Every zone in the world treats physical metal differently. Here, for a private individual, is what you pay when buying, what applies when selling, what must be reported and what happens on import, zone by zone. Choose yours.
At Gold Silver Global, the taxes that apply to your purchase are calculated and shown at the end, in the cart, based on your country.
Choose your zone
United States · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/estados-unidos
No federal tax when buying, each state decides, and gains after more than one year are taxed as collectibles at up to 28%.
European Union · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/union-europea
Investment gold exempt in all 27 countries, silver at each country's standard rate, and gains under the rules of each member state.
United Kingdom · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/reino-unido
Investment gold exempt, silver at 20%, and no tax on gains for The Royal Mint legal tender coins.
Switzerland · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/suiza
Gold exempt if it meets recognized purity and hallmark requirements, silver at 8.1%, and no tax on gains for private individuals.
Canada · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/canada
Gold of 99.5% purity or more and silver of 99.9% or more exempt when buying, and only half of the gain is added to income.
Australia · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/australia
Investment gold, silver and platinum exempt, palladium taxed, and a 50% reduction of the gain after more than twelve months of ownership.
Asia · /en/inversion/fiscalidad/asia
Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and China, from no tax at all in Hong Kong to 10% in Japan and 13% on silver in China.
The seven zones at a glance
| Zone | Gold when buying | Silver when buying | Gain when selling | Reporting threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | No federal tax, exemption or tax depending on the state | No federal tax, exemption or tax depending on the state | Maximum 28% after more than one year, marginal rate at one year or less | $10,000 in cash received by a business |
| European Union | Exempt if investment gold (bars from .995 fine, coins from .900) | Standard rate of each country, 19 to 24% in the reference countries | No common regime, depends on each member state | EU-wide cash payment limit of 10,000 euros from July 2027 |
| United Kingdom | Exempt if investment gold | 20% | Exempt on The Royal Mint legal tender coins, taxable on bars and foreign coins | 10,000 pounds sterling in cash when crossing the border |
| Switzerland | Exempt if it meets recognized purity and hallmark requirements | 8.1% | Exempt for private individuals, with no holding period | Imported goods from 150 Swiss francs |
| Canada | Exempt at 99.5% purity or more | Exempt at 99.9% purity or more | 50% of the gain is added to income | CAN$10,000 in cash or instruments when crossing the border |
| Australia | Exempt at 99.5% purity or more | Exempt at 99.9% purity or more | 50% reduction after more than 12 months of ownership | A$10,000 in cash or instruments when crossing the border |
| Asia | Exempt in Singapore and Hong Kong, 10% in Japan, the exchange's own regime in China | Exempt in Singapore and Hong Kong, 10% in Japan, 13% in China | No tax in Hong Kong, in Japan it is added to income, half of it after more than five years | S$20,000 in Singapore, 1,000,000 yen in Japan |
Before you buy or sell
Tax rules change and depend on where you reside, not on the country the piece is shipped from. Always keep the invoice or receipt for each purchase, with the date, price and details of the piece, to prove your purchase price the day you sell. At Gold Silver Global, every order generates its own receipt, available from My account.
<details> <summary>Sources</summary>The sources for each zone, with their dates, are at the end of each subpage. All were consulted on September 27, 2026.
</details>This is general information, not a tax service. Consult a tax professional in your country. Figures reviewed on September 27, 2026.