Precious Metal Sales Taxes In the United States

At a Glance: How Are Precious Metals Taxed?

We automatically calculate relevant sales taxes based on the address you provide us at checkout. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about how sales taxes are determined and applied to orders shipped in the United States.

- Each state sets its own sales taxes for precious metals.
- Most states offer some tax exemptions for bullion products.
- Hero Bullion automatically collects sales taxes based on your shipping address.
- Click your state on the map below to find out what bullion products are taxed.

Precious Metal Sales Taxes in the United States | Updated for 2024

When investors buy precious metals, they may have to pay sales taxes to the state where their products are shipped. Click the map above or find your state to read an overview of how your state taxes precious metal products. Still have questions? Read this page for a complete guide to precious metal sales taxes in the United States.

Are Precious Metals Subject to Sales Tax?

There is no federal sales tax. Instead, the federal government gives each state the right to determine their own sales taxes. Four U.S. states have no sales taxes – Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska has no statewide sales tax, but local jurisdictions in Alaska can determine their own sales taxes. When you buy gold, silver, or other precious metals online, your dealer is responsible for collecting sales taxes based on the state – and jurisdiction – that your products are shipped to. Since sales taxes vary from state to state, it can be tricky to figure out which products are taxable – and which precious metals are tax exempt.

As of March 2024, 44 states offer some sort of tax exemption for precious metals. However, some products on the Hero Bullion website are taxed in every state except those with no state sales tax.

Taxable Precious Metals Defined

Although sales taxes vary depending on where you live, most states provide tax exemptions for certain precious metal products. Below, you’ll find a brief overview of different product categories that are subject to sales taxes in some (but not all) U.S. states. Three product categories that are usually taxed by U.S. states include copper products, accessories, and processed bullion.

Taxable Product	Definition
Copper Products	Products made using primarily copper bullion are frequently taxed in U.S. states.
Accessories	Products used to maintain, store, or display precious metals are considered accessories. Accessories are not usually made using bullion and are often subject to sales taxation in many U.S. states.
Processed Bullion	When a product is taken to a third party to add value beyond its precious metal content, it is considered processed bullion. Processed bullion is often taxed, even in states that provide sales tax exemptions for some precious metal items.

How Does Hero Bullion Calculate Sales Taxes?

If this sounds complicated, you can rest easy. Hero Bullion automatically determines and applies all relevant sales taxes based on the shipping address you provide us at checkout.

We want our customers to understand how precious metal products are taxed in their states. Click on your state at the top of this page, and you’ll find a full breakdown of that state’s precious metal sales taxes laws.