Tax on Selling Gold in Japan

Gains on gold bars and coins are comprehensive capital gains (総合課税の譲渡所得): they're added to your other income and taxed at your marginal rate, roughly 15% to 56% including resident tax. A ¥500,000 special deduction applies each year, and if you held the gold more than 5 years only half of what's left is taxed. Dealers report purchases over ¥2 million to the tax office.

Facts checked 30 October 2026 · Not financial, legal or tax advice

At a glance

What you sell	How the gain is taxed	Notes
Gold bars and coins held 5 years or less	Gain minus the ¥500,000 special deduction, added to income and taxed at marginal rates.	The deduction is shared with your other comprehensive capital gains and comes off short-term gains first.
Gold bars and coins held more than 5 years	After the deduction, only half the gain is taxed.
Jewellery and gold items in everyday use	Exempt if sold for ¥300,000 or less per item or set.	Above that, taxed like bullion. Tax accountants say bars and coins never count as everyday goods.
Gold investment or savings accounts	20.315% withheld at source; the tax is final.	Can't be combined with other income on your return.
Silver	Same comprehensive capital-gains rules.	The dealer payment report covers gold and platinum, not silver.

How gold gains are taxed

The National Tax Agency (NTA) says gains on selling gold bullion are, as a rule, capital gains taxed together with your salary and other income. If you trade continuously for profit, the gain is business or miscellaneous income instead.
Gain = sale price minus (purchase cost + selling costs). Up to ¥500,000 a year is deducted across all comprehensive capital gains, short-term gains first.
5 years or less of ownership: the whole remaining gain is taxed. More than 5 years: only half is added to your income.
Rates: national income tax 5%–45% plus a 2.1% reconstruction surtax on that tax, plus about 10% local resident tax. From 2027 the surtax drops to 1.1% and a new 1% defence surtax is added, so the total is unchanged.
Gains in gold investment or savings accounts are treated as financial products: 20.315% is withheld and that settles the tax.
Dealers who buy gold or platinum bars or coins for more than ¥2 million must file a payment report (支払調書) with the tax office (rule in force since 2012).

Reporting

Report the gain on your annual final return (確定申告), normally due by 15 March of the following year.
Salaried employees whose other income (after the deduction and halving) is ¥200,000 or less generally needn't file a national return, but must still declare it for resident tax.
Dealers report payments over ¥2 million to the tax office.

Losses

The NTA treats precious metals worth over ¥300,000 per item as assets not ordinarily needed for living; losses on them can't offset salary or other income.
Tax advisers apply this to gold bars: a loss can only reduce other comprehensive capital gains in the same year. There's no carry-forward.

The rule that only half the gain is taxed after 5 years, and the ¥500,000 deduction, come from the NTA. The loss treatment of gold bars comes from tax advisers' summaries of the NTA rule on precious metals rather than a gold-specific NTA statement.

Tax on selling gold in other countries: United States · Canada · Mexico · Brazil · United Kingdom · Ireland · Germany · France · Italy · Switzerland · Turkey · UAE · Saudi Arabia · Kuwait · Qatar · Egypt · South Africa · India · Pakistan · Bangladesh · Sri Lanka · Nepal · Singapore · Malaysia · Hong Kong · Thailand · Vietnam · Indonesia · Philippines · South Korea · Australia · New Zealand · all countries

Tax on Selling Gold in Japan: FAQ

Do I need to file a tax return when I sell gold in Japan?

Usually, if your total capital gains for the year exceed ¥500,000 after costs: the excess (halved if you held the gold over 5 years) is taxable and goes on your final return by 15 March. Salaried employees with ¥200,000 or less of other income generally needn't file a national return but must still report for resident tax.

What is the 5-year rule for gold in Japan?

If you owned the gold for more than 5 years, only half of the gain left after the ¥500,000 special deduction is added to your income. If you owned it 5 years or less, the whole amount is taxed.

Does the gold shop report my sale to the tax office?

Yes, if it pays you more than ¥2 million. Dealers must file a payment report (支払調書) for gold and platinum purchases above that amount. Smaller sales aren't reported this way, but the gain is still taxable.

Sources (6)

General information about the rules for individual investors, checked October 2026. Tax depends on your circumstances and residence; check with the tax authority or an adviser. Not tax advice.