Sales Tax on Gold & Silver by State
Where you take delivery decides whether your bullion is taxed. This is the sales-tax treatment of investment-grade gold and silver in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Every row is dated and cited. Reviewed 2026-07-08.
States that tax bullion
6Their general sales tax applies to gold and silver with no investment carve-out.
| State | Sales tax on bullion | Threshold | What to know | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 4% GET | · | No bullion exemption. Hawaii has no retail sales tax, but its 4% General Excise Tax on sellers is passed through to buyers of gold and silver. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Maine | 5.5% | · | No investment exemption. Maine's 5.5% sales tax applies to precious-metals bullion and coins. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| New Mexico | ~5.1%+ | · | Bullion is taxed under the state gross receipts tax (roughly 5% to 9% depending on locality); there is no carve-out for investment metal. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Vermont | 6% | · | No exemption. Vermont's 6% sales tax applies to bullion; sound-money exemption bills have not yet passed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Washington no inc. tax | 6.5% | · | Re-taxed Jan 1, 2026. SB 5794 repealed the bullion exemption on the books since 1985; the 6.5% state rate plus local tax now applies. | 2026-01-01 | Washington DOR special notice |
| District of Columbia | 6% | · | The District applies its 6% sales tax to bullion; no investment exemption. | · | JM Bullion (DC) |
Exempt above a purchase threshold
7Bullion is tax-free once a single purchase clears the state's dollar threshold; smaller buys are taxed.
| State | Sales tax on bullion | Threshold | What to know | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | $2,000 | Exempt on single transactions of $2,000 or more; smaller purchases are taxed at the 7.25% state rate plus local. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | $1,000 | Exempt when the transaction totals $1,000 or more; under that, the 6.35% sales tax applies. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Florida no inc. tax | 6% | $0,500 | Exempt above $500 per transaction, and US legal-tender coins are always exempt; purchases under $500 are taxed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | $1,000 | Exempt when the sale is $1,000 or more; smaller purchases are taxed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| New York | 4% | $1,000 | State sales tax is waived on bullion purchases of $1,000 or more; under that, the 4% state rate plus local applies. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Virginia | 5.3% | $1,000 | Exempt above $1,000. The exemption was set to sunset June 30, 2026 but the legislature extended it, keeping larger bullion purchases tax-free. | 2026 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Maryland | 6% | $1,000 | Exemption restored July 1, 2026 (SB 309 / HB 500) for purchases over $1,000, reversing a one-year tax; purchases under $1,000 remain taxable. | 2026-07-01 | Sound Money Defense League |
Fully exempt
33Investment-grade gold and silver bullion is exempt from the state sales tax.
| State | Sales tax on bullion | Threshold | What to know | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Exempt | · | Investment bullion is exempt from Alabama sales tax (exemption renewed through 2028). | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Arizona | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Arizona sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Arkansas | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2021, when Arkansas passed Act 1006 removing sales tax from bullion and coins. | 2021 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Colorado | Exempt | · | Precious-metals bullion and coins are exempt from Colorado sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Georgia | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Georgia sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Idaho | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Idaho sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Illinois | Exempt | · | Bullion and legal-tender coins are exempt from Illinois sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Indiana | Exempt | · | Investment bullion is exempt from Indiana sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Iowa | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Iowa sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Kansas | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2019, when Kansas removed sales tax from gold and silver. | 2019 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Kentucky | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2024 (HB 8), when Kentucky removed sales tax from bullion and currency. | 2024 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Louisiana | Exempt | · | Bullion, numismatic coins and legal tender are exempt from Louisiana sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Michigan | Exempt | · | Bullion of 90%+ purity is exempt from Michigan sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Minnesota | Exempt | · | Investment bullion is exempt from Minnesota sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Mississippi | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2023, when Mississippi removed sales tax from bullion and coins. | 2023 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Missouri | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Missouri sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Nebraska | Exempt | · | Bullion and currency are exempt from Nebraska sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Nevada no inc. tax | Exempt | · | Bullion is exempt from Nevada sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| New Jersey | Exempt | · | Exempt since Jan 1, 2025, when New Jersey repealed its bullion sales tax. | 2025-01-01 | Sound Money Defense League |
