Gold imports and exports (VAT Notice 701/21)
How to apply VAT rules to supplies, imports and export of gold and investment gold.
1. Overview
1.1 What this notice is about
Gold can be used for investment and industrial purposes. For investment purposes, gold is minted or transformed into coins, ingots, bars and wafers as a store of value and a hedge against inflation.
This notice explains how you should treat supplies and imports of gold and investment gold for VAT purposes.
It covers the following aspects:
| Section | Explains |
|---|---|
| 2 | the criteria gold must meet to be treated as investment gold, and how supplies of it, which are normally exempt from VAT, should be treated. |
| 3 | the need to notify us when you make exempt supplies of investment gold. |
| 4 | the procedures to follow if you wish to opt to tax investment gold. |
| 5 | how to reclaim input tax. |
| 6 | the invoicing requirements for trading in exempt investment gold. |
| 7 | how you should keep your records, and supplies by auctioneers and agents in respect of investment gold. |
| 8 | how you must treat your importations and exportations of investment gold. |
| 9 | how penalties are levied. |
| 10 | that other supplies of gold will remain taxable at the standard rate, with the exception of certain transactions between central banks and transactions on the London Bullion Market. |
| 11 | the Special Accounting Scheme you must operate if you buy or sell standard-rated gold including investment gold. |
| 12 | how you complete your VAT Return, VAT100. |
| 13 | VAT registration. |
| 14 | how to avoid buying smuggled gold. |
| 15 | the list of weights accepted by the Bullion Market. |
| 16 | the glossary of terms used in this notice. |
2. Exemption for investment gold
Investment gold is exempt from VAT, subject to an option to tax If you are a producer or transformer of investment gold or make supplies of investment gold for industrial purposes in the normal course of your business you may opt to tax your supplies if you meet certain conditions. For further information you need to read section 4.
2.1 Definition of investment gold
Investment gold is either:
(a) gold of a purity not less than 995 thousandths that is in the form of a bar, or a wafer, of a weight accepted by the bullion markets
(b) a gold coin minted after 1800 that is:
- of a purity of not less than 900 thousandths
- or has been, legal tender in its country of origin
- of a description of coin that is normally sold at a price that does not exceed 180 per cent of the open market value of the gold contained in the coin
(c) an investment gold coin as specified in Investment gold coins (VAT Notice 701/21A).
2.2 Exemption
The following supplies are exempt:
(a) A supply of investment gold.
(b) A supply which confers the right to take possession of investment gold. This includes supplies of unallocated investment gold see section 16, loans, swaps, forward and future contracts concerning investment gold. This does not include options. Also see Commodities and terminal markets (VAT Notice 701/9).
(c) A supply of services by an agent which consists of attempting to bring about a supply within (a) or (b) for a named principal, whether or not the agent is successful.
3. Notify HMRC about exempt supplies of investment gold
3.1 When to notify HMRC about investment gold
This section has force of law.
The first time that you make an exempt supply of investment gold which exceeds £5,000, or when the value of your supplies of exempt investment gold to any one customer is over £10,000 in any 12 month period, you must notify us within 28 days by writing to our Written Enquiries Section.
If you’re required to notify that you trade in investment gold and you’re not registered for VAT, you must also provide the following information:
- Name of company, partnership or sole proprietor.
- Company incorporation number or details of partners.
- Addresses.
- Phone number.
- Contact name.
- Accountant’s name, address and phone number.
- Associated VAT registration numbers.
The Gold Team will send you an acknowledgement. If you do not receive this within 28 days, you must check that they have received your notification.
You do not need to notify us of subsequent supplies.
3.2 Format for notification
Your notification should be in the following format and sent to our Written Enquiries Section.
PERSONS WHO TRADE IN INVESTMENT GOLD - FORM OF NOTIFICATION
Dear Sir or Madam
In accordance with the requirements outlined in paragraph 3.1 to Notice 701/21, Gold, I am writing to notify you that I am trading in investment gold.
I am registered for VAT: my registration number is:
…………………………………………………………………………………
I am not registered for VAT: the details requested in paragraph 3.1 of Notice 701/21 Gold are as follows:
- Name of Company/Partnership/Proprietor:
…………………………………………………………………………………
- Company incorporation number/details of partners:
…………………………………………………………………………………
- Address:
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
- Phone number:
…………………………………………………………………………………
- Contact name:
…………………………………………………………………………………
- Accountant’s full name and address:
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………… Post Code: …………………………..
