Which Bullion Sales Trigger a 1099-B: The IRS Reportable Items List Explained
★ Quick answer Dealers file Form 1099-B only on specific bullion types above set quantity thresholds; American Eagles are exempt regardless of…
Read guide ›Buying Bullion guides
Buying physical gold or silver comes down to three decisions: what form (coins, bars or rounds), where to buy it (a local shop or an online dealer), and how much above the metal price you are willing to pay. That last number, the premium, varies by product and by seller, and learning to compare total landed cost is the single most useful skill a bullion buyer can have.
These guides cover formats and premiums, verifying dealers before you pay, storage and insurance at home or in a vault, and the paperwork that protects you later. Start with how to buy gold or how to buy silver, verify authenticity with is your gold real, and compare local options in the gold dealer and coin dealer directories, where every listing carries verified customer reviews.
All Buying Bullion guides (30)
Home Safe for Gold and Silver Bullion: A Buyer’s Guide
✓ Quick answer For bullion, burglary resistance matters far more than a fire rating Consumer fire safes are engineered to protect paper,…
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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Gold at Home? Sublimits and Real Options
Quick answer A standard home policy caps bullion coverage at a small sublimit for theft; three real options exist to close that…
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Dividing Gold and Silver in a Divorce: Valuation, Disclosure, and Taxes
Quick answer Divorce transfers of bullion are generally not taxable events, but the receiving spouse inherits the original cost basis, not current…
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Dealer Monthly Accumulation Programs: Silver Subscriptions Reviewed Honestly
Quick answer Silver subscription programs automate saving but rarely deliver the lowest cost per ounce Monthly silver accumulation programs enforce a dollar-cost…
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Scratched, Dented, or Damaged Bullion: How Much Does Condition Really Matter?
Quick answer A scratched gold bar still contains every ounce of gold it was minted with. For standard investment-grade bullion (common gold…
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Graded Coins vs. Raw Bullion: When Grading Is Worth It (and When It Is a Tax)
Quick answer Grading adds real value on scarce numismatic coins. On modern bullion, the premium rarely survives resale. Third-party grading by PCGS…
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Buying Gold With Cash: Form 8300, the $10,000 Rule, and Structuring
✓ Quick answer Buying gold with cash is legal at any dollar amount. The dealer files the paperwork, not you. Federal law…
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Buying Gold for a Child or Newborn: Gifts That Actually Grow Up Well
✓ Quick answer Low-premium bullion from a reputable dealer, bought with the paperwork thought through, makes a gold gift that actually grows…
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Buying Gold at Pawn Shops: Real Bargains, Real Risks, and How to Test
Quick answer Pawn shops can price gold jewelry and pre-owned coins below dealer retail, but authentication is entirely on you. Because pawn…
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Keeping Your Gold Ownership Private: Legal Privacy Basics for Bullion Owners
Quick answer The US has no gold ownership registry. Most bullion purchases stay private by default. No federal or state agency tracks…
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Bank Safe Deposit Boxes for Gold: 5 Myths vs. Reality
Quick answer A bank safe deposit box protects your gold from burglars but leaves it uninsured and conditionally accessible The FDIC explicitly…
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Tungsten Fake Gold Bars: Documented Cases and Detection
🔍 Quick answer Tungsten fakes exist but are rare, and any reputable buyer runs the tests that catch them. Tungsten and gold…
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How to Verify a Bullion Dealer Before Buying
Quick answer Verify a bullion dealer by confirming state business registration, at least three years of continuous operation, membership in a recognized…
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How to Read a Bullion Dealer Invoice and Spot Quote
$ Quick answer Your invoice must reconcile to the spot quote locked at order confirmation, plus a clearly itemized premium, payment surcharge,…
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Sales Tax on Bullion in Texas: What Buyers, Sellers and Dealers Owe
Quick answer Gold, silver and platinum bullion are sales-tax-exempt in Texas; jewelry and palladium are not. Texas Tax Code Section 151.336 exempts…
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Sales Tax on Bullion in California: Rules and Exemption Threshold
Quick answer California exempts a single-transaction bulk sale of coins and gold or silver bullion of $2,000 or more from sales tax;…
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Build Customer Trust Online: A Gold Dealer’s Guide to Earning Buyer Confidence
Quick answer The 6 trust signals that convert online gold buyers Online gold buyers check six things before contacting a dealer: (1)…
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How To Buy Gold Jewelry Without Overpaying
Quick answer Verify the karat stamp, weigh the piece, then compare its melt value to the sticker before you pay. Retail gold…
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What Is an Assay Card on a Gold Bar?
A small laminated card sealed inside a bar’s packaging does something important: it tells every future buyer exactly what the bar is,…
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Sales Tax on Gold and Silver by State: The Current Map
✓ Quick Answer Sales tax on gold and silver is a buyer-side tax, and 44 states currently exempt most bullion purchases Whether…
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How to Buy Silver: Complete Guide to Coins, Rounds, Bars and Junk Silver
Quick answer Silver’s premium structure makes product choice more important than timing American Silver Eagles regularly trade at 15 to 30 percent…
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How to Buy Platinum and Palladium: The Thin-Market Metals Guide
Quick answer Platinum and palladium are legitimate physical holdings, but they trade in far thinner markets than gold or silver Both metals…
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How to Buy Gold: The Complete First-Timer to Confident-Buyer Guide
Quick answer Buy a recognized bullion coin from an established dealer, pay by wire or check, and skip numismatic upsells until you…
Read guide ›Other topics
Buying Guides 123 guides Coins and Collecting 19 guides Comparisons 108 guides Compliance & Scams 60 guides Eligibility 122 guides Fees & Costs 68 guides Jewelry and Watches 11 guides Laws and Taxes 19 guides Pawn and Loans 5 guides Prices and Data 21 guides Rollover & Tax 135 guides Selling Gold 18 guides Silver, Platinum and Palladium 13 guides