Is Gold Tax-Free in Austria? All Information 2026

Gold Steuer Österreich – Anlagegold und Besteuerung mit Goldbarren

Is Gold Tax-Free in Austria? All About Taxation in 2026

📝 Introduction

Many investors ask themselves: Is gold tax-free in Austria?
Especially when buying and selling precious metals, tax aspects play a crucial role.

Find out about the current gold price beforehand

The good news: investment gold is tax-privileged in Austria. Nevertheless, there are important differences between gold, silver, and other precious metals that investors should be aware of.

In this article, you will learn everything about the taxation of gold in Austria, including VAT, speculation period, and sale.

Yes – investment gold is tax-free when purchased in Austria (no VAT) and also tax-free when sold after a holding period of 1 year.

🥈 Is gold tax-free when purchased?

Yes – investment gold is exempt from VAT in Austria.

This means:

  • No sales tax is levied when buying gold bars and certain gold coins
  • The purchase price corresponds to the pure material value plus dealer markup

This regulation applies to so-called investment gold:

  • Gold bars with high purity (at least 995/1000)
  • Investment coins of corresponding quality

👉 This makes gold significantly more attractive for tax purposes compared to silver.

🥈 How is silver taxed in Austria?

Unlike gold, silver is subject to VAT:

  • In Austria: 20% VAT on silver products
  • Therefore, an additional tax burden applies when buying silver

This is an important reason why many investors primarily invest in gold.

👉 If you still want to invest in silver, you can find our selection here:

🏦 Speculation Period – When is gold tax-free upon sale?

A key point is the so-called speculation period.

👉 In Austria, the following applies:

  • Sale after more than 1 year → tax-free
  • Sale within 1 year → taxable

This means:

Those who hold gold for the long term can realize tax-free profits.

This regulation makes gold particularly attractive as a long-term investment.

📊 Practical example

An investor buys gold worth €5,000.

After 2 years, he sells this gold for €6,500.

👉 Profit: €1,500
👉 Tax: €0 (tax-free)

If sold within one year, the profit would be taxed.

⚖️ Difference to other investment forms

Compared to:

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Cryptocurrencies

gold offers tax advantages:

  • No capital gains tax after the holding period
  • No ongoing taxation
  • Physical possession outside the financial system

🥇 Should you buy gold because of taxes?

The tax advantages are an important factor, but not the only one.

Gold is particularly suitable for:

  • Asset protection
  • Inflation hedge
  • Crisis preparedness

👉 Here you will find our selection of gold bars and gold coins

❓ FAQ – Gold & Taxes in Austria

Is gold completely tax-free?

When buying: yes (no VAT)
When selling: tax-free after a 1-year holding period

Does this also apply to silver?

No, silver is subject to VAT.

Which gold products are tax-free?

Gold bars and investment gold with high purity.

Do I have to report gold to the tax office?

Generally not, as long as there is no commercial activity.

Take advantage of the tax benefits of investment gold and invest now in high-quality gold bars and gold coins.

Note: This article does not constitute tax advice. For individual questions, please contact your tax advisor.