Bitcoin Bought Before March 2021: Is the Sale Tax-Free in Austria?

Bitcoin Bought Before March 2021: When a Sale in Austria Can Still Be Tax-Free

Anyone who bought Bitcoin before March 2021 may hold a considerable tax advantage in Austria. Gains on newer Bitcoin holdings are generally taxed at 27.5 percent, but older coins fall under transitional rules. The decisive date is February 28, 2021: cryptocurrencies acquired up to that day generally count as legacy holdings. The Austrian crypto tax regime in force since March 2022 does not automatically extend to those coins.

Why Old Bitcoin Can Be Sold Tax-Free in Austria

Before the crypto tax reform, privately held Bitcoin was generally treated under the rules for speculative transactions. A sale was taxable above all where no more than a year had passed between acquisition and disposal. Once that period had elapsed, the sale could generally take place tax-free.

Take an investor who bought Bitcoin in 2020 and has held it unchanged ever since. The one-year speculative period that applied at the time expired long ago. A sale in 2026 can therefore be tax-free in principle, even if the Bitcoin price has multiplied since the purchase.

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