Buying gold in Alberta
Investment-grade gold (gold of at least 99.5% purity, in bars, wafers or coins) is exempt from GST/HST everywhere in Canada. In Alberta, jewellery and other taxable gold items carry 5% GST.
Gold has one national spot price in Canadian dollars: the prices on this page are the same as on the gold price in Canada page. What differs in Alberta is tax, explained below.
Sales tax on gold in Alberta
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so only the 5% GST applies to taxable items.
Taxable everywhere: 22K coins such as Krugerrands and American Gold Eagles, collector coins sold above their metal value and all karat gold below 24K, and gold jewellery. In Alberta these carry 5% GST, charged on the full price including the making charge or premium.
The federal rule
Under the federal Excise Tax Act, gold and platinum of at least 99.5% purity and silver of at least 99.9% purity, in bars, ingots, wafers or coins, are "precious metals" and are exempt from GST/HST. Coins below that purity (for example 22K Krugerrands and American Gold Eagles, or 90% silver coins), collector coins sold above metal value, sterling silver and all jewellery are taxable.
Tax when you sell gold in Alberta
When you sell, the CRA usually treats a profit on bullion held as an investment as a capital gain: half of the gain is added to your income and taxed at your federal and provincial rates (the 2024 proposal to raise the inclusion rate to two-thirds was cancelled in March 2025). Frequent trading can make profits fully taxable business income. The provincial part of your income tax is Alberta's, at your provincial marginal rate. Sales tax does not apply when you sell bullion to a dealer.
Gold in Alberta
Alberta has the lowest sales tax on jewellery in the provinces, along with the three territories: 5% GST only. Alberta has little gold mining; its gold comes mainly from small placer operations on the North Saskatchewan River.
Buying and selling
Dealers in precious metals and stones must verify your identity for purchases of $10,000 or more and report cash transactions of $10,000 or more to FINTRAC. Dealers sell Maple Leafs and bars at a premium over the spot price shown here and buy back a little under it. The main bullion dealers and jewellers in the province are in Calgary and Edmonton.
Selling gold or jewellery to a dealer in Alberta
- Licence: Licensing is municipal. In Calgary, businesses that acquire second-hand goods for resale need a business licence, and gold buyers, antique buyers and travelling road shows need a second-hand dealer licence; pawnbrokers need a pawnbroker licence. Applicants must obtain their own police security clearance (since 1 January 2025).
- Hold period: Not stated on the City of Calgary page; Edmonton rules not checked.
- Who is exempt: Calgary: banks and credit unions, personal garage/yard/estate sales, provincially licensed auction sales and e-waste drop-offs with no transactions.
- Jewellers: No provincial jeweller licence found.
- The law: Municipal business licence by-laws (e.g. City of Calgary); no provincial dealer act found.
Federal rules (FINTRAC): Dealers in precious metals and stones (DPMS) become reporting entities under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act when they buy or sell precious metals, precious stones or jewellery worth CAD 10,000 or more in a single transaction. They must run a compliance programme (compliance officer, written policies, risk assessment, training, two-yearly effectiveness review) and verify client identity for large cash, large virtual currency and suspicious transactions.
Quality marks: Quality marking of gold, silver, platinum and palladium articles is voluntary, but any mark used must be truthful and meet the standards and tolerances in the Precious Metals Marking Act and Regulations.
Tax and duty information last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with your dealer or tax authority before a large purchase.