Buying silver in Tucson, AZ
Arizona does not charge sales tax on qualifying silver bullion and coins. Jewelry is taxed at the 5.6% state rate plus any local tax. The combined state and local sales tax rate in Tucson is about 8.7%.
Silver has one national spot price in US dollars: the prices on this page are the same as on the silver price in the United States page. What differs in Tucson is tax, explained below and on the Arizona page.
Sales tax on silver in Tucson
Not on investment bullion. Investment-grade precious metal bullion and monetized bullion (bullion coins) are exempt from Arizona transaction privilege (sales) tax. Numismatic or collectible-priced coins and jewelry can be taxable. The combined state and local rate is about 8.7% here.
Full state rules: silver price and tax in Arizona.
Tax when you sell silver in Arizona
Since 2017 (HB 2014), capital gains on gold/silver bullion and specie coins are subtracted from Arizona taxable income. At the federal level, the IRS treats bullion and most silver coins as collectibles: long-term gains (assets held more than a year) are taxed at your ordinary rate, capped at 28%, and short-term gains as ordinary income.
Selling silver or silver jewelry to a dealer in Arizona
- License: The state precious items article requires dealers to buy only at the permanent place of business listed on their state sales tax (transaction privilege tax) license. No separate state precious metals license was confirmed. Cities and towns license pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers locally (for example Oro Valley Town Code Article 8-5), and pawnbrokers are also covered by state law starting at A.R.S. 44-1621.
- Hold period: 10 days. State law: keep items in the same condition for 10 calendar days after the weekly list is delivered to local law enforcement. Some cities set longer local holds for secondhand dealers (Oro Valley: 20 days for items bought).
- What the dealer records: Keep for six months: seller's name, address, date of birth, signature, physical description, ID serial number and an itemized list. In any week with a purchase, deliver a list to the local law enforcement agency (on its forms if it issues them) with brand, serial number, description, date and time, and price paid. A copy of the statute must be posted on the premises.
- What sellers need: Seller must show a valid photo ID (driver's license, non-operating ID, military ID or similar). No purchases from anyone under 18 unless a parent or guardian is present and shows ID.
- Payment: Payment by check only, made out to the actual seller.
- Who is exempt: The 10-day hold does not apply to redemption of pawned or pledged items. Oro Valley's local rules treat precious metals bought from anyone other than the original manufacturer or authorized distributor as secondhand goods.
- The law: A.R.S. 44-1602, Requirements of dealers of precious items. Pawnbroker and secondhand dealer definitions are in A.R.S. 44-1621.
Dealers report a customer's sale to the IRS on Form 1099-B only for certain forms and quantities, such as 1-kilo gold bars, 1,000 ounces of silver bars or 25 or more Krugerrands or Maple Leafs; American Eagles and smaller lots are generally not reported. Any business that receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction or related transactions files IRS Form 8300. Bring a photo ID when you sell.
Tax and duty information last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with your dealer or tax authority before a large purchase.