Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Colorado
Colorado exempts precious metal bullion and qualifying coins from state sales tax, with no dollar threshold. Learn what qualifies and where local rules differ.
The short answer
Colorado does not charge state sales tax on precious metal bullion or on qualifying coins. The exemption is set out in C.R.S. 39-26-706(4) and applies with no minimum purchase amount.
What qualifies as bullion
Bullion qualifies when it is refined precious metal whose value depends on its metal content rather than its form. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium all fall within this description. The shape of the metal does not decide the question; its refinement and metal value do.
What qualifies as coins
Coins qualify when they are monetized bullion or other money, are made of gold, silver, platinum, palladium or other metals, and are designated as a medium of exchange under the laws of Colorado, the United States or any foreign nation.
What does not qualify
Some items are excluded even when they contain precious metal:
- Numismatic items that are not made from coins or bullion, such as paper money, tokens, checks and wampum.
- Art, jewelry and commemoratives made from coins or bullion.
No dollar threshold
Colorado’s exemption has no dollar threshold. A purchase does not need to reach any minimum amount for the exemption to apply.
Local sales taxes
The exemption covers state sales tax, local taxes the Department of Revenue administers, the Regional Transportation District and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. It does not apply to self-collecting home-rule cities. According to the 2021 state auditor evaluation cited in the legislative declaration of HB26-1289, only 3 of Colorado’s 15 most populous home-rule cities and counties have this exemption. A buyer in a self-collecting home-rule city therefore faces a different result at the register than a buyer elsewhere in the state.
Colorado gold and silver tax treatment at a glance
| Item | Colorado treatment |
|---|---|
| Refined gold, silver, platinum, palladium bullion | Exempt from state sales tax |
| Coins that are monetized bullion or other money, designated as a medium of exchange | Exempt from state sales tax |
| Art, jewelry and commemoratives made from coins or bullion | Not exempt |
| Numismatic items not made from coins or bullion (paper money, tokens, checks, wampum) | Not exempt |
| Dollar threshold | None |
| Local taxes administered by the Department, RTD, SCFD | Covered by the exemption |
| Self-collecting home-rule cities | Exemption does not apply |
2026 legislation
HB26-1289 was introduced with a provision (Section 17) that would have repealed the exemption from January 1, 2027. That provision was removed before passage. The final rerevised text dated May 13, 2026 contains no such repeal, and the bill was signed June 3, 2026 without it. The exemption stands.
Sources and verification
The Colorado Department of Revenue publishes guidance on coins and precious metal bullion, and the General Assembly publishes the bill record for HB26-1289:
- Colorado Department of Revenue: Coins and precious metal bullion
- HB26-1289 bill page
- HB26-1289 final rerevised text
- HB26-1289 introduced text
This rule was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation. Confirm the current position with the state before a large purchase. For how precious metals are treated at the federal level, see sales tax on gold.
What buyers commonly get wrong about Colorado’s rule
One common error is assuming the exemption reaches every purchase made in Colorado. It does not apply to self-collecting home-rule cities, and most of the state’s most populous home-rule cities and counties do not offer it.
A second error is treating jewelry, art or commemoratives as exempt because they contain gold or silver. Colorado’s exemption does not cover those items.
A third error is assuming a minimum purchase is required. Colorado sets no dollar threshold.
A fourth error is reading the introduced version of HB26-1289 and concluding the exemption was repealed. The repeal provision was removed before the bill was signed on June 3, 2026.
The rule can change with new legislation, and local treatment varies by jurisdiction. Buyers with a specific situation should consult a tax professional or their own preparer.
Common questions
Does Colorado charge sales tax on gold and silver bullion?
No. Colorado exempts precious metal bullion from state sales and use tax under C.R.S. 39-26-706(4), with no dollar threshold.
Are coins exempt from Colorado sales tax?
Coins qualify when they are monetized bullion or other money, are made of gold, silver, platinum, palladium or other metals, and are designated as a medium of exchange under the laws of Colorado, the United States or a foreign nation.
Does the Colorado exemption apply in every city?
No. It covers state sales tax, local taxes the Department of Revenue administers, RTD and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, but not self-collecting home-rule cities. Per the 2021 state auditor evaluation, only 3 of Colorado's 15 most populous home-rule cities and counties have the exemption.
Did HB26-1289 repeal Colorado's precious metal exemption?
No. As introduced, Section 17 would have repealed the exemption from January 1, 2027, but the final rerevised text dated May 13, 2026 has no such provision, and the bill was signed June 3, 2026 without it.
Read next
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Alabama Alabama exempts refined bullion and money from state sales tax through May 31, 2028, if it meets purity and pricing conditions. Jewelry does not qualify.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Maine Maine charges sales tax on gold and silver bullion and coins. No exemption exists, and a 2025 bill to create one died in the Legislature.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Georgia Georgia exempts gold, silver and platinum bullion and coins or currency from sales tax. Jewelry and artwork are taxable. The coin exemption expires in 2029.
- Why Gold Is Taxed Differently from Stocks Understand why gold is taxed as a collectible at a higher rate than stocks, how the gain is calculated, and what records matter.
- Gold ETF Tax Treatment: How the IRS Views Bullion Funds Learn how gold ETFs are taxed. A fund holding bullion is taxed like the metal itself, not like a stock. Collectibles rates apply. See the rules and exceptions.