- Associated VAT registration numbers (if any):
…………………………………………………………………………………
Please acknowledge receipt
Surname: ……………………….. First Name: …………………………..
Signed: ………………………….. Dated: ………………………………..
Status: Proprietor/Partner/Director/Company Secretary/Authorised Person
(Delete as applicable)
4. Opt to tax investment gold
4.1 Reasons to opt to tax
You may wish to opt to tax a supply of investment gold because you can then reclaim all input tax directly attributable to that supply.
Who can opt to tax
A taxable person who is a producer or transformer of investment gold or a taxable person who in the normal course of their business makes supplies of investment gold for industrial purposes.
4.3 When you can opt to tax
You may only opt to tax certain supplies of investment gold which would be exempt under sections 2.2(a) and (b), made to another taxable person. Please read sections 4.4 and 4.5 for further details. You may also opt to tax investment gold coins if you produce the coins yourself. Supplies of investment gold to non-taxable persons will always be exempt.
4.4 Opting to tax if you produce or transform gold into investment gold
If you’re a taxable person who supplies investment gold of a description in section 2.1(a), (b) or (c) which you have produced or transformed yourself, you may opt to tax your supply, if made to a taxable person, but you need to notify us first. The next paragraph has force of law.
You must notify our Written Enquiries Section if you intend to opt to tax. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 28 days, you must check that they have received the notification.
4.5 Opting to tax if you supply gold for industrial purposes
If you’re a taxable person, who in the normal course of your business makes supplies of gold for industrial purposes, you may opt to tax the supply of investment gold described in section 2.1(a) if made to a taxable person, but you need to get a written agreement from us first.
The next paragraph has force of law.
To get our agreement to you opting to tax your supplies of investment gold, you must write to our Written Enquiries Section giving your VAT registration number and confirming that you normally trade in gold for industrial purposes. If they agree they will send you a letter of approval within 28 days. They will normally impose conditions and the letter will also explain what these are and tell you when you can start opting.
We’ll accept that you normally supply investment gold for industrial purposes if you can show that you do so on a regular basis.
Once you have received our agreement, you may opt to tax supplies of investment gold bars or wafers you make to other taxable persons.
We may withdraw our approval for the protection of the revenue.
4.6 Opting to tax if you act as an agent
If you’re acting for a named principal and your principal has opted to tax, you may opt to tax your services in so far as they are related to your principal’s ‘opted’ supplies of investment gold.
This next 2 sentences have force of law.
You must inform our Written Enquiries Section that you intend to opt to tax your services. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 28 days, you must check that they have received the notification.
4.7 How to produce invoices if you opt to tax
As opting to tax a transaction is simple - once you have fulfilled the conditions in paragraph 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6, all you need to do is to include the following statement on your invoice.
The next sentence has force of law.
‘We have opted to tax this transaction.’
But note that once you’ve opted to tax a particular supply you cannot change your mind and exempt it.
4.8 Accounting for opted transactions
If you intend to opt to tax you should also read section 11 which explains how to account for VAT.
5. Deduction of input tax
5.1 When you can reclaim input tax
If you opt to tax a particular supply of investment gold (see section 4) you’ll be able to reclaim all the related input tax as you’ll be making a taxable supply of investment gold. To reclaim all your input tax you’ll need to be able to show that none of your input tax relates to any exempt supplies of investment gold.
If you make exempt supplies and are registered for VAT, you may not be able to reclaim all of the input tax you incur. Normally you can only reclaim input tax incurred on goods and services used, or to be used, in making taxable supplies. You’ll find more about this in Partial exemption (VAT Notice 706). But there are special rules about reclaiming input tax you incur on some of the goods and services that are directly attributable to your exempt supplies of investment gold.
These special rules are set out in paragraphs 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4.
