Before You Start
- Confirm your tax residency and understand which country’s rules apply to you.
- Gather your annual broker tax statements (e.g., from DEGIRO, Trade Republic, Interactive Brokers).
- Export your transaction histories for all stocks, ETFs, and crypto assets you traded in 2025.
- Know the tax-free allowances and reporting deadlines for your country (e.g., Germany, France, Netherlands).
- Set up access to your country’s online tax portal (e.g., ELSTER for Germany, impots.gouv.fr for France, Mijn Belastingdienst for the Netherlands).
Time needed: 2–4 hours (first time), 1–2 hours (subsequent years)
What you'll need: Broker and exchange accounts, spreadsheet software (Excel/Google Sheets), access to official tax forms, calculator
Filing your capital gains tax report in Europe can feel overwhelming, especially with different rules for stocks, ETFs, and crypto—and variations across countries. This step-by-step guide shows you how to prepare and submit your 2026 capital gains tax report, with actionable EUR-based examples and tips for Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
As we covered in our Ultimate Guide to European Tax Residency and Cross-Border Investing, knowing your tax residency is the foundation. Here, we’ll go deeper on capital gains tax reporting: what to do, why it matters, and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Step 1: Confirm Your Tax Residency and Relevant Tax Authority
What to do: Identify your country of tax residency for 2025, as this determines where and how you must file capital gains taxes. Use your main home, work, and center-of-life ties as guides.
- Germany: Most residents file via ELSTER.
- France: Use impots.gouv.fr.
- Netherlands: Use Mijn Belastingdienst.
Why it matters: Capital gains rates, exemptions, reporting forms, and deadlines vary widely by country.
What can go wrong: If you file in the wrong country or miss the deadline, you risk double taxation or penalties.
Pro Tip
If you moved countries in 2025, check out our European investor’s portfolio relocation checklist to avoid reporting gaps.
Step 2: Collect and Organize Your Transaction Data
What to do: Download your full 2025 transaction history from each broker and crypto exchange. This should include buys, sells, dividends, and fees.
-
DEGIRO: Go to
Account → Documents → Annual Report. Download your 2025 “Jahresbericht” (Annual Report) PDF and CSV. -
Trade Republic: In the app, tap
Profil → Steuerübersicht 2025(Tax Overview 2025). Export as PDF and/or CSV. -
Bitvavo (crypto): Go to
Account → History → Exportand select the full year.
Why it matters: Incomplete data leads to under- or over-reporting gains, risking audits or fines.
What can go wrong: Missing transactions, especially crypto transfers or corporate actions (splits, mergers), can distort calculations.
Pro Tip
Use spreadsheet software to consolidate all transactions. Create columns for: Date, Asset, Type (buy/sell), Quantity, Price (EUR), Fees, and Broker.
Step 3: Calculate Your Taxable Capital Gains (Stocks, ETFs, Crypto)
What to do: For each asset sold in 2025, calculate the capital gain:
- Gain = Sale Proceeds – Acquisition Cost – Transaction Fees
Example (Stocks): You bought 10 shares of LVMH at €700 in January 2022 (€7,000 total), and sold all 10 at €900 each in May 2025 (€9,000). DEGIRO charged €2 per transaction.
- Acquisition Cost: €7,000 + €2 = €7,002
- Sale Proceeds: €9,000 – €2 = €8,998
- Capital Gain: €8,998 – €7,002 = €1,996
Example (ETFs): Bought 50 iShares MSCI World UCITS ETF (IE00B4L5Y983) at €100 each in 2023, sold at €120 in 2025.
- Acquisition: 50 × €100 = €5,000
- Sale: 50 × €120 = €6,000
- Capital Gain: €6,000 – €5,000 = €1,000
Example (Crypto): Bought 0.5 BTC at €30,000 in 2022, sold at €45,000 in 2025.
- Acquisition: 0.5 × €30,000 = €15,000
- Sale: 0.5 × €45,000 = €22,500
- Capital Gain: €22,500 – €15,000 = €7,500
Why it matters: Each country has different rules for calculating gains (FIFO, LIFO, specific identification). Most use FIFO (first-in, first-out).
What can go wrong: Forgetting to include fees, or using the wrong cost basis method, can inflate your tax bill.