| North Carolina | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from North Carolina sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| North Dakota | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from North Dakota sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Ohio | Exempt | · | Exempt again since 2021. Ohio repealed its exemption in 2019 but restored it two years later. | 2021 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Oklahoma | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Oklahoma sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Pennsylvania | Exempt | · | Investment metals and legal-tender coins are exempt from Pennsylvania sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Rhode Island | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from Rhode Island sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| South Carolina | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from South Carolina sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| South Dakota no inc. tax | Exempt | · | Bullion and coins are exempt from South Dakota sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Tennessee no inc. tax | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2022, when Tennessee removed sales tax from gold, silver and platinum bullion. | 2022 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Texas no inc. tax | Exempt | · | Bullion and numismatic coins are exempt from Texas sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Utah | Exempt | · | Bullion and legal-tender coins are exempt from Utah sales tax; Utah also recognizes gold and silver as legal tender. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| West Virginia | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2019, when West Virginia removed sales tax from investment metals. | 2019 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Wisconsin | Exempt | · | Exempt since 2024, when Wisconsin enacted a precious-metals bullion exemption. | 2024 | Sound Money Defense League |
| Wyoming no inc. tax | Exempt | · | Bullion and specie are exempt from Wyoming sales tax. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
No state sales tax at all
5These states levy no general sales tax, so bullion is untaxed at the state level.
| State | Sales tax on bullion | Threshold | What to know | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska no inc. tax | None | · | No statewide sales tax, so bullion is untaxed at the state level (a few boroughs levy a local sales tax). | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Delaware | None | · | No sales tax of any kind; bullion is untaxed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Montana | None | · | No statewide sales tax; bullion is untaxed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| New Hampshire no inc. tax | None | · | No sales tax, and as of 2025 no income tax either; bullion is untaxed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
| Oregon | None | · | No sales tax; bullion is untaxed. | · | Sound Money Defense League |
No state income tax = no state tax on your gains
Sales tax is charged when you buy; a separate question is what you owe when you sell at a profit. Nine states levy no tax on income, so a gain on selling bullion is not taxed at the state level: Washington, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, Alaska, New Hampshire. Washington is the exception to watch: it added a capital-gains excise tax in 2022 that can reach large long-term gains. Separately, the IRS treats physical bullion as a collectible, so federal long-term gains can be taxed at a rate up to 28%.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no sales tax on gold and silver bullion?
As of the 2026-07-08 review, 45 states exempt investment gold and silver bullion fully or above a purchase threshold. Five states levy no general sales tax at all (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon), 33 states fully exempt bullion, and seven exempt it above a dollar threshold. Only five states plus Washington, D.C. still tax it.
Which states still charge sales tax on precious-metals bullion?
Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington, plus Washington, D.C., apply their general sales tax to bullion with no investment exemption. Washington re-taxed bullion on January 1, 2026 after repealing an exemption that had stood since 1985.
Do I pay sales tax when I buy gold or silver online?
Sales tax follows the ship-to state, not the dealer's location. An online dealer collects tax based on your delivery address and that state's bullion rule, so the state you live in is what determines whether your purchase is taxed.
Is there a federal sales tax on bullion?
No. The United States has no federal sales tax on gold or silver. When you sell, though, the IRS treats physical bullion as a collectible, so long-term gains can be taxed at a rate up to 28% rather than the lower 15-20% capital-gains rate for stocks.
Which states have no capital-gains tax on a bullion sale?
Nine states levy no tax on income, so a gain on selling bullion is not taxed at the state level: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Washington is the exception to watch: it enacted a separate capital-gains excise tax in 2022 that can reach large long-term gains.
What is a threshold exemption?
Seven states waive sales tax only once a single purchase clears a dollar amount, for example $1,000 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and Maryland, $500 in Florida, and $2,000 in California. Buy above the line and it is tax-free; buy below it and the normal rate applies, which is why stackers in those states often consolidate purchases.