Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may report a phase-noise compensation reference signal (PCRS) configuration to a base station to enable per-UE PCRS signaling. For example, a UE may operate in a wireless communications system using carrier frequencies greater than 6 GHz, which may be affected by phase noise. The UE may accordingly determine a PCRS configuration based on a capability to receive signals. The PCRS configuration may include a resource mapping for one or more PCRS, a number of PCRS ports used for PCRS, a multiplexing scheme for one or more PCRS ports, or the UE's phase noise estimation capability. The UE may then transmit a reporting message including the PCRS configuration to a base station. The base station may use the PCRS configuration for PCRS transmissions to the UE.