If a UK crypto exchange asks you to confirm your name, home address or tax identification number, it may be collecting information under new cryptoasset reporting rules. The query “information for UK cryptoasset service providers” has a practical intent: users want to know what details to give and what happens next. HMRC’s guidance, updated on 1 January 2026, says individual users must provide specified identifying information to each cryptoasset service provider they use, including providers based outside the UK. That data collection is not the same thing as a bill saying tax is due.

What details an individual may be asked for

HMRC’s published list for individual users includes your full name, date of birth, the address and country where you normally live, and a tax identification number. For a UK resident, HMRC gives a National Insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference as examples. A tax identification number is not required if you are not eligible for one, such as when your country does not issue it. If you use several cryptoasset services, the guidance says you must provide the information to each service provider you use.

For an entity account, the information differs: a legal business name, main business address, company registration number for a UK company, and tax identification number and country of issue for a non-UK company. Some entities may also need to identify controlling persons. Do not submit an individual’s details in a business profile or a company number in a personal field simply to complete a form faster. Ask the provider which account type applies if the screen does not fit your circumstances.

Why a provider collects the information

Cryptoasset service providers are required to carry out due diligence and report specified information to HMRC under the UK’s implementation of the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework (CARF). The rules are designed to support tax information reporting and international exchange between tax authorities. A provider may therefore ask for updated customer details even if you have used the account for years or do not plan to trade immediately.

The request does not automatically mean that HMRC has decided you owe tax, that a particular transaction was taxable, or that your account has been flagged for wrongdoing. Reporting is a data process; determining tax treatment depends on the facts and applicable rules. If you receive a tax calculation or compliance letter, read that separate communication carefully and use HMRC’s official guidance or a qualified tax adviser for your situation.

Verify the request before you reply

Open the service through its known app or type its website address yourself. Check that the request appears after signing into the account and read the provider’s explanation of why it needs each field. Be cautious of an email or text that asks you to upload identity documents through a link, especially if it creates urgency or requests a wallet recovery phrase. The reporting rules do not make a private key, password or seed phrase an acceptable identity document.

If the provider requests a document, use only the secure upload method displayed inside the authenticated account or confirmed in official help material. Check the page’s domain and avoid sending sensitive records through social media or a public chat. Keep a note of what you submitted and the date, and store any tax identifiers or identity images securely. If a field appears incorrect or a document does not match your account details, contact the provider using its official support channel before resubmitting.

Keep account details accurate and consistent

Use your legal name and current country of residence as the guidance describes. If you move, change your name or become eligible for a tax identifier, update the provider when requested. Different services may have different profile formats, so review the saved details rather than assuming that a change at one exchange updates every account. For a joint or business account, check who is responsible for giving the information and whether controlling-person details are required.

Do not guess at a tax number or provide a number that belongs to another person. If you do not have a tax identification number, check the provider’s instructions and the HMRC guidance about eligibility. A provider may have to pause parts of its service while it resolves incomplete information, but a request alone does not reveal the timing or outcome. Ask support which exact field is missing and whether a temporary limitation applies.

Separate reporting data from your tax records

Information supplied to a service provider does not replace your own transaction records. Keep trade confirmations, deposits, withdrawals, fees and wallet transfers in a format you can retrieve later. Export account history regularly because a provider’s reporting dataset may not include every detail you need to reconstruct a transaction or explain the purpose of a transfer. Record keeping also helps you check whether a provider’s summary matches your own activity.

HMRC’s user guidance and the provider’s reporting obligation are not a personalised tax calculation. Whether a disposal, reward, payment or receipt has a tax consequence depends on the details and current tax rules. Avoid relying on a forum post that treats every token transfer as the same kind of event. If you need to correct a tax return or decide how a complex transaction should be treated, use HMRC’s relevant guidance or seek qualified UK tax advice.

Checklist when an exchange requests information

  • Did the prompt appear inside the official account, not just in an unsolicited message?
  • Is the service asking for the individual or entity details that fit my account?
  • Do I understand why each field is requested and how documents are uploaded?
  • Have I avoided sharing passwords, private keys and recovery phrases?
  • Did I save the submission date and keep separate transaction records?
  • Have I asked the provider about a missing field before guessing?

Read HMRC’s current information guidance for UK cryptoasset service users and the provider reporting collection. The requirements can change, so follow the latest official page and your provider’s secure instructions. Crypto assets are volatile and can lose substantial value; this article is general information, not tax or investment advice. Visit the exchange guides hub and continue the UK provider-reporting cluster.