Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Maine
Maine charges sales tax on gold and silver bullion and coins. No exemption exists, and a 2025 bill to create one died in the Legislature.
Maine charges sales tax when gold or silver bullion and coins are bought. There is no exemption for bullion or coins in Maine law.
What Maine’s Rule Says
Maine’s sales tax exemptions are listed in 36 MRSA §1760. That list contains no subsection covering bullion or coins. Because no exemption applies, a purchase of gold or silver bullion or coins falls within the general sales tax.
The current exemptions list was extracted on 10/05/2026. Sub-§116 of that list covers durable medical equipment, not bullion or coins.
The 2025 Bill That Did Not Pass
LD 372 (2025) would have added an exemption for gold and silver coins and bullion, starting January 1, 2026. The Legislature did not pass it. The bill was killed on June 16, 2025, when the House insisted on accepting the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report. The record states: “the House INSISTED on ACCEPTANCE of the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. Placed in the Legislative Files. ( DEAD )”.
Because the bill died, no exemption took effect on January 1, 2026. Some dealer websites say Maine exempted bullion from 2026. Those sites are quoting the dead bill, not Maine law.
What Qualifies and What Does Not
Maine law provides no exemption for bullion or coins, so the distinction between qualifying and non-qualifying precious metal purchases does not arise here. The exemptions list in 36 MRSA §1760 has no bullion or coin subsection at all.
Purchase Threshold
Maine’s exemption list sets no dollar threshold for bullion or coins. No threshold applies because no exemption exists.
Jewelry
The available Maine materials do not address jewelry. No statement is made here about how jewelry is treated.
Local Sales Taxes
The available Maine materials do not address local sales taxes. No statement is made here about whether local taxes apply in addition to the state tax.
Maine gold and silver tax treatment at a glance
| Item | Maine treatment |
|---|---|
| Gold and silver bullion | Taxable; no exemption in 36 MRSA §1760 |
| Gold and silver coins | Taxable; no exemption in 36 MRSA §1760 |
| LD 372 (2025) exemption | Died June 16, 2025; never took effect |
| Purchase threshold | None set, because no exemption exists |
| Jewelry | Not addressed in the available materials |
| Local sales taxes | Not addressed in the available materials |
What Buyers Commonly Get Wrong
The most common error is treating the 2025 bill as law. LD 372 would have exempted gold and silver coins and bullion from January 1, 2026, but it was killed on June 16, 2025. Dealer sites that describe a 2026 Maine exemption are quoting the dead bill. The exemption list in 36 MRSA §1760 has no bullion or coin subsection, and sub-§116 covers durable medical equipment.
A second error is assuming a dollar threshold applies. Maine’s exemption list sets no threshold for bullion or coins, and none applies because no exemption exists.
Official Sources
For how precious metals are treated at the federal level, see sales tax on gold.
This rule was checked in October 2026 and can change with new legislation. Confirm the current treatment with the state before a large purchase. For your own situation, consult a tax professional or your own preparer.
Common questions
Does Maine charge sales tax on gold and silver bullion?
Yes. Maine's exemption list in 36 MRSA §1760 has no bullion or coin subsection, so bullion is taxable.
Did Maine exempt gold and silver coins from sales tax in 2026?
No. LD 372 (2025) would have added an exemption from January 1, 2026, but it was killed on June 16, 2025.
Is there a dollar threshold below which Maine does not tax bullion?
No. Maine's exemption list sets no dollar threshold for bullion or coins, and none applies because no exemption exists.
Why do some websites say Maine exempted bullion?
They are quoting LD 372 (2025), which died on June 16, 2025. The exemption never became law.
Read next
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Virginia Virginia exempts gold, silver and platinum bullion and legal tender coins from sales tax, with no minimum purchase. The exemption sunsets July 1, 2028.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Washington Washington began taxing retail sales of precious metal and monetized bullion on January 1, 2026. See what qualifies, what stays exempt, and what buyers get wrong.
- Sales Tax on Gold and Silver in Utah Utah exempts legal-tender coins and gold, silver or platinum bullion with 50% or more metal content from sales tax. No minimum purchase amount applies.
- How Silver Is Taxed: Rates, Rules, and Reporting Silver is taxed as a collectible, not as a stock. Learn the federal rates, reporting thresholds, and state sales tax rules for selling silver coins and bullion.
- How Gold Is Taxed in the US: The Collectibles Rule Physical gold is a capital asset that is also a collectible, which caps its long-term rate at 28% instead of 20%. What triggers that rate, and what does not.