When selling gold jewelry, any profits must be subject to tax due to its collectible status with the IRS. Your basis can either be the original price paid for the gold or its current fair market value if given as a gift or inheritance.
Taxes on Physical Gold Sales
As a buyer of precious metals, you are probably aware that the IRS classifies these items as collectibles and can tax them based on their value. But you may not fully comprehend all the rules governing this situation.
When it comes to capital gains for gold and silver investments, the IRS takes into account both their original fair market value and any increase over the year since purchase (known as your cost basis).
Physical gold coins produced by the Royal Mint that qualify as legal tender are exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT), such as Gold Sovereigns, Britannias and other limited issue coins. Furthermore, purchases exceeding $1,500 typically are exempt from sales taxes; although this varies by region. Silver bullion may also often be exempt; please consult your state for details.
Taxes on Capital Gains
While precious metals are not themselves subject to taxes, any profits made from selling them may be. The IRS taxes any proceeds of an asset sold for more than its cost as “capital gains.”
Coins and bullion both fall under this tax category; however, government-issued gold coins with face values may be exempted in many states due to their legal tender status.
In order to avoid capital gains tax, reinvest the proceeds from your precious metals into an asset with equal or higher value – this process is known as 1031 exchange.
Taxes on Long-Term Capital Gains
If you have purchased gold coins or bullion and sold them at a profit, capital gains taxes may apply depending on state and federal tax policies. Therefore, it’s wise to consult a qualified tax professional in order to understand more fully your specific circumstances.
The IRS considers gold to be a capital asset and therefore will tax any financial gain on its sale at 28% long-term capital gains rates, which differs from how they treat investments like stocks held for over one year and which produce dividends.
If you purchase precious metals for investment purposes rather than base metal value, the IRS may require you to report this transaction and file Form 8300 – this form helps them monitor large-scale commodities exchanges that occur in the US with cash payments.
Taxes on Sales of Precious Metals
Gold investors will also be subject to capital gains tax depending on their country’s tax laws, but there are ways you can lower this potential liability.
First, investors can avoid sales tax when purchasing gold coins from dealers in states with no sales tax rate. Furthermore, the IRS exempts purchases of certain items – including legal tender coins produced by the Royal Mint such as Gold Sovereigns and Silver Britannias – from capital gains tax.
Before investing in precious metals, buyers should fully comprehend their tax implications and keep records of purchases receipts. Failing to report capital gains can incur severe penalties from the Internal Revenue Service; as a result, investors are advised to consult a CPA or tax professional regarding their individual situation before making decisions about purchasing precious metals. Dealers must also follow reporting guidelines for non-corporate sellers outlined on a series of 1099-B forms issued by the IRS.
