Bullion sales tax · Wisconsin
Wisconsin sales tax on gold and silver
Is gold taxed in Wisconsin?
No.
Since March 23, 2024, Wisconsin charges no sales tax on coins, bars, rounds and sheets that are at least 35% gold, silver, platinum, palladium or copper and are marked with their weight and purity or government-minted.
- Investment gold & silver
- Tax-free
- Order threshold
- None
- Metals covered
- Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
- Jewelry
- Taxed · about 5.72%
What's taxed in Wisconsin
| What you're buying | Sales tax | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gold and silver bars and rounds | No sales tax | No sales tax in Wisconsin, whatever the order size. |
| Gold and silver bullion coins (Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands) | No sales tax | No sales tax in Wisconsin, whatever the order size. |
| Platinum and palladium bullion (bars, rounds and coins) | No sales tax | No sales tax in Wisconsin, whatever the order size. |
| Rare and graded (numismatic) coins | Depends on the item | Depends on the coin and how it is priced; see the rule below. |
| Jewelry | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in Wisconsin. |
| Medals, collectibles and accessories | Sales tax applies | Taxed like other goods in Wisconsin. |
The rule, in plain English
Since March 23, 2024, Wisconsin charges no sales tax on coins, bars, rounds and sheets that are at least 35% gold, silver, platinum, palladium or copper and are marked with their weight and purity or government-minted.
What counts: Precious metal bullion: coins, bars, rounds or sheets that contain at least 35 percent gold, silver, copper, platinum or palladium, and that are marked with weight, purity and content or minted by a government authority on the basis of weight, purity and content. It excludes other tangible personal property containing bullion in whole or part, such as jewelry, works of art, scrap metal or electronics.
Still taxed: Jewelry, works of art, scrap metal, electronics and other property that merely contains bullion; items under 35% precious-metal content; unmarked items that are not government-minted; accessories.
This rule took effect on March 23, 2024.
What you would pay: three Wisconsin examples
| Purchase delivered to Wisconsin | Sales tax |
|---|---|
| Silver coins, $500 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| Gold coins, $5,000 | $0 exempt investment bullion |
| A gold necklace, $1,000 | about $57 jewelry is taxed |
Using Wisconsin's 5% state rate plus the average local rate, 5.72% combined (Tax Foundation, January 2026). Your city or county rate may be higher or lower.
Recent changes in Wisconsin
2025 Wis. Act 124 removed the exemption-certificate requirement, so qualifying bullion is exempt without paperwork. The date assumes the default day-after-publication rule (published 2026-03-28); APMEX reports the same date and Avalara reports 2026-03-27. Source
Bullion exemption took effect (2023 Wis. Act 149). At first, buyers had to give the seller an exemption certificate. Source
Wisconsin and its neighbors
Different rules next door: Minnesota (partly tax-free). Same as Wisconsin: Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. Tax follows the delivery address, not where you live.
Buying from Bullion Trading LLC with delivery to Wisconsin
No sales tax is added at our checkout for bullion delivered to Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin: 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 Wisconsin
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. Wisconsin excludes 30% of long-term capital gains.
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
Wisconsin county, stadium and Milwaukee city and county sales taxes follow the state base, so qualifying bullion should be exempt from them too. I did not check this separately.
Common questions about Wisconsin
Is gold taxed in Wisconsin?
No. Since March 23, 2024, Wisconsin charges no sales tax on coins, bars, rounds and sheets that are at least 35% gold, silver, platinum, palladium or copper and are marked with their weight and purity or government-minted.
Is silver taxed in Wisconsin?
No. Investment silver bullion and coins are exempt from sales tax in Wisconsin.
Is gold jewelry taxed in Wisconsin?
Yes. Jewelry is taxed like other goods in Wisconsin (about 5.72% on average with local tax), even when it is made of gold, silver or platinum.
Do I pay tax when I sell gold in Wisconsin?
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. Wisconsin excludes 30% of long-term capital gains.
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
- 2023 Wis. Act 149 — Sales tax exemption for precious metal bullion; enacted March 21, 2024, published March 22, 2024, effective March 23, 2024 (checked October 19, 2026)
- 2025 Wis. Act 124 — Eliminates the exemption-certificate requirement for precious metal bullion; approved March 27, 2026, published March 28, 2026 (checked October 19, 2026)
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau summary of 2023 AB 29 — Sales Tax Exemption for Precious Metal Bullion (checked October 19, 2026)
- DOR fiscal estimate, 2025 SB 748 — 'eliminates the certificate requirement to claim the exemption for the sale of precious metal bullion' (checked October 19, 2026)
- Wis. Stat. § 77.54(74)(a)-(b) — Precious metal bullion exemption, Wisconsin Statutes ch. 77 PDF updated through 2025 Wis. Act 103, published 4-3-26 (read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-04-12; docs.legis.wisconsin.gov refused connections) (coins by metal; checked October 21, 2026)
- 2023 Wis. Act 149, § 1 (2023 AB 29) — Created 77.54(71) [now (74)]; enacted March 21, 2024, published March 22, 2024 (effective the next day under s. 991.11); read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-06-13 (coins by metal; checked October 21, 2026)
- 2025 Wis. SB 748 (LRB-5597/1), §§ 1-2, as introduced Dec. 12, 2025 — Sales tax exemption certificates for the sale of precious metal bullion (read via Internet Archive snapshot of 2026-04-11); enacted version / Act 124 not read (coins by metal; checked October 21, 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)
- 2025 Wisconsin Schedule WD Instructions (NBER mirror of DOR form) (Wisconsin Department of Revenue via NBER TAXSIM)
- IRS Topic 409: capital gains and losses (collectibles rate)
How we research and check this guide: our method.