Valuation and tax of inherited crypto

Tax and valuation rules for inherited crypto are jurisdiction-dependent. This page explains the general concepts honestly; the specific rules for your country are found on that country’s pages of this platform and in the official sources linked there. Nothing here is a personalised tax opinion.

Rules and deadlines can change, and this page may not yet reflect the latest position, have the current rules confirmed by a local lawyer, notary or tax adviser before acting. Spotted something that no longer matches? Contact us and we will correct it.

Valuation concepts

• A date of valuation matters. Estates are valued at a defined date (commonly the date of death); crypto is volatile, so the chosen date and the source of the rate should be documented.
• The inventory drives the valuation. You can only value what the estate inventory confirmed exists.
• Existence is not value. A balance that cannot be accessed, is frozen, or sits in an illiquid position is worth less than the headline figure, sometimes nothing. Valuing honestly includes noting this.
• Different assets, different treatment. Exchange balances, self-custody coins, DeFi positions and NFTs are not a single category for valuation or reporting.

Reporting concepts

• The executor or heir is usually responsible for reporting the estate’s assets to the relevant authorities, with deadlines. Missing a filing deadline is a separate problem from the amount owed; ask about deadlines early.
• Crypto may be relevant for inheritance/succession duties, for capital-gains treatment at later sale, and for reporting obligations (anti-money-laundering and tax-transparency rules vary by country).
• Where the person who passed away lived, where the assets are held, and where heirs live can each point to different rules: see cross-border crypto estates.

What you practically need

For the filing you will usually need, per the relevant jurisdiction:

• an overview of the crypto that is part of the estate;
• the value on the relevant date and the price source used;
• exchange and wallet account statements, where available;
• transaction history, where available;
• a clear record of what was found and recorded.

There is no single universally mandatory valuation method; the exact approach (which rate, which moment, which source) is a question for a qualified local tax adviser.

When records are incomplete

If crypto cannot be fully inventoried, that is not a reason to skip the filing. Discuss the situation with the adviser; together you decide what can and cannot be provided and what follow-up is needed. Crypto discovered after the filing was completed calls for a conversation about amending it, not for silence.

What to do

1. Identify the jurisdiction(s) whose rules apply before valuing anything.
2. Use official sources only for rates and thresholds, the tax authority of the relevant country, never a blog or an affiliate site.
3. Get local, qualified advice if the estate is anything but simple. The cost of a professional is small next to a mistaken filing.
4. Keep dated records of every valuation input so the figures can be defended.

Honesty rule

If a rule is uncertain, highly fact-dependent, or country-specific, this platform says so and routes you to a qualified professional rather than pretending certainty. The same discipline applies to every country version of this page.

Who to look for in your area

Search for a tax adviser in your area who handles inheritances, a local accountant or tax firm with experience in estates. Ask directly what records they need and which official sources they use. This website explains the questions to ask; it does not file returns.