Filing guide
How to report crypto in your ITR (Schedule VDA)
If you sold, swapped or spent any crypto during the year, you need to report it transaction by transaction in Schedule VDA. Here's how.
1. Pick the right ITR form
| Your situation | Form |
|---|---|
| Salaried or pensioner, crypto as an investment, no business income | ITR-2 |
| Active trader treating crypto as business, or you have other business/professional income | ITR-3 |
| ITR-1 (Sahaj) or ITR-4 (Sugam) | Can't be used if you have crypto income |
SourceKoinX, Schedule VDA guide, TechBullion, crypto ITR guide, TaxGuru, VDAs AY 2026-27.
2. Collect your records
- Trade history (tax report) from every exchange you used, Indian and foreign.
- Wallet transaction history, if you moved crypto off exchanges.
- Form 26AS and your Annual Information Statement (AIS) from the income tax portal, which show TDS deducted and transactions reported by exchanges.
3. Fill Schedule VDA, one row per transfer
For each sale, swap or spend, the schedule asks for:
- Date of acquisition and date of transfer
- Head of income: capital gains (investor) or business income (trader)
- Cost of acquisition
- Sale consideration
- Income from the transfer (sale − cost). A loss is shown, but it gives no tax relief
Enter transactions individually. Lumping everything into one total is a common reason for notices.
SourceKoinX, Schedule VDA guide, TechBullion, crypto ITR guide.
4. Claim the TDS you've already paid
The 1% TDS deducted by exchanges appears in Form 26AS. Claim it in the TDS schedule of your return so it reduces your tax, or comes back as a refund if it's more than you owe. More on TDS
SourceTaxGuru, VDAs AY 2026-27, Cryptact, 194S thresholds.
5. Declare foreign holdings
If you hold crypto on an exchange based outside India, also report it in Schedule FA (foreign assets). Missing Schedule FA can attract heavy penalties.
SourceWION, crypto ITR rules.
6. Pay any balance and file
Use the calculator to estimate your balance, pay it as self-assessment tax, then file. If your crypto tax for the year is large, advance tax may apply in future years.
Deadlines for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)
| Return | Due date |
|---|---|
| ITR-2 | 31 July 2026 (passed) |
| ITR-3 without tax audit | 31 August 2026 (passed) |
| ITR-3 with tax audit | 31 October 2026 |
| Belated or revised return | 31 December 2026 |
Deadlines are sometimes extended. Check the income tax e-filing portal for the current date before you file.
SourceKoinX, Schedule VDA guide, Income Tax e-filing portal.
Prefer someone to file it for you?CA-assisted filing handles Schedule VDA, AIS matching and TDS credit. Affiliate link.
See filing optionsFrequently asked questions
Which ITR form should I use for crypto income?
ITR-2 if you hold crypto as an investment and have no business income; ITR-3 if you trade crypto as a business or have other business income. ITR-1 and ITR-4 cannot be used.
Do I need to report crypto losses in my ITR?
Yes. Report every transfer in Schedule VDA, including those at a loss. The loss gives no tax relief, but leaving it out can cause a mismatch with exchange data.
What is the last date to file a belated ITR for FY 2025-26?
31 December 2026, with a late fee. Check the income tax e-filing portal in case the date is extended.
Do I need to report crypto held on foreign exchanges?
Yes. Report the trades in Schedule VDA and the holdings in Schedule FA (foreign assets). Missing Schedule FA can attract heavy penalties.
Sources
We check our explanations against these. Credit to the original publishers.