Donating Crypto from Outside the US: Tax in the UK, Canada, Australia and Elsewhere
Anyone, anywhere, can give through DonateCrypto. But Global Relief Group is a US charity, and most countries give tax relief only for gifts to their own charities. This guide explains, honestly, what that means if you live in the UK, Canada, Australia or elsewhere, so you know before you give.
By Global Relief Group · Last updated:
Your gift helps the cause wherever you live. What changes from country to country is whether your own tax system recognizes it. In most cases, it won’t give you relief for a gift to a foreign charity, and in some, giving away crypto still counts as disposing of it for capital gains purposes. Here is the position in the countries our donors most often ask about.
At a glance
| Where you pay tax | Relief for a gift to a US charity? | Is giving crypto a taxable disposal? |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No: Gift Aid and other charity reliefs apply only to UK charities, and Gift Aid never applies to crypto | Yes, generally treated as a disposal at market value |
| Canada | Only against US-source income, up to 75% of it, with limited exceptions | Yes, a disposition at fair market value |
| Australia | No: only gifts to Australian deductible gift recipients qualify | Yes, a capital gains tax event |
| EU countries | Generally no: EU rules cover charities in other EU and EEA states, not US ones | Depends on the country |
| US citizens living abroad | Yes, under US rules | No, for US tax purposes |
This is general information, not tax advice, and rules change. Check with a tax adviser in your country before a large gift.
United Kingdom
HMRC’s guidance for charities says Gift Aid can’t be claimed on donations of cryptoassets, even to UK charities. More broadly, UK charity tax reliefs have never applied to US charities, and since April 2024 they apply only to UK charities, so a gift to a US charity like Global Relief Group gets no UK relief.
For capital gains tax, HMRC treats a gift of cryptoassets as a disposal at market value. The special no-gain, no-loss treatment for gifts to charities applies to UK charities, so a gift to a US charity may create a taxable gain if your crypto has risen in value. The US–UK tax treaty doesn’t include a provision for charitable gifts. Some UK advisers also point out possible inheritance tax issues for large gifts to non-UK charities, which is another reason to take advice first.
Canada
The Canada Revenue Agency treats donating crypto as disposing of it at fair market value, so any gain is taxable. The zero capital gains inclusion rate for donated publicly listed securities doesn’t extend to crypto.
Under the Canada–US tax treaty, you can claim gifts to US charities only up to 75% of the net US-source income you report on your Canadian return. If you have no US income, there is usually no credit. Two exceptions: people who live near the border and commute to a US job or business that is their main source of income can use 75% of their world income, and gifts to a US college or university that you or a family member attended aren’t limited to US-source income.
Australia
The Australian Taxation Office treats giving away crypto as a capital gains tax event, normally valued at market value. Tax deductions are available only for gifts to deductible gift recipients, which are Australian-approved organizations. A US charity isn’t one, so a gift through DonateCrypto isn’t deductible in Australia.
The EU and elsewhere
Most countries give tax relief only for gifts to their own charities. Within the EU, a ruling by the EU Court of Justice requires member states to treat comparable charities in other EU and EEA countries the same as their own, but that doesn’t extend to US charities. Whether giving away crypto is itself taxable varies. In France, for example, a gift of crypto is generally not taxed as a sale for capital gains purposes, but other gift rules can apply. Check your own country’s rules.
US citizens and residents living abroad
If you file US taxes, a gift to Global Relief Group is treated like any other US donation, wherever you live. Our US crypto donation tax guide and receipt guide apply. If you also pay tax in another country, that country’s rules apply to your tax there as well.
Common questions
Why give to a US charity if I don’t get tax relief?
Many donors give for the cause, not the deduction. DonateCrypto lets you support vetted partners in dozens of countries with crypto, which many local charities can’t accept. If tax relief matters most to you, a charity registered in your own country may suit a particular gift better.
Will I still get a receipt?
Yes. Give an email address when you donate and we send an official receipt once your gift is verified. It is useful as a record of what you gave and when, even where it doesn’t bring tax relief.
Do I need to report the gift to my tax authority?
If giving away crypto counts as a disposal where you live, as in the UK, Canada and Australia, you may need to report any gain. Keep a record of what you paid, the value on the day you gave and your transaction ID.