Sales Tax on Silver in the US
There is no federal sales tax; most states exempt investment silver bullion and coins, so 0% is typical. Silver jewellery and silverware are taxed at the normal sales tax rate wherever there is one; the population-weighted national average combined rate is 7.53% (1 July 2026). Today 10 grams of fine silver cost $15.79 at the world price, with no tax on investment bars.
Rules checked 26 October 2026 · Prices Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC · Not tax advice
Silver in the US today, with tax
USD · Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC| Weight | World price, fine silver | Bar, with tax and duty | Sterling (925) jewellery metal, with tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | $1.58 | $1.58 | $1.57 |
| 1 pennyweight (dwt) | $2.46 | $2.46 | $2.44 |
| 1 ounce | $49.12 | $49.12 | $48.85 |
| 10 ounces | $491.15 | $491.15 | $488.52 |
| 1 kilo | $1,579 | $1,579 | $1,571 |
The rules in the US
| What you buy | Tax | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bars | 0% (0–about 10.55%) | There is no federal sales tax; most states exempt investment silver bullion and coins, so 0% is typical. State bullion exemptions generally cover silver as well as gold. Of 50 states plus DC: 32 exempt bullion and coins, 5 have no statewide sales tax (AK, DE, MT, NH, OR), 8 exempt only some purchases, and 6 tax it fully: DC 6%, Hawaii about 4.5-4.712%, Maine 5.5%, New Mexico 4.875% plus local (about 5.1-9%), Vermont 6% plus up to 1% local, and Washington 6.5% plus local (about 8-10.55%) since 1 January 2026. Partial states matter more for silver because purchases are smaller: California exempts only transactions of $2,000 or more, Connecticut $1,000 or more, Massachusetts $1,000 or more, Maryland over $1,000 (since 1 July 2026), New York over $1,000 per invoice and within premium limits (silver coins up to 140% of metal value); Minnesota exempts 99.9% bars and rounds but taxes all coins, Silver Eagles included; New Jersey exempts bullion but only coins worth at least $1,000 each, so 1 oz silver coins are taxed at 6.625%. Alaska bars local sales tax on gold and silver specie from 28 August 2026. |
| Jewellery | 7.53% (0–about 12%) | Silver jewellery and silverware are taxed at the normal sales tax rate wherever there is one; the population-weighted national average combined rate is 7.53% (1 July 2026). Charged on: full value. |
| Import duty | 0% | No import duty is built into the spot-based dollar price. |
| Tourist refund | No | The US has no national sales tax refund for visitors. Louisiana's tax-free shopping programme for international visitors ended on 1 July 2024. Texas has allowed refunds through private operators at some stores, but this was not verified for 2026. |
Compared with nearby countries
Sales Tax on Silver in the US: FAQ
Is there sales tax on silver in the US?
There is no federal sales tax; most states exempt investment silver bullion and coins, so 0% is typical. Silver jewellery and silverware are taxed at the normal sales tax rate wherever there is one; the population-weighted national average combined rate is 7.53% (1 July 2026).
Do you pay sales tax on silver bars and coins in the US?
There is no federal sales tax; most states exempt investment silver bullion and coins, so 0% is typical. State bullion exemptions generally cover silver as well as gold. Of 50 states plus DC: 32 exempt bullion and coins, 5 have no statewide sales tax (AK, DE, MT, NH, OR), 8 exempt only some purchases, and 6 tax it fully: DC 6%, Hawaii about 4.5-4.712%, Maine 5.5%, New Mexico 4.875% plus local (about 5.1-9%), Vermont 6% plus up to 1% local, and Washington 6.5% plus local (about 8-10.55%) since 1 January 2026. Partial states matter more for silver because purchases are smaller: California exempts only transactions of $2,000 or more, Connecticut $1,000 or more, Massachusetts $1,000 or more, Maryland over $1,000 (since 1 July 2026), New York over $1,000 per invoice and within premium limits (silver coins up to 140% of metal value); Minnesota exempts 99.9% bars and rounds but taxes all coins, Silver Eagles included; New Jersey exempts bullion but only coins worth at least $1,000 each, so 1 oz silver coins are taxed at 6.625%. Alaska bars local sales tax on gold and silver specie from 28 August 2026.
Is there import duty on silver in the US?
No import duty is built into the spot-based dollar price.
Can tourists claim back the sales tax on silver in the US?
No. The US has no national sales tax refund for visitors. Louisiana's tax-free shopping programme for international visitors ended on 1 July 2024. Texas has allowed refunds through private operators at some stores, but this was not verified for 2026.
Sources (4)
- Tax Foundation: state and local sales tax rates, midyear 2026 (average combined 7.53%) (2026-07-06)
- New Jersey Division of Taxation: investment bullion and coins (not opened this session; cited in the silverprice country notes (reviewed Oct 2026))
- New York State: TSB-M-89(20)S, precious metal bullion (not opened this session; cited in the silverprice country notes (reviewed Oct 2026))
- Washington DOR: precious metal bullion now subject to retail sales tax (not opened this session; cited in the silverprice country notes (reviewed Oct 2026))
Related
General information on the tax a private buyer pays, checked 26 October 2026. Rules change; check with the seller, the tax authority or an adviser. Not tax advice.