5.2 Deduction of input tax directly attributable to exempt supplies of investment gold
If you make exempt supplies of investment gold, you may reclaim input tax on the following directly related goods and services, the:
- purchase of any investment gold that you’ve been charged VAT on (for example, because your supplier has opted to tax – see section 4
- purchase of any other gold that you’re going to transform into investment gold
- costs of having your gold transformed into investment gold
- services supplied to you comprising of a change of form, weight or purity of gold
5.3 Deduction of input tax on goods or services linked to the production or transformation of investment gold
If you actually produce or transform any gold into investment gold yourself, you may also reclaim the input tax you incur on related goods and services. But only to the extent that they’re linked to the production or transformation process of that gold into investment gold. This includes for example, in addition to the gold itself:
- machinery, plant and fittings
- crucibles and furnace linings
- laboratory instruments and equipment
- tools, tooling and equipment
- fuel and power
- buildings and maintenance of buildings
- fume abatement and effluent treatment
You cannot reclaim any input tax that’s not linked to the production or transformation process. For example, you cannot reclaim input tax on a computer used for recording exempt sales of investment gold because it is not linked to the production or transformation process.
If you use a building for the production of exempt investment gold, and an area is set aside for the sale of that investment gold, the input tax on the building will have to be split to reflect the fact that only a part of it is linked to the production of the investment gold.
5.4 Input tax partly attributable to exempt supplies of investment gold
You may incur input tax on goods, including taxed investment gold, or services which are used partly to make exempt supplies of investment gold and partly to make other supplies. Under the normal rules for partial exemption you must attribute input tax on any goods and services exclusively used to make taxable and exempt supplies, directly to those supplies. Any residual input tax has to be apportioned between the supplies.
Since there’s a limited right to deduct input tax directly attributable to exempt investment gold, when it comes to apportioning residual input tax, the normal partial exemption rules will not fully identify the correct amount to be reclaimed.
You’ll first need to establish the proportion of residual input tax which is attributable to exempt supplies of investment gold. To do this, you’ll need to determine the extent that the goods or services are used or will be used to make exempt supplies of investment gold expressed as a proportion of the whole or intended use.
Once you have established the proportion of residual input tax attributable to exempt supplies of investment gold, you can reclaim this input tax according to the special rules in paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3.
These specific examples provide further information on the input tax you can reclaim, where you make exempt supplies of investment gold.
(a) If you make exempt supplies of investment gold and you’re:
- not a producer or transformer and do not buy in transformation services, you may reclaim only the VAT incurred on the taxed investment gold itself – if you receive a mixed supply part of which is investment gold that you intend to supply partly as exempt investment gold and partly as other goods or services, you’ll first have to work out the extent to which the input tax on the supply you received is attributable to your various supplies – for the element attributable to your exempt supply of investment gold, you’ll then have to work out how much of that input tax relates to the gold itself – you cannot, for example, reclaim any input tax incurred on a separate delivery service of that gold
- not a producer or transformer but do buy in transformation services, you may reclaim the VAT you incur on taxed investment gold itself, other gold, and the VAT you incur on any outsourced transformation services – if you incur any input tax which is in part attributable to your supplies of exempt investment gold and in part attributable to your other supplies, you’ll first have to work out the extent to which the input tax incurred is attributable to your various supplies, then, for the element attributable to the exempt supply of investment gold, you’ll need to work out the extent to which it relates to the gold itself and to the transformation services
- a producer or transformer, you’ll be able to reclaim the VAT incurred on any related gold and also any VAT incurred on production or transformation costs – if you incur any input tax which is in part attributable to your supplies of exempt investment gold and in part attributable to other supplies, you’ll first have to work out the extent to which that input tax is attributable to your various supplies, then, for the element attributable to the exempt supply of investment gold, you’ll need to work out the extent to which it relates only to the gold and production or transformation costs
(b) Example showing how to reclaim input tax attributable to both exempt and taxable supplies.
A business buys a new building on which it is charged VAT. Part of the building is to be used to produce exempt investment gold, other gold and silver. Part is set aside as a sales area for these goods and part is rented out (an exempt supply). VAT on the building relates to:
- production and sales of exempt investment gold
- production and sales of other gold
- production and sales of silver
- the rental
To know how much VAT the business can reclaim, it will have to work out to what extent the building is to be used to make the supplies of the non-investment gold and silver, the extent that it is to be used to make the supplies of exempt rental and the extent that the building is to be used to make the supplies of exempt investment gold (including an element of the sales area). Having identified an element that relates to the supplies of investment gold, the business will then have to work out how much of this actually relates to the production of that investment gold. This can be claimed in addition to the part that relates to the production and sales of the other gold and the silver.
