When I Sell Gold Do I Report It to the IRS?
When selling gold, the Internal Revenue Service will want to know about any gain or loss – known as capital gains – when selling at a profit. A capital gain is calculated by subtracting your current selling price from its original fair market value (FMV).
There may be ways you can circumvent having to report the sale of gold to the IRS; if in doubt, however, it would be prudent to consult a tax professional for advice.
You don’t have to report it if you’re not a business
Many customers purchase gold and silver as a form of personal currency and an investment, yet if your precious metal sales result in profits you should pay taxes on those earnings since the IRS considers these earnings taxable capital gains.
As bullion investments carry a maximum tax rate of 28%, this can result in significantly higher taxes compared to traditional investments. Therefore, it is wise to consult a tax professional prior to selling them.
Precious metals dealers are legally required to report sales of items on the IRS’s “Reportable Items List.” In addition, they must file Form 1099-B with information such as name and address of seller as well as sale amount for every sale they make – this data helps fight money laundering and other illicit activity; dealers often refuse large cash payments and complete Currency Transaction Reports when customers deposit or withdraw over $10,000 cash deposits or withdrawals.
You don’t have to report it if you’re not an investor
Investors holding precious metal assets for at least one year may qualify to claim capital gains taxes on any profits realized when selling at a higher price than their original cost basis. This rule applies regardless of how many coins are sold during a single transaction; if investors want to avoid being required to report their coin sales they should select pieces carefully so as to meet IRS reporting thresholds.
These include 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf and Krugerrand coins as well as any US coin made of 90% silver, sold for $10,000 or more in one cash transaction. Furthermore, any bullion item sold at that amount must also be reported.
Dealers must file Form 8300 when receiving $10,000 or more in cash for any sale to combat money laundering. Any attempt at bypassing taxes should raise red flags; in such cases, consulting with a professional tax advisor would be in your best interests.
You don’t have to report it if you’re not a dealer
The IRS classifies gold bullion bars and coins as collectibles, such as art or antiques, making them subject to taxes on any profits derived from market changes without your direct participation or efforts being required for them to increase in value. As with other investments, capital gains tax applies when any profits accrue based on market changes without your direct efforts being necessary for them.
Dealers must report customer sales to the IRS using Form 1099B within certain quantities as set out by their “Reportable Items List.” These reports include information such as what was sold, when it was sold and any proceeds generated by its sale.
But many individuals are selling coins or bullion anonymously to protect themselves from being targeted for burglary or some other form of crime. When this is the case for you, it would be wise to consult with a tax professional about your specific circumstances to help determine whether reporting transactions is required.
You don’t have to report it if you’re not a collector
Many people ask if it is possible to sell gold without reporting it to the IRS, and the answer is generally yes – with a few important exceptions. Precious metals are considered capital assets with any gain on their sale being taxed – meaning if you sell for more than what it cost initially then any profits generated are subject to taxes on their sale price.
One way to circumvent this situation is to sell your gold to friends or family at less than its market value; however, this might not always be legal and for more advice regarding tax issues it is best to consult a tax professional.
Another option for using gold as payment for goods or services is using it with friends or family, without needing to report it to the IRS. Selling your gold to dealers or pawn shops will usually trigger reporting obligations but with some agreements you may be able to spread out your tax obligations over time.
Categorised in: Blog