Does Coinbase report to HMRC?

Yes, Coinbase reports to HMRC, in two ways. HMRC can make a formal request for data about UK customers, which it has done with Coinbase before. And from the 2026 calendar year, Coinbase's UK business is covered by annual reporting rules under CARF. The tax itself is still yours to work out and declare.

Has Coinbase reported to HMRC in the past?

Yes. In October 2020, Coinbase emailed some UK users to say it would share their account details with HMRC, The Block and Decrypt reported. HMRC first asked for 2017 to 2019 records for all UK customers. The two sides later agreed a narrower request. It covered customers with a UK address who received more than £5,000 of crypto on Coinbase in the 2019 to 2020 tax year. Coinbase said fewer than 3% of its UK customers were affected.

HMRC's own manual explains the legal basis. It says officers can request information from crypto exchanges under Schedule 23 of the Finance Act 2011 or Schedule 36 of the Finance Act 2008, depending on the risk and where the exchange is based. Data like this is one source for the nudge letters described in what an HMRC crypto letter is.

Does Coinbase automatically report to HMRC now?

Under CARF, yes, once a year. GOV.UK says anyone who provides cryptoasset services in the UK must collect user data and report UK-resident users and a summary of their transactions to HMRC. Coinbase is in scope as a UK provider. It was registered with the Financial Conduct Authority in early 2025 through its UK entity, CB Payments Ltd, Cointelegraph reported.

The first report covers 1 January to 31 December 2026 and is due by 31 May 2027. Later reports are due each 31 May for the previous calendar year. HMRC's August 2026 release confirmed it will start receiving this data in 2027. The wider system is explained in what CARF is.

What does Coinbase have to collect for HMRC in the UK?

GOV.UK says individuals must give each provider their full name, date of birth, address, country of residence and tax number. For UK residents that is a National Insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference. Giving a UK provider wrong details, or none, can bring a penalty of up to £300.

If you use a provider abroad, its tax authority can pass your data to HMRC, as long as that country follows the same rules.

Does a Coinbase report replace your tax return?

No. CARF data helps HMRC check returns, but it does not file anything for you. HMRC's August 2026 release says gains or income above the tax-free allowance for 2025 to 2026 should be declared through Self Assessment and paid by 31 January 2027. The rules for gains and income are in how crypto is taxed in the UK, and downloading your transaction history explains how to get your records.

Rules differ by country and change often. Check the tax authority or a qualified professional for your own situation.