Quick answer
- Keep the records used for an Irish tax return for six years.
- Preserve raw exchange exports, wallet evidence and a reproducible euro valuation method.
- Link transfers between your own wallets so they are not mistaken for disposals.
- Store computations, payment receipts and filed returns with the underlying transactions.
On this page
The six-year record rule
Revenue’s crypto-assets manual states that records must be retained for six years. This applies to records supporting tax calculations, including where a person is otherwise taxed through PAYE. The retention period does not mean you can discard acquisition evidence six years after purchase while still holding the asset; keep it until the later disposal and the relevant retention period for that return have passed.
Records should allow another person to reproduce the euro result without relying on your memory or today’s app screen.
Record workflow
- Export early Download exchange and wallet records before accounts close or export windows disappear.
- Match events Match each purchase, sale, swap, gift, fee, transfer, and reward to a date and euro value.
- Keep evidence Save CSV files, wallet addresses, transaction hashes, screenshots, and explanatory notes.
Transaction-level checklist
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Date, time and time zone | Matches the event to a defensible euro price |
| Asset and quantity sent/received | Identifies what was acquired or disposed of |
| Euro value and price source | Supports proceeds, cost or income value |
| Fees and fee asset | Supports allowable-cost review and any separate disposal |
| Platform, account and transaction ID | Connects the record to a provider export |
| Wallet addresses and transaction hash | Shows the blockchain movement and ownership path |
| Transaction purpose | Separates sale, swap, spend, gift, reward or own transfer |
Euro valuation evidence
Irish tax computations are made in euro. Preserve the traded pair or conversion route, exchange used, timestamp, price and any foreign-exchange rate. For a token with limited liquidity, record why the selected source was appropriate. Consistency is valuable, but it should not override evidence that a quoted price was not available to the user.
A screenshot can support a valuation, but a CSV/API export plus a documented pricing method is stronger for a large history. Keep the original raw data and any cleaned working copy separately.
Proving transfers between your own wallets
Exchange withdrawals and wallet deposits often appear as unrelated rows. Create a transfer link using the date/time, amount, network, addresses, hash and fee. Keep evidence that you controlled both the sending account and receiving wallet. This prevents an own-wallet transfer from being classified as a sale, gift or unexplained disposal.
Do not delete internal transfers from the source data. Mark and reconcile them while preserving the original entries.
Special records for rewards, work, gifts and DeFi
For mining, staking, airdrops or protocol rewards, keep the programme terms, entitlement date, receipt date, euro value and whether an action or service was required. For pay received in crypto, keep the contract, invoice or payslip and the euro amount recognised as income. For gifts and inheritances, keep the relationship, date, market value and any CAT documentation.
For DeFi, retain wallet approvals, protocol transaction history, assets deposited, receipt tokens, rights to repayment or rewards, withdrawals and smart-contract addresses. The app’s one-word description may not explain the legal transaction.
Year-end reconciliation workflow
- Export every exchange, broker and wallet source in its raw format.
- List all wallet addresses and accounts controlled during the year.
- Match deposits and withdrawals as own transfers where supported.
- Identify unmatched movements and missing acquisition history.
- Classify disposals and income-type receipts separately.
- Reconcile closing quantities by asset to actual balances.
- Calculate gains, losses and income in euro.
- Save the final computation, payment receipts and submitted return.
Reconciliation by quantity catches omissions that a euro total can hide. A small unmatched token balance may reveal a missing swap, fee or reward.
Backups, software and provider reporting
Keep at least two protected copies of raw exports, working files and returns. Use clear filenames with provider, account and date range. Tax software can help match large datasets, but review its classifications, wallet ownership, valuations and duplicate handling.
DAC8/CARF reporting from 2026 does not replace your records. Provider data may not know the cost of assets transferred in from another wallet, the beneficial owner of an external address or the purpose of a transaction.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I keep crypto tax records in Ireland?
Revenue guidance says tax records should be retained for six years.
Can I delete purchase records after six years if I still hold the crypto?
That can leave you unable to prove the cost on a later disposal. Retain acquisition evidence until the asset is disposed of and the relevant later retention period has passed.
Are exchange statements enough?
Not always. Also keep raw transaction exports, fees, wallet movements, euro valuation evidence and data from every other platform.
How do I prove a transfer was between my own wallets?
Keep both addresses, transaction hash, matching withdrawal/deposit records and evidence you controlled both sides.
Should I keep screenshots?
Screenshots can support evidence, but downloadable raw data and a documented valuation method are more useful for full reconciliation.
Does crypto tax software replace records?
No. Software processes the data provided and can misclassify activity. Preserve sources and review the output.
Will CARF data replace my tax return?
No. Provider reporting does not calculate all costs, classifications or liabilities and does not replace filing.
What should I give a tax adviser?
Provide raw exports, wallet list, transaction classifications, valuation method, prior returns/losses and details of rewards, work, gifts or complex protocols.
Sources & references
Related calculators
Use these tools for the numbers behind this guide.