain is the difference between sale price and purchase price (including gas fees as acquisition costs). In France, NFTs are treated as digital assets and subject to the 30% PFU. In Germany, the 12-month holding exemption also applies to NFTs.
Collections, gaming and metaverse: special cases
NFTs in blockchain games (Axie Infinity, The Sandbox) and virtual land raise unique tax questions. In-game earnings (tokens, NFT drops) may constitute taxable income. Are virtual lands digital real estate? Most tax authorities haven't yet ruled. The prudent approach is to treat all gains as capital gains on digital assets.
Tracking your NFTs with Taxes Crypto
NFT transactions can be imported via CSV in Taxes Crypto. Each purchase, sale, exchange and royalty received is integrated into your overall tax calculation. The PDF report details NFT capital gains separately for clear filing.
Official legal sources
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for your personal situation.
Elena Marchetti
Tax specialist in digital assets
Elena Marchetti is a European tax specialist focused on cryptocurrency taxation. Holding a Master's in Finance and certified as a tax advisor, she has been guiding crypto investors since 2018 through their tax obligations across Europe.
Crypto taxation · European regulation · DAC8 · MiCA
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