India Tightens the Screws: Crypto Tax Surveillance Ramps Up August 1, 2026

Brace for impact—India’s tax net is closing in on crypto traders. Starting August 1, 2026, authorities will deploy enhanced surveillance to track every digital asset move. No more flying under the radar.

The Fine Print:

New reporting mandates will force exchanges to hand over transaction data—think KYC on steroids. Penalties for non-compliance? Let’s just say they’ll make your last altcoin dip look like a minor blip.

Why It Matters:

India’s playing catch-up with global crypto tax regimes, but with typical bureaucratic finesse. Traders now face a choice: adapt or get rekt by the taxman’s algorithms.

The Bottom Line:

Another win for ‘transparency’—or just a clever way to squeeze revenue from an industry regulators still don’t fully understand? Either way, your anonymous crypto dreams just got a government ID card.

Table of Contents

• Why Is India Intensifying Crypto Tax Surveillance?
• How Does AI Enhance Crypto Tax Surveillance?
• What Are the Penalties Under Crypto Tax Surveillance?
• How Is Privacy Balanced in Crypto Tax Surveillance?
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Is Crypto Legal in India?
• Is SunCrypto Legal?
• What is Trailing Stop Loss?

Why Is India Intensifying Crypto Tax Surveillance?

India’s crypto tax surveillance is driven by the need to address tax evasion and unaccounted wealth in cryptocurrencies. CBDT has stated a steep jump in crypto taxes, with ₹437 cr reported in FY 2023-24, as compared to ₹269.1 cr in FY 2022-23. 

The government is planning to seal any loopholes that have been used on anonymous or offshore sites. With the help of analytics and digital forensics provided by AI, CBDT is strengthening its chances to identify inconsistencies between reported incomes and crypto transactions, ensuring compliance with the existing 30% tax on profits and 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on transactions above ₹10,000 (salaried) or ₹50,000 (business).

How Does AI Enhance Crypto Tax Surveillance?

The CBDT is using superior AI technology to boost monitoring of crypto tax surveillance. This approach has the following important characteristics:

• Data Analytics: The Non-Filer Monitoring System (NFMS) and Project Insight rely on AI to sort through more than 6.5 billion domestic digital transactions to detect irregular trading patterns.
• Discrepancy Detection: AI compares TDS data on crypto exchanges with income tax returns, issuing notices for discrepancies exceeding ₹1 lakh.
• Digital Evidence: Emails, cloud storage, and wallet logs can now be used in crypto tax surveillance, and access to crypto wallets is allowed when conducting income tax raids.
• Cross-Verification: The CBDT compares data of exchanges, Form 26AS, and Annual Information Statement (AIS) to cross-check the correct reporting.

There are severe penalties for failing to comply with the crypto tax surveillance of India. Any gain on crypto that goes unreported and is found during an audit or as a result of a raid faces a 60% tax rate under Section 158B, along with penalties up to 200% of the tax owed and potential imprisonment for up to seven years. The CBDT has an incentive known as the nudge program that is used to send a mass notice to the traders with a strict enforcement in mind. And according to the new crypto tax surveillance rules, failure to report transactions accurately or pay TDS can also trigger fines and scrutiny from the Income Tax Department.

Amid rigorous crypto tax surveillance, the CBDT emphasizes protecting taxpayer privacy. Digital wallet search is limited to government search and survey operations, like income tax raids only. Ravi Agrawal, the Chairman of CBDT, has promised that AI and the monitoring tools on data will follow strict user access protocols to mitigate the problem of misuse.

India’s latest crypto tax surveillance, effective from April 1, 2026, marks a transformative shift in regulating virtual digital assets. The CBDT is improving accountability and reducing tax evasion by incorporating AI, digital forensics, and international structures such as the CARF. Although the taxes have not reduced or increased, and the 1% TDS remains unchanged, mandatory reporting under Section 285BAA and severe penalties for non-compliance signal stricter oversight.

Disclaimer: Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. 

Is Crypto Legal in India?

Yes, crypto is legal in India, but is regulated under strict taxation policies, with 30% capital gains tax and 1% TDS on every transaction.

Is SunCrypto Legal?

Yes, SunCrypto is completely legal as it is FIU-registered with more than 2.5 million users.

What is Trailing Stop Loss?

A trailing stop loss is a dynamic stop-loss order that adjusts its price based on the movement of an asset’s price.