6. Invoice requirements for trading in exempt investment gold
6.1 Basic information about requirements
There are special notification, invoicing, accounting and record keeping requirements for persons who trade in exempt investment gold.
The requirements apply when you sell exempt investment gold and the gold is delivered, or otherwise made available to your customer.
If you do not meet your notification, invoicing, accounting and record keeping obligations you may become liable for a penalty, see section 9.
The requirements and penalties apply whether or not you’re registered or liable to be registered for VAT.
6.2 When you need to issue an invoice for sales of exempt investment gold
This section has force of law.
You must issue an invoice for:
- each sale involving exempt investment gold which exceeds £5,000
- smaller transactions if the total value of sales to that customer has exceeded £10,000 in the last 12 months.
You must also give each invoice a unique identifying number.
But please note that you do not need to produce the invoice or keep the records described in this section or section 7 or notify us that you trade in investment gold (section 3) if every supply of investment gold you make is for less than £5,000, unless the total value of supplies to an individual customer over the previous 12 months was above £10,000.
6.3 Invoicing when you buy from a person who does not trade in investment gold
This section has force of law.
You must issue an invoice on behalf of the seller if:
- the value of the purchase is more than £5,000; or
- you make more than one purchase from the same supplier and the total value of your purchases from that supplier has gone over £10,000 in the last 12 months.
It must contain all of the relevant details specified in paragraph 6.4.
Also, the invoice must include the following declaration which must be signed by the seller:
‘I declare that to the best of my knowledge the details shown on this invoice are correct.’ (Signature and name).
6.4 Details to include on invoices for sales of exempt investment gold
This section has force of law.
Each invoice must contain the following details if appropriate:
- name and address of seller; your name and address (if different to the seller); name and address of the purchaser; delivery address (if different); unique customer reference (see paragraph 7.1(b)).
- date of invoice; delivery date; type of supply (for example, sale).
- your VAT registration number if you, or your principal are registered for VAT, or the seller’s VAT registration number (if you’re not the seller); and
- a description of the gold supplied;
- for bars and wafers: form, weight and purity, any other identifying feature (including any proprietary mark, hallmark and serial number where applicable); or
- for investment gold coins: the coin type, country of origin and whether or not the coin is included on the list of gold coins reproduced in Notice 701/21A Investment gold coins.
- the number of items; and
- the total amount payable
6.5 What you must include in an invoice if you charge VAT
If you sell investment gold on which you have charged VAT (for example, because you have opted to tax) you must comply with all the normal invoicing requirements for taxable transactions in VAT guide (VAT Notice 700) and the requirements of the Special Accounting Scheme for gold (see paragraph 11.6).
6.6 What you must include in invoices for both taxable and exempt gold
If you supply taxable items (including gold) and exempt investment gold together you may include all the items on the same invoice, as long as the invoice contains all the appropriate details.
7. Records to be kept
7.1 Records to be kept for gold delivered or taken away by your customer
This section has force of law.
If you sell exempt investment gold which is delivered or available to be taken away by your customer, you must keep the following information as part of your business records. These requirements do not apply if you make supplies described within paragraphs 7.2, 7.3(a), 7.6 and 8.2.
This applies whether or not you’re registered for VAT.
(a) Accounting record
You must keep and maintain a record showing the following details:
- invoice number
- invoice date
- customer reference number
- customer’s VAT registration number (if applicable)
- description of the gold (form, quantity and purity)
- name and address of the agent (if applicable)
- name and address of the purchaser
- transaction value
(b) Customer record
You must keep and maintain a record identifying customers who purchase exempt investment gold. This record must have a unique reference number and contain the following information:
- name
- date of birth
- current address
- phone number (if available)
You must take reasonable steps to make sure that your customer has given you correct information. In order to do this, you must ask for and examine at least one document from each of the following lists:
List 1:
- Passport
- Full driving licence
- National Insurance card
- Birth certificate
- National identity card
List 2:
- Phone bill
- Other utility bill
- Deeds
- Tenancy lease
- Council tax bill
- Hotel key card (for non-UK residents only)
You may agree alternative satisfactory evidence with our Written Enquiries Section.
