Sales Tax on Coins and Bullion in Minnesota | A Clear Guide for Collectors

What is non taxable today, what remains taxable, and how Minnesota defines precious metal bullion for collectors.

Introduction

Sales tax on precious metals can be confusing, especially for collectors in Minnesota who value clarity before checkout. As of 2025, Minnesota law draws a clear line between collectible coins and investment-grade bullion. Only certain forms of bullion qualify for exemption, while coins—even legal-tender bullion coins—remain taxable. This guide explains the rule in plain language so you can collect with confidence and avoid surprises at checkout.

For a deeper understanding of how purity and form influence tax status, you can also explore Gold Coins vs. Gold Bars: What’s Better for Beginners and How to Buy Physical Gold: A Complete Beginner’s Guide from Coins Online.

Last reviewed: October 22, 2025

What Is Non-Taxable Today

Under Minnesota Statutes §297A.67 Subdivision 34, sales of precious metal bullion are exempt from state sales tax when the items meet three conditions:

1. They are bars or rounds.
2. They consist of 99.9 percent or more by weight of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.
3. They are marked with weight, purity, and content.

According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, this exemption applies strictly to bullion that meets these criteria.
Examples that qualify include:

• A 1 oz .999 fine silver round such as those found in Silver Rounds.
• A 1 oz gold bar stamped “9999 Fine Gold,” such as those in Gold Bars.

These items are treated as non-taxable when shipped to Minnesota because they meet the statutory definition and purity threshold.

What Remains Taxable

Coins of any kind—modern bullion coins, collectible numismatic issues, or legal-tender currency—remain taxable in Minnesota. The Department of Revenue explicitly excludes coins from the bullion exemption, stating that the exemption “does not apply to coins, jewelry, works of art, or scrap metal.”

That means popular issues such as American Silver Eagles or American Gold Eagles are considered taxable when shipped to Minnesota addresses.

Copper rounds, proof coins, and any item lacking a stamped purity or weight are also subject to sales tax.

How Checkout Determines Your Result

When you shop at Coins Online, the checkout system uses Avalara’s real-time tax engine to determine sales tax based on your shipping address and the product’s classification.
Items categorized as “precious metal bullion” that meet the 99.9 percent purity rule automatically price as non-taxable when shipped to Minnesota.
Coins and other non-qualifying items price as taxable.

You can confirm Minnesota’s general rate and destination-based sourcing rules directly at Avalara’s Minnesota Sales Tax Guide.

Coins Online keeps product mapping aligned with Avalara’s Minnesota configuration to ensure accuracy.
Final tax determination is always governed by Avalara’s calculations and current state statute.

Collector Takeaway

For Minnesota collectors, the key distinction is purity and form. Bars and rounds marked 99.9 percent pure are exempt from state sales tax. Coins, even bullion coins, are not.
Understanding this rule helps collectors plan purchases intelligently and maintain accurate records.
Coins Online’s Freedom Guarantee ensures every product is authentic, clearly described, and transparently priced—so you can focus on the joy of collecting, not the fine print.

Resources for Further Learning

• Minnesota Statutes § 297A.67 Subdivision 34 – Official state definition of precious metal bullion.
• Minnesota Department of Revenue Nontaxable Sales Guide – DOR confirmation of current exemption rules.
• Avalara Minnesota Sales Tax Guide – For current rate and destination-based sourcing details.
• Gold Coins vs. Gold Bars: What’s Better for Beginners
• How to Collect Wealth with Gold and Silver