Bullion sales tax · North Carolina
North Carolina sales tax on gold and silver
Is gold taxed in North Carolina?
No.
North Carolina exempts investment bullion, government-issued coins worth more than face value (including collector coins), and collectible paper money, with no minimum purchase.
- Investment gold & silver
- Tax-free
- Order threshold
- None
- Metals covered
- Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
- Jewelry
- Taxed · about 7%
What's taxed in North Carolina
| What you're buying | Sales tax | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gold and silver bars and rounds | No sales tax | No sales tax in North Carolina, whatever the order size. |
| Gold and silver bullion coins (Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands) | No sales tax | No sales tax in North Carolina, whatever the order size. |
| Platinum and palladium bullion (bars, rounds and coins) | No sales tax | No sales tax in North Carolina, whatever the order size. |
| Rare and graded (numismatic) coins | No sales tax | No sales tax in North Carolina, whatever the order size. |
| Jewelry | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in North Carolina. |
| Medals, collectibles and accessories | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in North Carolina. |
The rule, in plain English
North Carolina exempts investment bullion, government-issued coins worth more than face value (including collector coins), and collectible paper money, with no minimum purchase.
What counts: G.S. 105-164.13(69), restated in SUTB 18-2 (Jan. 2026). 'Investment coins': numismatic coins or other forms of money and legal tender manufactured of metal under the laws of the U.S. or any foreign nation, with a fair market value greater than any statutory or nominal value. 'Investment metal bullion': any elementary precious metal that has been smelted or refined and whose value depends upon its content and not its form. It excludes fabricated precious metal processed or manufactured for specific industrial, professional or artistic uses. 'Non-coin currency': money and legal tender made of a material other than metal, with fair market value above nominal value. There is no purity minimum and no dollar threshold.
Still taxed: Jewelry. Fabricated or artistic precious-metal items. Private medals or tokens whose value depends on design rather than metal content. Accessories. Collectible stamps (SUTB 18-1).
What you would pay: three North Carolina examples
| Purchase delivered to North Carolina | Sales tax |
|---|---|
| Silver coins, $500 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| Gold coins, $5,000 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| A gold necklace, $1,000 | about $70 jewelry is taxed |
Using North Carolina's 4.75% state rate plus the average local rate, 7% combined (Tax Foundation, January 2026). Your city or county rate may be higher or lower.
North Carolina and its neighbors
- Georgia Tax-free
- South Carolina Tax-free
- Tennessee Tax-free
- Virginia Tax-free
All of North Carolina's neighbors treat investment bullion the same way.
Buying from Bullion Trading LLC with delivery to North Carolina
Our checkout applies North Carolina's rule, so no sales tax is added to investment bullion delivered there.
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 North Carolina: 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 North Carolina
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. North Carolina taxes the gain as ordinary income (top rate 3.99% 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
SUTB 18-2 says these sales are 'exempt from sales and use tax'. North Carolina local and transit taxes use the state base, so the exemption covers the combined rate.
Common questions about North Carolina
Is gold taxed in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina exempts investment bullion, government-issued coins worth more than face value (including collector coins), and collectible paper money, with no minimum purchase.
Is silver taxed in North Carolina?
No. Investment silver bullion and coins are exempt from sales tax in North Carolina.
Is gold jewelry taxed in North Carolina?
Yes. Jewelry is taxed like other goods in North Carolina (about 7% on average with local tax), even when it is made of gold, silver or platinum.
Do I pay tax when I sell gold in North Carolina?
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. North Carolina taxes the gain as ordinary income (top rate 3.99% 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
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 105-164.13(69) — FindLaw copy used to confirm subdivision number and wording (checked October 19, 2026)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. 105-164.13(69) — Retail sales and use tax exemptions: non-coin currency, investment metal bullion, investment coins (checked October 19, 2026)
- NCDOR Sales and Use Tax Bulletins (January 2026), SUTB 18-2 — Exemption for Certain Coins, Metal Bullion, and Non-Coin Currency (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.