Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Wisconsin
Wisconsin exempts precious metal bullion that is at least 35% gold, silver, copper, platinum or palladium and marked or minted by weight, purity and content.
The short answer
Wisconsin does not charge sales tax on precious metal bullion that meets the state’s definition. The exemption applies to coins, bars, rounds or sheets that contain at least 35 percent gold, silver, copper, platinum or palladium, and that are either marked with their weight, purity and content or minted by a government authority on the basis of weight, purity and content. There is no minimum purchase amount.
What qualifies
Under Wis. Stat. 77.54(74), the exemption covers coins, bars, rounds and sheets meeting two tests:
- Content: at least 35 percent gold, silver, copper, platinum or palladium.
- Identification: the item is marked with its weight, purity and content, or it is minted by a government authority on the basis of weight, purity and content.
Both tests must be met. An item that fails the 35 percent test, or that carries no weight, purity and content marking and was not minted by a government authority on that basis, falls outside the exemption.
What does not qualify
Other property that contains bullion is not exempt. That includes jewelry, works of art, scrap metal and electronics. The exemption is written for bullion itself, not for finished goods made from it.
Purchase threshold
Wisconsin sets no minimum purchase amount. A qualifying item is exempt whether the sale is small or large.
Exemption certificate
Since March 29, 2026, the buyer no longer has to give the seller an exemption certificate for these purchases. That change came from 2025 Wis. Act 124. Before that date, the certificate requirement applied.
Local sales taxes
The exemption is part of Wisconsin’s sales tax statute, so it applies to the state’s sales tax on qualifying bullion. County and stadium sales taxes are imposed under separate Wisconsin provisions, and the exemption’s wording addresses the sale of precious metal bullion itself.
Wisconsin gold and silver tax treatment at a glance
| Item | Wisconsin treatment |
|---|---|
| Coins, bars, rounds, sheets at least 35% gold, silver, copper, platinum or palladium, marked or government-minted by weight, purity and content | Exempt |
| Bullion items failing the 35% test or the marking/minting test | Not covered by the exemption |
| Jewelry, works of art, scrap metal, electronics | Not exempt |
| Minimum purchase amount | None |
| Exemption certificate from buyer | Not required since March 29, 2026 |
| Effective date of exemption | March 23, 2024 (2023 Wis. Act 149) |
What buyers commonly get wrong
A common mistake is assuming any coin or round sold as an investment metal is automatically exempt. The 35 percent content test and the marking or government-minting test both have to be satisfied, and an item that fails either one is not covered.
Another is treating the exemption as reaching everything made of metal. Jewelry, works of art, scrap metal and electronics are expressly outside it, even when they contain gold or silver.
A third is looking for a dollar threshold. Wisconsin has no minimum purchase amount, so there is no level below which tax suddenly applies.
A fourth is the certificate. Buyers who remember being asked to sign an exemption certificate may still expect to provide one, but since March 29, 2026 that requirement is gone.
Checking the rule
This rule was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation. Before a large purchase, confirm the current treatment with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. The department’s tax bulletins and the statute text are the official sources:
- Wisconsin Tax Bulletin 225 (April 2024)
- Wisconsin Tax Bulletin 233 (April 2026)
- 2024 Wisconsin Tax Update
- Wis. Stat. 77.54(74)
For how these rules fit with federal treatment of gold and silver, see sales tax on gold. For a specific transaction or business, consult a tax professional or your own preparer.
Common questions
Does Wisconsin charge sales tax on gold and silver bullion?
No, when the item meets Wisconsin's definition of precious metal bullion: coins, bars, rounds or sheets containing at least 35 percent gold, silver, copper, platinum or palladium, and either marked with weight, purity and content or minted by a government authority on that basis.
Is there a minimum purchase amount for the Wisconsin bullion exemption?
No. Wisconsin sets no minimum purchase amount, so a qualifying item is exempt regardless of the size of the sale.
Do I still need to give the seller an exemption certificate in Wisconsin?
No. Since March 29, 2026, the buyer no longer has to give the seller an exemption certificate for precious metal bullion purchases, following 2025 Wis. Act 124.
Is jewelry exempt from Wisconsin sales tax under the bullion rule?
No. Jewelry, works of art, scrap metal and electronics are not exempt, even though they may contain gold or silver. The exemption covers bullion itself, not other property containing bullion.
Read next
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Louisiana Louisiana excludes platinum, gold and silver bullion from taxable tangible personal property, and numismatic coins up to $1,000. See what qualifies.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Illinois Illinois exempts legal tender, government-issued gold and silver coinage, medallions and bullion from sales tax, with no dollar threshold. Jewelry is taxable.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Connecticut Connecticut exempts gold and silver bullion and rare coins from sales tax, but only when the retailer's total sale is $1,000 or more. The rule changes July 1, 2027.
- Tax on Selling Scrap Gold: What Counts as Gain How the IRS taxes gains on scrap gold sales, what happens when you have no basis, and why losses on personal-use gold are not deductible.
- Digital Gold Tax: How Wrappers Change the Rules Learn how digital gold, tokenized gold, and gold-backed tokens are taxed in the US. Understand the wrapper's role, the collectibles rate, and unsettled areas.