Gold has fascinated humanity for millennia. It stands for stability, security, and preservation of value. But for modern investors in Germany, there is another decisive reason to buy physical gold: The unique tax advantages.
While withholding tax (plus solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax) usually applies to stocks, funds, or interest-bearing products, the tax authorities treat physical gold differently. In this article, you will learn when your profits are completely tax-free, what the "speculation period" means, and what you need to consider when buying investment gold.
Tax Exemption: After a holding period of one year, profits from the sale of physical gold are completely tax-free.
No Withholding Tax: Gold is not considered a capital asset, but rather a private disposal transaction.
Exemption Limit: For sales within one year, profits up to 1,000 euros remain tax-free (as of 2024/2025).
VAT: The purchase of qualified investment gold is exempt from value-added tax.
The biggest advantage for private investors is the so-called speculation period. Legally, the sale of physical gold (bars and coins) falls under "private disposal transactions" according to Section 23 EStG. This means the legislator views gold ownership similarly to owning real estate or a work of art, not like a classic financial product.
The rule is simple: If at least 12 months pass between the purchase and sale of your gold, the entire profit is 100% tax-free. It does not matter whether you made a profit of 100 euros or 100,000 euros. You do not even have to declare this profit in your tax return.
You buy a gold bar for 1,800 euros on March 1, 2023.
Scenario A: You sell it on February 1, 2024 (holding period < 1 year) for 2,200 euros. The profit of 400 euros is tax-relevant.
Scenario B: You sell it on March 2, 2024 (holding period > 1 year) for 2,200 euros. The profit of 400 euros belongs entirely to you – without deductions.
Do you need to sell your gold earlier, before the year is up? Then you must tax the profit at your personal income tax rate. No flat-rate withholding tax (25%) applies, which can be disadvantageous for high personal tax rates.
But there is good news: Since 2024, an increased exemption limit of 1,000 euros (previously 600 euros) applies to private disposal transactions per year.
Attention – Important Difference: This is an exemption limit, not an allowance!
If your profit is 999 euros, you pay 0 euros in tax.
If your profit is 1,001 euros, you must tax the entire amount (i.e., 1,001 euros), not just the one euro above the limit.
Another tax trump card is often played at the time of purchase: VAT. While you usually pay full VAT (19%) for silver, platinum, or palladium, the acquisition of investment gold is exempt from VAT.
For gold to be considered "investment gold," certain criteria must be met (Section 25c UStG):
Gold Bars: Must have a purity of at least 995/1000.
Gold Coins: Must have a purity of at least 900/1000, be minted after 1800, and be (or have been) legal tender in the country of origin.
At Spargold, we take great care to offer you exclusively certified LBMA investment gold that meets these criteria. This allows you to invest more efficiently from the start.
In order to be able to prove to the tax office that you have complied with the one-year period, proper documentation is essential.
Keep Purchase Receipts: Keep every invoice safe. The date of purchase is noted on it.
FiFo Method (First in, First out): If you repeatedly buy small amounts of gold over the years (e.g., via a gold savings plan) and later sell a portion, the FiFo method usually applies. The tax office assumes that the pieces purchased first are also sold first. This is advantageous because these pieces are most likely to have fulfilled the one-year period.
Do I have to report gold ownership to the tax office? No. The mere possession of gold is a private matter and does not need to be reported. Only when you realize profits above the exemption limit within the speculation period must you declare this in Annex SO (Other Income) of your tax return.
Does the tax exemption also apply to Xetra-Gold or ETCs? There was uncertainty about this for a long time. However, the Federal Fiscal Court has ruled: If the securitized gold (ETC) includes a right to physical delivery, tax exemption also applies after a one-year holding period (Ref. VIII R 34/15).
What about inheritance tax on gold? Gold, like other assets, falls into the estate. The normal inheritance tax allowances apply here (e.g., 400,000 euros per child).
The combination of VAT exemption at purchase and tax exemption of profits after one year makes physical gold an unbeatable component for long-term wealth accumulation. It is excellently suited for securing purchasing power across generations without the tax authorities taking a cut of every increase in value.
Would you like to secure your assets in a tax-optimized way? Take a look at our range of tax-free investment gold now.
Legal Notice: This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute tax advice. Tax laws are subject to change. For binding information, please contact your tax advisor.