If possible, you should keep a copy of the documents you see. You should write on each copy ‘certified as original document’. You must sign and date this declaration.
If it’s not possible to keep a copy of the document you see, you must record, as part of your customer record, sufficient details to let us to obtain a copy if we ask. As a minimum you should record the:
- name of the document
- reference number
- name and address of the issuing authority
You must insist that your customer produces the original document. You must keep the record up to date.
(c) Method of keeping the required particulars.
Where you’re required to keep and maintain the records specified in parts a) and b) of this paragraph you may, as an alternative, keep and maintain the details required in a manner which is convenient for your business provided both:
- all the details specified are accessible for inspection by a VAT officer
- you’ve agreed the format with our Written Enquiries Section
7.2 Banks and other financial service businesses
If you’re a bank or other financial service business which, for the purposes of the Money Laundering Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/1933), is a ‘relevant financial business’ you may, as an alternative to the customer record set out in paragraph 7.1(b), keep and maintain the records specified in those regulations.
Relevant financial businesses to which this applies must conduct the appropriate identification procedures and keep the required records in the case of all transactions in investment gold where the value of a one-off transaction exceeds 15,000 euros or, where one-off transactions appear linked and their value together exceeds 15,000 euros.
For the purposes of this notice the exchange rate between the euro and the United Kingdom Pound sterling will be the annual rate published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC).
7.3 Auctioneers and other agents of investment gold
(a) Where you’re acting in your own name
If, as an agent or auctioneer, you invoice goods in your own name for goods sold on behalf of a third party vendor, the goods are treated for VAT purposes as supplies both to and by you. Auctioneers are treated as agents for VAT purposes. For more information about the VAT treatment of transactions by agents see VAT guide (VAT Notice 700).
You’re considered to be making a supply of services to the vendor in return for commission charged, and if a buyer’s premium is charged, you’re also making a further supply of services to the buyer.
It’s important not to confuse the supply of the goods with the supply of services to the seller or the buyer.
As an agent or auctioneer, you’re treated as if you were supplying the goods yourself. The special scheme applies to you in the same way as it would apply to a principal. Supplies involving investment gold or investment gold coins will be exempt, unless you’re selling gold on which an option to tax has been exercised. For more information about opting to tax see section 4. The auctioneer will also have the same rights of deduction see section 5 and is bound by the same notification, record keeping and accounting obligations (see section 6, section 7 and section 8).
It’s important that you check with the vendor before the sale whether the gold being sold is investment gold. If you’re an auctioneer you should also remember that investment gold coins are not eligible for the Auctioneers’ Scheme.
If you’re an agent or auctioneer acting in your own name, your supply of services to either the buyer or the seller will be taxable.
(b) Where you’re acting in the name of your principal
If, as an agent or auctioneer, you sell and invoice the goods in the name of your principal, your supply will be exempt (see paragraph 2.2). You may opt to tax these services, if you’re registered for VAT and your principal also opts to tax his onward supply of the investment gold (see paragraph 4.5).
7.4 Internet and mail order sales
This section has force of law.
If you sell investment gold over the internet or by mail order and you fulfil the conditions at (a) or (b) below, you may, instead of keeping the customer record set out at paragraph 7.1(b), keep and maintain the following record:
(a) if your supply is paid for by credit card and the delivery address is also the card holder’s address, you must record the name of your customer, the credit card issuer and the card number; or
(b) if your supply is paid for by cheque, you must record the name of your customer, the name of the bank and the account number of your customer.
You must also keep proof of despatch of the investment gold to your customer’s address.
7.5 Sales by VAT-registered businesses
You must keep and maintain with your VAT account, in addition to the records set out in paragraphs 3.1, 6.2, 6.3, and 7.3(a) and 7.6, a record of any supply of investment gold made to another taxable person where you have delivered or otherwise made the gold available to them, and on which you’ve not opted to tax if you’re registered for VAT and you’re either:
- authorised to opt to tax supplies of investment gold
- a producer or transformer of investment gold
7.6 Sales to VAT-registered businesses
This section has force of law.
