Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Hawaii
Hawaii has no sales tax; instead a general excise tax applies to sellers' gross proceeds, and no exemption exists for bullion or coins.
Does Hawaii charge sales tax on gold and silver?
Hawaii does not have a sales tax. Instead, it imposes a general excise tax (GET) on the seller’s gross proceeds of sales, and sellers commonly pass that tax on to buyers. The Department of Taxation’s compilation of HRS chapter 237 contains no exemption for bullion, coins, or precious metals, so the GET applies to those sales.
What qualifies and what does not
The GET applies to the seller’s gross income from business activity in the state. Because the compiled statute has no exemption for bullion, coins, or precious metals, those items are not carved out. The only related mention is a financial-institution provision that excludes commissions on numismatic currency from an exemption. Bills to exempt bullion have been introduced, such as HB1184 in 2021, but no exemption appears in the compiled statute.
This status is inferred from the absence of an exemption, not from an explicit Department of Taxation statement on bullion. The rule was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation; confirm with the state before a large purchase.
Is there a purchase threshold?
The compiled statute sets no dollar threshold for bullion, coins, or precious metals. There is no minimum or maximum purchase amount that changes the treatment.
Does jewelry get different treatment?
The compiled statute contains no exemption for jewelry, so the same general excise tax treatment applies.
Do local taxes still apply?
A county surcharge on state tax of up to 0.5% applies to “all gross proceeds and gross income taxable under this chapter” in counties that adopt it (HRS 237-8.6).
Hawaii gold and silver tax treatment at a glance
| Item | Hawaii treatment |
|---|---|
| State sales tax | None; a general excise tax applies instead |
| Bullion and coins | No exemption in the compiled statute |
| Purchase threshold | None in the compiled statute |
| Jewelry | No exemption in the compiled statute |
| County surcharge | Up to 0.5% where adopted (HRS 237-8.6) |
What buyers commonly get wrong
A common mistake is assuming that because Hawaii has no sales tax, no tax applies to a bullion or coin purchase. The general excise tax is imposed on the seller’s gross proceeds, and sellers commonly pass it on to buyers, so the cost can still appear on a receipt.
Another common mistake is expecting a bullion exemption like the ones some other states have. Bills to exempt bullion have been introduced, such as HB1184 in 2021, but no exemption appears in the compiled statute.
A third mistake is overlooking the county surcharge. A county surcharge on state tax of up to 0.5% applies to “all gross proceeds and gross income taxable under this chapter” in counties that adopt it (HRS 237-8.6).
Finally, some buyers assume the Department of Taxation has issued a specific statement on bullion. The status is inferred from the absence of an exemption in the compiled statute, not from an explicit statement on bullion.
The rule was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation. For general background on how precious metals are taxed federally, see sales tax on gold. For the official source, see the Department of Taxation’s compilation of HRS chapter 237: HRS chapter 237. Confirm with the state before a large purchase, and consult a tax professional or your own preparer for your own situation.
Common questions
Does Hawaii have a sales tax on gold and silver?
Hawaii has no sales tax. It levies a general excise tax on the seller's gross proceeds of sales, and sellers commonly pass it on to buyers. The compiled statute contains no exemption for bullion, coins, or precious metals.
Is there a minimum purchase amount before tax applies in Hawaii?
The compiled statute sets no dollar threshold for bullion, coins, or precious metals.
Does the county surcharge apply to bullion purchases in Hawaii?
A county surcharge on state tax of up to 0.5% applies to "all gross proceeds and gross income taxable under this chapter" in counties that adopt it (HRS 237-8.6).
Has Hawaii ever considered exempting bullion?
Bills to exempt bullion have been introduced, such as HB1184 in 2021, but no exemption appears in the compiled statute.
Read next
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Ohio Ohio exempts investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales tax, with fineness tests for gold, silver, platinum and palladium. No minimum purchase.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Tennessee Tennessee exempts coins, currency, and bullion made of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, or other materials from sales tax under Public Chapter 1092 (2022).
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Nevada Nevada generally taxes gold and silver bullion and collector coins. Learn what qualifies for the medium-of-exchange exception and how NAC 372.170 applies.
- Wash Sale Rules and Precious Metals: The Line Section 1091 reaches stocks and securities. Physical bullion is a collectible, but a gold ETF or a mining share is a security and does fall under it.
- How to Report a Gold Sale on Your Tax Return Learn where to report gold sales on your tax return, which schedule to use, and the holding period rules. Understand dealer reporting vs. your reporting duty.