Bullion sales tax · Tennessee
Tennessee sales tax on gold and silver
Is gold taxed in Tennessee?
No.
Since May 27, 2022, Tennessee charges no sales tax on gold, silver, platinum or palladium bullion, or on coins and currency, sold for their metal or collector value.
- Investment gold & silver
- Tax-free
- Order threshold
- None
- Metals covered
- Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
- Jewelry
- Taxed · about 9.61%
What's taxed in Tennessee
| What you're buying | Sales tax | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gold and silver bars and rounds | No sales tax | No sales tax in Tennessee, whatever the order size. |
| Gold and silver bullion coins (Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands) | No sales tax | No sales tax in Tennessee, whatever the order size. |
| Platinum and palladium bullion (bars, rounds and coins) | No sales tax | No sales tax in Tennessee, whatever the order size. |
| Rare and graded (numismatic) coins | No sales tax | No sales tax in Tennessee, whatever the order size. |
| Jewelry | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in Tennessee. |
| Medals, collectibles and accessories | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in Tennessee. |
The rule, in plain English
Since May 27, 2022, Tennessee charges no sales tax on gold, silver, platinum or palladium bullion, or on coins and currency, sold for their metal or collector value.
What counts: No purity percentage. Coins, currency and bullion manufactured in whole or in part from gold, silver, platinum, palladium or other material; used solely as legal tender, security or commodity; and sold based primarily on intrinsic value as precious material or collectible items rather than their representative value as a medium of exchange.
Still taxed: Jewelry; decorative, artistic or fabricated metal items not used as legal tender, security or commodity; accessories and supplies; non-coin collectibles.
This rule took effect on May 27, 2022.
What you would pay: three Tennessee examples
| Purchase delivered to Tennessee | Sales tax |
|---|---|
| Silver coins, $500 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| Gold coins, $5,000 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| A gold necklace, $1,000 | about $96 jewelry is taxed |
Using Tennessee's 7% state rate plus the average local rate, 9.61% combined (Tax Foundation, January 2026). Your city or county rate may be higher or lower.
Recent changes in Tennessee
Public Chapter 1092 created the exemption. The DOR's 2025 and 2026 legislative summaries list no changes to it. Source
Tennessee and its neighbors
- Alabama Tax-free
- Arkansas Tax-free
- Georgia Tax-free
- Kentucky Tax-free
- Mississippi Tax-free
- Missouri Tax-free
- North Carolina Tax-free
- Virginia Tax-free
All of Tennessee's neighbors treat investment bullion the same way.
Buying from Bullion Trading LLC with delivery to Tennessee
No sales tax is added at our checkout for bullion delivered to Tennessee.
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 Tennessee: 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 Tennessee
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. Tennessee has no personal income tax, so the state doesn't tax the gain.
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
The exemption applies to 'the tax imposed by this chapter' (Title 67, Ch. 6), which includes the local option sales tax imposed under Part 7 of that chapter, so local tax is also exempt.
Common questions about Tennessee
Is gold taxed in Tennessee?
No. Since May 27, 2022, Tennessee charges no sales tax on gold, silver, platinum or palladium bullion, or on coins and currency, sold for their metal or collector value.
Is silver taxed in Tennessee?
No. Investment silver bullion and coins are exempt from sales tax in Tennessee.
Is gold jewelry taxed in Tennessee?
Yes. Jewelry is taxed like other goods in Tennessee (about 9.61% on average with local tax), even when it is made of gold, silver or platinum.
Do I pay tax when I sell gold in Tennessee?
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. Tennessee has no personal income tax, so the state doesn't tax the gain.
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
- 2022 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 1092 — Sales tax exemption for certain coins, currency and precious-metals bullion; effective on becoming law (checked October 19, 2026)
- Tenn. Dept. of Revenue Notice #22-08, Coins, Currency, and Bullion (July 2022) — Exemption effective May 27, 2022; collectible legal-tender paper currency included (checked October 19, 2026)
- Tenn. Dept. of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax Manual (August 2026), Ch. 3, Coins, Currency, and Bullion — Restates the three-part test and the collectible paper currency rule (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)
- Hall Income Tax (Tennessee Department of Revenue)
- IRS Topic 409: capital gains and losses (collectibles rate)
How we research and check this guide: our method.