Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Pennsylvania

Does Pennsylvania charge sales tax on gold and silver?

No. Pennsylvania exempts investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales and use tax. There is no minimum purchase amount, so the exemption applies to a single coin or a large order alike.

The Department of Revenue’s retailer guide REV-717 (02-26) lists “Bullion, investment metal” and “Coins, investment (numismatic coins and legal tender)” as NT, meaning nontaxable.

What qualifies as exempt

• Investment metal bullion.
• Investment coins, including numismatic coins and legal tender.

The exemption was enacted in 2006. The 2006 State Tax Summary states that the sale of investment metal bullion and investment coins is exempt from sales and use tax, and that it took effect 60 days after enactment.

What does not qualify

The exemption is not unlimited. It does not cover:

• Jewelry made of coins.
• Works of art made of coins.
• Commemorative medallions.
• Coin banks and coin holders, which are taxable.

So a coin kept as an investment is treated differently from a coin set in a ring or a display item sold alongside it.

Local sales tax in Allegheny County and Philadelphia

Allegheny County and Philadelphia levy local sales tax, but REV-717 states that the local tax applies only to taxable property. Because the same guide lists investment bullion and investment coins as nontaxable, the local tax does not reach those items.

Pennsylvania gold and silver tax treatment at a glance

What buyers commonly get wrong

A frequent mistake is assuming the exemption covers anything coin-shaped or coin-related. It does not. Jewelry and works of art made of coins, commemorative medallions, coin banks and coin holders are all outside the exemption, and those items are taxable.

Another common error is believing a purchase has to reach some dollar amount before the exemption applies. Pennsylvania sets no minimum purchase amount, so size is not the test.

A third is assuming the local tax in Allegheny County and Philadelphia adds a percentage on top of every bullion or coin purchase. REV-717 ties the local tax to taxable property, and investment bullion and investment coins are listed as nontaxable.

For the general framework, see sales tax on gold.

Confirm before a large purchase

The rule described here was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation. Buyers should confirm the current treatment with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue before a large purchase. For how the rule applies to a specific situation, consult a tax professional or your own preparer.