Silver coins or silver bars – what to buy?

When it comes to buying physical silver, there are a number of product choices. If you are new to buying silver, the difference between buying silver coins and buying silver bars may not be immediately clear. Yet there are savings to be made when you choose the product that best suits your financial situation. Read on and discover the possibilities.

Buying silver and VAT

For private buyers, certain silver coins may be cheaper to purchase than when choosing to buy silver bars. Why? This has everything to do with the VAT. Silver does not enjoy the same tax benefits as gold because this metal is regarded by the Dutch government as an industrial commodity and not as an investment metal. Therefore, silver bars are currently taxed with 21% VAT. However, this is not always the case for silver coins and silver coin bars. These products are not subject to the high tax rate when sold under the margin scheme. This arrangement means that the selling party is only required to pay VAT on their profit margin, which can result in a lower purchasing price for private buyers. However, since 2022, the number of silver coins and coin bars sold under the margin scheme has been reduced. In our webshop you can see which VAT rate applies by clicking on the ‘More Information’ tab of by filtering VAT in the search results.

A private silver collection: choosing coins or coin bars

Buying silver coins offers you a wide choice of world-famous silver coins, such as the Canadian Maple Leaf, Vienna Philharmonic, American Eagle and the Australian Lunar series. These coins are minted in different weights but the standard weight is the 1 Troy Ounce (31.1 gram) silver coin. For those looking to buy silver by the kilo, a number of coin series are also available in heavier (kilo) weights. Alternatively, private buyers may also consider coin bars. This is a silver bar that is sold as coin due to the fact that it has both a nominal value and is minted with official coin stamps of the country of origin.

 

Buying silver for your business

Silver bars are the most common option for businesses, as is in some cases, organisations may be able to reclaim the 21% VAT. However, it’s best to consult your tax advisor about this. Goudpensioen offers you a wide assortment of silver bars in a range of weights. View all products directly online or contact us with any questions you may have.

 

NB: This article is for informational purposes only. No rights can be derived from the content of this text. Content may be out of date and therefore incorrect. Always consult the correct authorities for current laws and regulations.