Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Arkansas

Arkansas does not charge sales tax or compensating use tax on coins, currency and bullion. The exemption comes from Ark. Code 26-52-454, enacted by Act 1109 of 2021, and it took effect October 1, 2021.

What Qualifies for the Exemption

The statute covers three categories: coins, currency and bullion. Bullion means a bar, ingot or coin made in whole or in part of gold, silver, platinum or palladium. To qualify, the item must have been or be used solely as a medium of exchange, security or commodity by a state, the U.S. Government or a foreign nation. It also must be sold based on its intrinsic value as a precious metal or collectible item rather than its form or representative value as a medium of exchange.

Coins and currency are tested the same way, whether made of gold, silver, another metal or paper.

What Does Not Qualify

Coins or currency incorporated into jewelry are excluded from the exemption. The statute sets no dollar threshold and no purity percentage, so the exemption does not depend on a minimum purchase amount or a fineness standard.

Local Sales Taxes

The sources reviewed do not address whether local sales taxes still apply. Buyers should confirm the local treatment with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration before a large purchase.

Arkansas gold and silver tax treatment at a glance

Official Sources

The exemption appears in the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration list of sales tax exemptions and in the text of Act 1109 of 2021:

• Arkansas Sales Tax Exemptions
• Act 1109 of 2021
• SB336, 2021 Regular Session

The rule was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation. Confirm the current treatment with the state before a large purchase. For how precious metals are taxed at the federal level, see sales tax on gold.

What Buyers Commonly Get Wrong

One common mistake is assuming the exemption applies to every coin or piece of currency. The statute excludes coins or currency incorporated into jewelry, so a gold coin set in a pendant does not qualify.

Another mistake is looking for a minimum purchase amount or a purity requirement. The statute contains no dollar threshold and no purity percentage, so those tests are not part of Arkansas law.

A third mistake is treating the exemption as covering all precious metal items. The definition of bullion is limited to a bar, ingot or coin made in whole or in part of gold, silver, platinum or palladium, and the item must meet the medium-of-exchange and intrinsic-value tests.

A fourth mistake is assuming the rule has always been in place. The exemption took effect October 1, 2021, under Act 1109 of 2021.

This rule can change with new legislation. Buyers with questions about their own situation should consult a tax professional or their own preparer.