If you sell investment gold to another VAT-registered business you may, instead of keeping the customer record described at paragraph 7.1(b), ask your customer for their VAT registration number. But you must check with our Written Enquiries Section that the VAT registration number provided is authentic.
7.7 How long to keep records for
You must keep all the documents and records specified in this section for at least 6 years from the date of the transaction. In the case of regular customers, you must keep your customer record for 6 years following the most recent supply of investment gold.
The next sentence has force of law.
If you purchase investment gold you must keep the purchase invoice you receive for at least 6 years from the date of the transaction.
8. Imports and exports of investment gold
8.1 Imports
Imports (see section 16) of investment gold from a place outside the UK are exempt from VAT. But you must enter the transaction details on Customs Procedure Code form (CPC) 40 00 073 in order to gain the exemption.
Further information on imports is given in Imports (VAT Notice 702).
8.2 Exports {:#para8-2}
The supply of investment gold which is exported to a place outside the UK is outside the scope of UK VAT with input tax recovered in accordance with the normal rules. You must keep evidence of the export. Further information is given in Goods exported from the UK (VAT Notice 703) and Retail Export Scheme (VAT Notice 704).
9. Penalties
9.1 The purpose of penalties on gold
Gold frequently moves between the taxable (industrial) and exempt (investment) markets and can be easily transformed into taxable gold or gold products such as jewellery. We need a full audit trail in order to make sure that VAT is properly accounted for when this happens.
The notification, invoicing, and record keeping requirements described in section 3, section 6 and section 7 provide this audit trail. The Finance Act 2000 introduced a penalty, chargeable when businesses (whether or not they’re registered or liable to be registered for VAT) do not satisfy these requirements.
If you’re assessed for this penalty it does not mean that you’re suspected of involvement in a VAT fraud.
9.2 When penalties are charged
You’ll only be charged a penalty if we’re not satisfied that you’ve a reasonable excuse, see paragraph 9.6, and we may reduce the amount of the penalty if this is justified in the circumstances of the case, see paragraph 9.7.
9.3 Time limit for assessing penalties
The penalty will not be assessed more than 4 years after the transaction date, or more than 2 years after we had sufficient facts to make the assessment.
9.4 Amount of the penalty
The penalty will normally be 17.5% of the value of the transactions concerned.
9.5 Best judgement
Where there’s doubt about the value of the transactions, we’ll assess the penalty on the basis of our best judgement. We’ll consider all the relevant material before us, making an honest and fair estimate of the value of the transactions involved.
9.6 Reasonable excuse
We will not impose a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the requirements. Although reasonable excuse is not defined in law, we do not regard insufficient funds or reliance on information from a third party as being a reasonable excuse. Ignorance of the law would not normally constitute a reasonable excuse either, although it may be a mitigating factor, see paragraph 9.7.
We’ll look carefully at the individual circumstances of each case, and take into account whether or not the circumstances could be foreseen and what steps were taken to make alternative arrangements. We’ll also consider whether you contacted HMRC for help and advice, and whether you gave sufficient priority to meeting your obligations.
9.7 Mitigation
HMRC, or on appeal, the VAT and Duties Tribunal may reduce the amount of the penalty taking into consideration the individual circumstances of each case. For example, we’ll consider the following in deciding whether a reduction of the penalty is appropriate:
- number of breaches
- seriousness of breaches
- co-operation with customs
- compassionate grounds
- the period of time involved
- deliberate or reckless behaviour
- perceived risk to the revenue
- degree of care exercised
It’s your responsibility to bring to our attention any mitigating factors.
9.8 Right of appeal
If you disagree with our decision to issue a penalty, you can ask HMRC to review it. You should certainly do this if you can provide new information or you think we’ve not taken everything into account. This does not affect your right to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.
You may ask us to reconsider, or appeal to the VAT and Duties Tribunal about:
- your liability to the penalty
- the amount of the penalty
- our refusal to accept you have a reasonable excuse
- the amount by which we have mitigated the penalty
10. Transactions in gold, other than investment gold
10.1 What to do when you make or receive supplies of golds that are not for investment
When you make or receive supplies of gold that’s not investment gold you need to determine whether or not your supplies come within the scope of UK VAT.
