CryptoTaxCalculator and Polyconomic both handle UK HMRC reporting, but they are built for different investors. If you are trying to choose between them, the question is simple: does your portfolio need CTC's DeFi depth, or is Polyconomic's UK-first, free-to-view approach a better fit?
Feature comparison
| Feature | CryptoTaxCalculator | Polyconomic |
|---|---|---|
| Primary market | Australia/Global | UK-only |
| Free to see full gain | No — paid plan required | Yes — all years, no cap |
| Report pricing | ~£49/yr subscription | £49/yr Standard · £99/yr Pro |
| UK HMRC matching rules | ✓ Supported | ✓ Applied by default |
| DeFi support | Excellent | Standard |
| On-chain coverage | Very broad (many chains) | ETH + BTC wallets |
| Exchange API integrations | Very broad | Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit |
| CSV import | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plain English UK output | Standard | Yes — HMRC-specific throughout |
| Accountant access | Available | Included |
Where CryptoTaxCalculator is genuinely better
CTC's DeFi transaction detection is among the best in the market. If you have used Uniswap, Aave, Curve, Compound, or similar protocols extensively, CTC categorises these transactions more reliably than tools where DeFi is an afterthought. It supports many chains beyond Ethereum and Bitcoin. For investors with complex on-chain history — frequent DeFi interactions, multi-chain activity, obscure token types — CTC is likely worth the subscription cost.
Where Polyconomic is genuinely better
For investors whose history is primarily exchange-based — CSV or API imports from Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, or Bybit — CTC's DeFi depth is not something they are paying for. Polyconomic's key advantage is that the entire gain calculation is visible for free before you commit to any payment. It was built specifically for UK HMRC reporting, which means every aspect of the product — the output language, the SA108 formatting, the documentation — is designed around one jurisdiction rather than globally adapted.
A realistic cost example
A UK investor with 300 exchange-based trades: CryptoTaxCalculator charges approximately £49/year to access reports, whether or not you owe any tax. Polyconomic shows the complete gain for free. If the report is needed, Standard is £49/year — the same price, but with free gain visibility first. In years where no report is needed, the Polyconomic cost is £0.
Which should you choose?
Choose CryptoTaxCalculator if: your portfolio is heavily DeFi-focused, you need multi-chain on-chain support beyond ETH and BTC, or you have transaction types that standard tools consistently misclassify.
Choose Polyconomic if: your activity is primarily exchange-based, you want to see your full gain before paying anything, you want a tool designed specifically for HMRC rather than a global tool with a UK mode, or you want to avoid an annual subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Does CryptoTaxCalculator apply the HMRC 30-day bed-and-breakfasting rule correctly?
CTC implements the 30-day rule as part of its UK HMRC mode. As with all tools, the quality of implementation in edge cases is what matters — particularly for assets with high transaction frequency. If you have sold and repurchased the same asset within 30 days, verify the matching in the tool's report.
Is CTC's Australian origin a problem for UK users?
Not directly. CTC's UK HMRC implementation has been developed over time and is generally reliable. The main practical effect is that UK HMRC is one jurisdiction among many rather than the primary design assumption — which can show in the UI, documentation, and support materials that are not always UK-specific.
Can I switch from CTC to Polyconomic without losing my data?
The cleanest approach is to re-import from original exchange CSVs or APIs rather than from a CTC export. This ensures Polyconomic calculates from raw source data rather than inheriting any CTC categorisation decisions. Compare Section 104 pool balances after import to verify consistency.
My portfolio is 80% exchange-based and 20% DeFi. Which tool is better?
This depends on the complexity of the 20% DeFi portion. If it involves standard staking and simple protocol interactions, Polyconomic handles this correctly. If it involves complex multi-step DeFi strategies, CTC's categorisation may be worth the subscription. Try importing the DeFi portion into Polyconomic first to see if it categorises correctly before assuming CTC is necessary.
Does Polyconomic plan to expand its DeFi support?
Polyconomic is actively expanding on-chain support. The current ETH and BTC wallet import handles the majority of UK investor on-chain activity. Expanded protocol support is on the roadmap. For complex DeFi that Polyconomic does not yet support, manual transaction entry is available.
Which tool is better for a PAYE employee who also trades crypto on the side?
For a PAYE employee with exchange-based trading activity, Polyconomic is well-suited — the tool is designed for exactly this use case. The free gain calculation lets you check whether you have a reporting obligation before doing anything else. CTC's depth is not necessary for straightforward exchange-based portfolios.
Tool information accurate at time of writing.