Buying gold in New Brunswick
Investment-grade gold (gold of at least 99.5% purity, in bars, wafers or coins) is exempt from GST/HST everywhere in Canada. In New Brunswick, jewellery and other taxable gold items carry 15% HST.
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 New Brunswick is tax, explained below.
Sales tax on gold in New Brunswick
HST follows the federal rule, so investment-grade bullion is exempt from the full 15% HST.
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 New Brunswick these carry 15% HST, 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 New Brunswick
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 New Brunswick's, at your provincial marginal rate. Sales tax does not apply when you sell bullion to a dealer.
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 Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.
Selling gold or jewellery to a dealer in New Brunswick
- Licence: Licensing is municipal. Example: Moncton By-law L-302 requires a pawnbroker licence from the City Clerk, including an orientation session with Codiac RCMP; licences expire on 31 December. Bathurst By-law 2007-04 has similar rules (licence from the City Clerk, CAD 100 fee).
- Hold period: Moncton: pledged goods may not be sold until one month after the redemption date given to the borrower. No hold period for outright purchases found.
- What the dealer records: Moncton: permanent, unalterable record of each item (description, serial/model marks), date and time, borrower details and pledge number; open to police on demand.
- What sellers need: Moncton: two forms of ID recorded; no dealing with anyone who appears under 18, intoxicated or who refuses ID, or with items whose serial numbers are removed.
- Who is exempt: Moncton: banks, trust companies, credit unions and caisses populaires.
- Jewellers: No provincial jeweller licence found.
- The law: Municipal by-laws made under provincial municipal legislation (Moncton By-law L-302, 2002, amended 2006 and 2018).
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.