Pro Tip
For crypto, use tools like Koinly or CoinTracking to automate gain calculations. Always export the EUR version of reports for your tax authority.
Step 4: Apply Country-Specific Allowances and Rates
What to do: Deduct any tax-free allowances and apply the correct rate for your country.
- Germany: First €1,000 of total gains (stocks + ETFs + crypto) is tax-free (“Sparer-Pauschbetrag”). Above that, 25% flat tax (“Abgeltungsteuer”) + 5.5% solidarity surcharge + possible church tax.
- France: Flat 30% tax (“Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique”): 12.8% income tax + 17.2% social charges, no allowance. Option to opt for progressive rates in some cases.
- Netherlands: No direct capital gains tax for stocks/ETFs (Box 3 “wealth tax” applies), but crypto is taxed as part of your net wealth. Tax-free threshold: €57,000 (single).
Example (Germany): If your total gains are €5,000, only €4,000 is taxable. Tax: €4,000 × 25% = €1,000 + solidarity surcharge.
Why it matters: Applying the correct allowance can save hundreds of euros.
What can go wrong: Missing allowances or picking the wrong tax regime (France) may result in overpaying.
Pro Tip
If you have losses from previous years, check if you can offset them. In Germany, capital losses can offset gains in the same category.
Step 5: Complete the Correct Tax Forms (Online or Paper)
What to do: Enter your calculated gains and supporting data into your country’s tax portal.
- Germany: Use ELSTER. Fill in Anlage KAP (for stocks/ETFs), Anlage SO (for crypto), and attach broker tax certificates.
- France: Use impots.gouv.fr. Report on Form 2042 (main), 2042 C (capital gains), and 2086 (detailed transactions if needed).
- Netherlands: Use Mijn Belastingdienst. Report your total assets (including stocks/crypto) as of 1 January 2026 in Box 3.
Why it matters: The right forms ensure your gains are correctly assessed and avoid audits.
What can go wrong: Not attaching broker documentation or filling the wrong form can delay your refund or trigger a review.
Pro Tip
Attach a spreadsheet summary of your calculations, especially for crypto or brokers without German/FR/NL tax certificates.
Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline
What to do: File your return by the national deadline (usually June–July 2026, but check for updates).
- Germany: 31 July 2026 (if self-filing); later if using a tax advisor.
- France: Typically May–June 2026 (varies by region and online/paper submission).
- Netherlands: 1 May 2026.
Why it matters: Late filings can lead to automatic penalties (e.g., €25–€100+ in Germany).
What can go wrong: Assuming your broker automatically reports for you. Most EU brokers do NOT do this for cross-border clients.
Pro Tip
After submission, download and save your confirmation PDF for your records. Set a calendar reminder for next year’s deadline.
Step 7: Pay Any Tax Due and Monitor for Follow-Ups
What to do: Pay your assessed tax bill promptly using your tax authority’s payment instructions.
- Germany: Payment is usually due within 4 weeks of assessment notice.
- France: Payment deadlines are communicated after assessment (often in September).
- Netherlands: Box 3 tax is included in your final assessment; pay by the stated due date.
Why it matters: Timely payment avoids late fees and interest.
What can go wrong: Missing payment deadlines can result in automatic bank withdrawals or penalties.
Common Mistakes in Capital Gains Tax Reporting (Europe)
- Reporting only domestic broker gains—always include all accounts (even if abroad).
- Ignoring crypto or P2P lending gains—many tax authorities are increasing scrutiny.
- Misclassifying income (e.g., reporting dividends as capital gains).
- Forgetting to offset losses or apply allowances.
- Missing deadlines or using the wrong reporting forms.
- Assuming your broker or exchange reports on your behalf—most do not for expats or cross-border investors.
Next Steps: Optimizing for Minimal Tax Drag
- Review the best investment accounts for tax-savvy expats to see if you can reduce your tax drag next year.
- If you invest in US stocks or ETFs, read our guide on how to invest in US stocks from Europe to avoid unnecessary withholding taxes.
- If you invest or move across borders, check out our guide to avoiding double taxation in Europe.
- For a complete overview of cross-border tax issues, revisit the Ultimate Guide to European Tax Residency and Cross-Border Investing.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consider consulting a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.