DC No exemptions Last reviewed: April 2026

Rules of Gold in District of Columbia

What this means for me Coin & bullion dealers 2

The six facts

Statute-level rules. Each fact is sourced; click through to the primary citation.

Sales tax on bullion

The District of Columbia does not exempt precious metals bullion or coins from sales tax. As of October 1, 2025, the DC sales tax rate is 6.5%; scheduled to increase to 7.0% on October 1, 2026. All gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion and coins are fully taxable at the standard rate. No minimum purchase threshold; no bullion-specific exemption.

Source As of 2025-10-01 · medium confidence

Recognized as legal tender

The District of Columbia has not enacted a statute recognizing gold or silver coins or bullion as legal tender for payment of debts. No legal-tender legislation found in DC Council records or 2021–2026 legislative history.

Source As of 2026-04-25 · medium confidence

Taxed

Capital gains on bullion

DC taxes capital gains from the sale of precious metals as ordinary income at the state income-tax rate. DC has no preferential capital gains rate; gains are taxed under the progressive income-tax brackets with a top marginal rate of 10.75% as of 2026.

Source · medium confidence

State bullion depository

The District of Columbia has not authorized a state bullion depository. No enabling legislation exists, and no depository is operational, authorized, or in study-phase. DC remains a federal jurisdiction without depository enabling acts.

Source As of 2026-04-25 · medium confidence

No disclosure

State gold & silver reserves

The DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer (Office of the Treasurer) does not publish evidence of physical precious-metals holdings in state treasury reports or comprehensive annual financial reports. No public disclosure of bullion or specie holdings found.

Source As of 2026-04-25 · medium confidence

Pension fund holdings

The District of Columbia Retirement Board (DCRB), which manages the Teachers' Retirement Plan and the Police Officers and Firefighters' Retirement Plan, does not hold physical gold or silver. Published CAFR documents and investment disclosures do not list precious metals among portfolio holdings; standard portfolios focus on equities, fixed income, and alternatives.

Source As of 2026-04-25 · medium confidence

What this means for buyers

When you buy bullion in District of Columbia: bullion purchases are subject to the state sales tax (typically 4–9% combined with local). This is a meaningful cost on entry; some collectors stage larger purchases through a sales-tax-exempt neighboring state, when feasible.

When you sell or otherwise realize a gain: capital gains on bullion are taxed as ordinary income at District of Columbia’s state-tax rates, stacked on top of the federal 28% collectibles rate. This is a real drag on long-term holdings — consult a CPA before realizing a major position.

Standard state taxation environment. Review whether nearby states offer better exemptions for material transactions, and consult your CPA before acting on a large position.

Coin & bullion dealers in District of Columbia

Verified retail dealers — sourced from state corporation registries, BBB, and trade associations.

Full directory

Bonanza Coins, Gold, and Jewelry

NGC member, PCGS member (Julian Leidman membership)

View dealer

Coins of the Realm

Operating since 1974
NGC Authorized, PCGS Authorized

View dealer

About this page. Legislative data captured by the Empirical Research Orchestrator. Each fact links to its primary source. State laws change — confirm material facts with your CPA or the state Department of Revenue before acting on a transaction. Fair Market Value does not provide legal or tax advice.

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