Whether an airdrop is taxable in Germany depends on what you did to receive it. If you didn’t give anything in return, it’s usually considered non-taxable. If you did, it may be treated as taxable income.
Airdrops with no return service are usually non-taxable
If you receive an airdrop without doing anything in return, it is generally non-taxable. This means you did not share any personal data or complete a task. In this case, the crypto is treated as if they were created directly in your wallet, and the airdrop is seen like a lottery win.
Airdrops with a return service may be taxable
If you give something in return, such as personal information or completing a task, the airdrop may be taxable. The BMF considers this an exchange of services. This type of airdrop falls under §22 Nr. 3 EStG, even if the crypto has a value of EUR 0 when received.
In most cases, airdrops like this have no clear market value at the time you receive them. Because of that, the taxable value is often set at EUR 0.
Holding periods and cost basis for airdrops
All airdrops start the one-year holding period, whether they’re taxable or not.
- If the airdrop is non-taxable, your acquisition cost is 0. You’ll need to manually adjust your cost basis.
- If the airdrop is taxable, the fair market value at receipt is your acquisition cost.
The issuer’s acquisition date may matter, but is hard to use
In some cases, the acquisition date of the airdrop’s issuer must be applied to the recipient. This could reduce the one-year holding period, but it is often difficult or impossible to determine the issuer’s acquisition date.
To be safe, it is recommended to count one year from the day the airdrop enters your wallet.