Crypto Tax in Lithuania: 12 Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

This is a short FAQ for people who want a quick answer. The basis is VMI's guidance "Kriptovaliutų apskaita ir mokesčiai" (30 September 2025). Where the rules depend on your situation, we say so plainly rather than guess.

1. Do I pay tax if I only hold crypto?

No. Tax arises on disposal, not when the price rises. Unrealised gains are not taxed.

2. Is swapping one crypto for another taxable?

Yes. For example, swapping BTC for ETH is a disposal even if no money reached your bank account. It is the most commonly missed taxable event. The same logic applies when you swap into stablecoins.

3. Is paying for goods with crypto taxable?

Yes, it also counts as a disposal of the crypto, and the gain is calculated against its acquisition cost.

4. What is the tax-free threshold?

For occasional trading there is a €2,500 a year threshold. In VMI's crypto guidance it applies to the difference between disposal proceeds and acquisition cost, that is, to the gain. It does not apply to active, continuous trading (individual activity).

5. How much will I pay if my gain exceeds the threshold?

For occasional trading, 15% is paid on the part above €2,500. Example: a €4,000 gain means €1,500 is taxable and the tax is €225. For individual activity the rates and Sodra contributions differ and changed from 2026, so it is better to calculate them for your own situation.

6. How is profit set when I bought several times at different prices?

FIFO applies: the earliest acquired units are treated as sold first. If you bought 1 ETH at €2,000 and another at €3,000, then sold one for €3,500, the gain is €1,500, because the first one is treated as sold.

7. How do I convert to euros?

Each transaction is valued in euros at the rate on the day of the trade. That is why you need the full history, not just the final balance.

8. Which form do I file, and by when?

You file the annual personal income tax return GPM311. The deadline is 1 May, but as that is a public holiday VMI gives the next working day: for 2025 income the return is due by 4 May 2026, and for 2026 income by 3 May 2027.

9. Should I declare a loss?

It is worth it. A filing that shows losses is more accurate and matters if VMI reviews it later. Whether and how a loss can be set against other gains depends on the case, so confirm it with VMI or an accountant.

10. Do exchanges report to tax authorities?

Yes, and this is changing. Under the EU directive DAC8, crypto-asset service providers collect data on EU residents' operations from 1 January 2026, and the first exchange of data between member states is due by 30 September 2027. National filing dates may differ.

11. Do the same principles apply to foreign exchanges and decentralised platforms?

Your tax liability follows your income as a Lithuanian resident, not where it was earned. So trades on a foreign exchange and on a decentralised platform such as Hyperliquid must be included. Closing futures and perpetual positions locks in a result.

12. What about staking, airdrops or DeFi income?

This is a more complex area where treatment depends on the case. Do not guess: ask VMI or an accountant, and keep the dates and euro values of every token received.

What to keep all year

• The full trade history from every exchange (CSV).
• Acquisition dates, amounts and euro prices.
• Records of transfers between your own wallets, so it is clear they are not sales.
• Trading and withdrawal fees paid.

Written by the LCA team. Mentors Emzet and Aladdin have led the community since 2024. This is educational content, not investment advice.