Hexabromoselenium(IV) acid with the stoichiometric composition H2SeBr6 · 8 H2O is prepared from solutions of SeBr4 in concentrated aqueous HBr. If separated from the solution, the crystalline compound is stable only at low temperatures.A single crystal X-ray structure analysis at -100 °C (monoclinic, C2/m, a = 1039.4(5), b = 1028.8(4), c = 836.6(3) pm, β = 104.11(4)°) shows the acid to contain, besides regular octahedral SeBr62- ions (Se-Br: 255.3(2)-257.9(2) pm), H5O2+ hydronium ions (O···O: 255(2) pm). The remaining H2O molecules are involved in a hydrogen bond system with O···O: 264(2)-275(2) pm and O···Br: 342(1), 351(1) pm. The formula has to be written as (H5O2)2SeBr6 · 4 H2O.