How to fill Schedule VDA in your ITR, step by step
A step-by-step guide to reporting crypto in Schedule VDA: which ITR form to pick, what each column means, how to enter TDS, and common mistakes to avoid.
- Checked against the rules: Sept 2026
- Sources cited · No buy or sell calls
- Tax year 2026–27
If you sold, swapped or spent any crypto during the financial year, the tax department expects to see it in Schedule VDA (Virtual Digital Assets). This guide walks through the schedule on the Income Tax e-filing portal, and explains each column so you get it right first time.
Before you start: gather your records
You will need:
- Exchange tax reports from every Indian exchange you used. Most offer a downloadable "tax report" or "P&L statement" for the financial year.
- Wallet and DeFi records for anything done outside exchanges: swaps, NFT sales, payments.
- and from the portal, to check the TDS deducted under your PAN.
- Your cost for each coin, in rupees, on the date you acquired it.
Tax software such as KoinX, ClearTax or Quicko can combine exchange exports into a Schedule VDA-ready file. Check the totals against your own records anyway.
Step 1: choose the right ITR form
- ITR-2 if you have salary, house property, capital gains or other income, but no business income.
- ITR-3 if you have business or professional income, or if you trade crypto so frequently that you treat it as a business.
Schedule VDA appears only after you choose ITR-2 or ITR-3. Read ITR-2 or ITR-3 for crypto if you're unsure.
Step 2: open Schedule VDA
On the e-filing portal, go to e-File → Income Tax Returns → File Income Tax Return, select the assessment year and your filing mode, and choose the form. In the list of schedules, open Schedule VDA and select Add details.
Step 3: fill each row
Each row is one transfer, or one lot of a transfer if you sold coins bought at different prices.
| Column | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Date of acquisition | When you bought or received the coin |
| Date of transfer | When you sold, swapped or spent it |
| Head under which income is taxed | Capital gain, or business income if you trade as a business |
| Cost of acquisition | What you paid in rupees. Fees are generally not included |
| Consideration received | What you received in rupees, or the rupee value of the coin you swapped into |
| Income from transfer | Consideration minus cost. Enter zero if this is a loss |
Because losses can't be set off, the "income" column never goes below zero. A ₹10,000 loss on one row does not reduce a ₹10,000 gain on another. See why crypto losses can't be set off.
Step 4: handle many transactions
Active traders can have hundreds of rows. You can upload transfers in bulk through the offline utility or a CSV import where available, instead of typing each one. Tax software usually produces a file in the right format.
Step 5: claim your TDS
The 1% TDS deducted by exchanges is shown in your AIS. Make sure it appears in the TDS schedule of your return (TDS on income other than salary), against your crypto income. If TDS is more than the tax due, the excess is refunded. More in crypto TDS and refunds.
Step 6: pay any balance and file
Work out 30% of the total income from Schedule VDA, add 4% cess, subtract the TDS, and pay any balance as self-assessment tax before you file. Then submit and e-verify your return using Aadhaar OTP, net banking or another option.
Common mistakes
- Using ITR-1. It has no Schedule VDA, and a return filed on it with crypto income is likely to be treated as defective.
- Reporting crypto under "Income from other sources". Gains from transfers belong in Schedule VDA. Airdrops and staking rewards received are a separate question; see airdrop tax.
- Forgetting swaps. ETH to USDT is a transfer even if you never touched rupees.
- Missing TDS credit. If you don't claim it, you effectively pay it twice.
- Putting crypto futures in Schedule VDA without thinking. INR-settled derivatives may be business income instead. See crypto futures and options tax.
- Ignoring AIS mismatches. If your AIS or Form 26AS shows different figures from your records, reconcile before filing. See AIS and 26AS mismatches.
- Ignoring foreign exchanges. Activity on offshore platforms is still taxable. See Schedule FA.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fill Schedule VDA if I only bought crypto?
No. The schedule is for transfers. If you only bought and held during the year, there is nothing to report in it. You may still choose to keep records for later years.
What is the deadline?
For most individuals whose accounts don't need an audit, the ITR deadline is usually 31 July after the financial year ends. Check the portal each year, as dates can be extended.
Can I revise my return if I made a mistake?
Yes. You can file a revised return within the time limit allowed for that year.
Do I report every trade separately?
Yes, each transfer is reported with its date of acquisition, date of transfer, cost and sale value. Many exchanges give a tax report you can use.
Sources
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