Bullion sales tax · Kentucky
Kentucky sales tax on gold and silver
Is gold taxed in Kentucky?
No.
Kentucky does not tax gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bars, ingots, or coins priced by metal content, or legal-tender coins and paper money sold as collectibles; jewelry and non-legal-tender medallions are taxable.
- Investment gold & silver
- Tax-free
- Order threshold
- None
- Metals covered
- Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
- Jewelry
- Taxed · about 6%
What's taxed in Kentucky
| What you're buying | Sales tax | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gold and silver bars and rounds | No sales tax | No sales tax in Kentucky, whatever the order size. |
| Gold and silver bullion coins (Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands) | No sales tax | No sales tax in Kentucky, whatever the order size. |
| Platinum and palladium bullion (bars, rounds and coins) | No sales tax | No sales tax in Kentucky, whatever the order size. |
| Rare and graded (numismatic) coins | No sales tax | No sales tax in Kentucky, whatever the order size. |
| Jewelry | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in Kentucky. |
| Medals, collectibles and accessories | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in Kentucky. |
The rule, in plain English
Kentucky does not tax gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bars, ingots, or coins priced by metal content, or legal-tender coins and paper money sold as collectibles; jewelry and non-legal-tender medallions are taxable.
What counts: KRS 139.480(37)(b)1. 'Bullion': 'bars, ingots, or coins, which are: Made of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, or a combination of these metals; Valued based on the content of the metal and not its form; and Used, or have been used, as a medium of exchange, security, or commodity by any state, the United States government, or a foreign nation'; it 'Does not include medallions or coins that are incorporated into a pendant or other jewelry'. (b)2. 'Currency': 'a coin or currency made of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, or other metal or paper money that is or has been used as legal tender and is sold based on its value as a collectible item rather than the value as a medium of exchange'; excludes coins/currency incorporated into jewelry.
Still taxed: Jewelry, including pendants with coins or medallions. Non-legal-tender medallions/commemoratives priced above metal content. Accessories.
What you would pay: three Kentucky examples
| Purchase delivered to Kentucky | Sales tax |
|---|---|
| Silver coins, $500 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| Gold coins, $5,000 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| A gold necklace, $1,000 | about $60 jewelry is taxed |
Using Kentucky's 6% state rate plus the average local rate, 6% combined (Tax Foundation, January 2026). Your city or county rate may be higher or lower.
Kentucky and its neighbors
- Illinois Tax-free
- Indiana Partly tax-free
- Missouri Tax-free
- Ohio Tax-free
- Tennessee Tax-free
- Virginia Tax-free
- West Virginia Tax-free
Different rules next door: Indiana (partly tax-free). Same as Kentucky: Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Tax follows the delivery address, not where you live.
Buying from Bullion Trading LLC with delivery to Kentucky
No sales tax is added at our checkout for bullion delivered to Kentucky.
Orders ship insured and discreetly packed: USPS under $1,000, FedEx with adult signature from $1,000, usually within 2–3 business days after payment clears. Bank transfer and check are our best price; card and PayPal add 5% (up to $7,500).
Tax-free in Kentucky: popular coins and bars
The large price is the check/wire price; the card/PayPal price is listed under it. Prices follow the live spot price.
Selling gold in Kentucky
Selling gold to a dealer is not a retail purchase, so no sales tax applies. A profit is a capital gain: the IRS taxes gains on gold and silver bullion as collectibles, at up to 28% when held more than a year. Kentucky taxes the gain as ordinary income (top rate 3.5% in 2026).
Dealers have to report some larger sales to the IRS on Form 1099-B; keep your purchase receipts to show your cost.
We buy bullion at our counter at 20 West 47th Street in New York: walk in with a photo ID and we pay by same-day check. How selling to us works
Local taxes
No local sales taxes in Kentucky.
Common questions about Kentucky
Is gold taxed in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky does not tax gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bars, ingots, or coins priced by metal content, or legal-tender coins and paper money sold as collectibles; jewelry and non-legal-tender medallions are taxable.
Is silver taxed in Kentucky?
No. Investment silver bullion and coins are exempt from sales tax in Kentucky.
Is gold jewelry taxed in Kentucky?
Yes. Jewelry is taxed like other goods in Kentucky (about 6% on average with local tax), even when it is made of gold, silver or platinum.
Do I pay tax when I sell gold in Kentucky?
Selling gold to a dealer is not a retail purchase, so no sales tax applies. A profit is a capital gain: the IRS taxes gains on gold and silver bullion as collectibles, at up to 28% when held more than a year. Kentucky taxes the gain as ordinary income (top rate 3.5% in 2026).
Selling to a dealer
No sales tax
A gain on the sale
Taxed by the IRS as a collectible, up to 28% when held more than a year
Sources
- KRS 139.480(37) — Sales and use tax exclusion for currency or bullion (checked October 19, 2026)
- KRS Chapter 139 (official LRC) — Official Kentucky Legislature statute index for KRS 139 (checked October 19, 2026)
- State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026 (table: State & Local Sales Tax Rates as of January 1, 2026) (Tax Foundation)
- 2026 Sales Tax Rates, Midyear Update (rates as of July 1, 2026) (Tax Foundation)
- State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (Tax Foundation)
- IRS Topic 409: capital gains and losses (collectibles rate)
How we research and check this guide: our method.