10.2 How to work out if the supply is within the scope of UK VAT
If you’re making or receiving supplies of gold, other than investment gold the following decision table explains the VAT liability of the supply.
Step 1 – Is the gold allocated?
If ‘yes’, go to step 2.
If ‘no’, go to step 3.
For further information see paragraph 2.2 and section 16.
Step 2 – Is the gold in the UK?
If ‘yes’, go to step 4.
If ‘no’, the supply is outside the scope of UK VAT.
Step 3 – Does the supplier belong in the UK?
If ‘yes’, go to step 5.
If ‘no’, go to step 6.
Step 4 – Is the gold exported?
If ‘yes’, the supply is zero-rated.
If ‘no’, the supply is standard-rated.
For further information see conditions set out in Goods exported from the UK (VAT Notice 703) or Retail Export Scheme (VAT Notice 704).
Step 5 – Does the customer belong in the UK?
If ‘yes’, the supply is tandard rated.
If ‘no’, the supply is outside the scope of UK VAT.
For further information see Goods exported from the UK (VAT Notice 703).
Step 6 – Is the customer a business which belongs in the UK?
If ‘yes’, the customer accounts for VAT on the supply at the standard rate.
For further information see Goods exported from the UK (VAT Notice 703).
If ‘no’, the supply is outside the scope of UK VAT, see section 11.
10.3 Zero rating
Some transactions are specifically zero-rated and details of these are in paragraphs 10.4 and 10.5.
10.4 Supplies between central banks and members of the London Bullion Market Association
Any supply between central banks see section 16 or between a central bank and a member of the London Bullion Market of is zero-rated if it’s:
- gold, including investment gold, held in the UK
- a right to acquire gold, including investment gold, held in the UK
- a part interest in gold, including investment gold, held in the UK
10.5 Supplies of gold on the London Bullion Market
The London Bullion Market is a commodity market for the purposes of the Value Added Tax (Terminal Markets) Order 1973. Members of the London Bullion Market are, for the purposes of the same Order, considered to be persons who are members of the London Bullion Market Association.
Certain transactions in gold on the London Bullion Market are zero-rated under the provisions of the Value Added Tax (Terminal Markets) Order 1973 (see Commodities and terminal markets (VAT Notice 701/9)).
10.6 Items of numismatic interest
Although precious metals are excluded from the Second-hand Margin Scheme, gold coins (other than investment gold coins) bought and sold as collectors’ items may be eligible as items of numismatic interest. See The Margin and Global Accounting Scheme (VAT Notice 718) and section 11.
10.7 Imports
Importations see section 16 of gold and gold coins, other than investment gold are chargeable with VAT at the standard rate. But importations of gold by central banks section 16 are subject to special treatment (see paragraph 10.4).
Further information on imports is given in Imports (VAT Notice 702).
10.8 Exports and dispatches
The supply of gold and gold coins, other than investment gold, which is exported to a place outside the EU, or dispatched section 16 to another business in an EU member state, is outside the scope of VAT. You must complete any required Intrastat declaration for trade with EU member states.
Further information is given in Goods exported from the UK (VAT Notice 703) and Retail Export Scheme (VAT Notice 704).
11. The Special Accounting Scheme for gold transactions
Note: the Special Accounting Scheme for gold is compulsory.
11.1 About the Special Accounting Scheme
The Special Accounting Scheme for gold is to be used for the transactions in gold listed at paragraph 11.2 between VAT-registered traders.
Under normal VAT procedures, if you’re a VAT-registered trader selling goods you issue a VAT invoice and receive payment for the price of the goods and the VAT due on the sale. You (as the seller) then account to us for this VAT on your next VAT Return.
The scheme transfers the responsibility for paying the VAT on certain transactions in gold from the seller to the buyer.
11.2 When to use the Special Accounting Scheme
The Special Accounting Scheme for gold must be used when:
- the seller and the buyer are both VAT-registered persons, or are persons liable to be registered as a consequence of the transaction, or other transactions
- the supply by the seller is by way of business and the buyer is making the purchase in connection with any business carried on by them
- the seller makes a supply of gold within the Special Accounting scheme for gold, see below
Supplies of gold within the Special Accounting Scheme for gold will apply if you supply:
- goods consisting of fine gold see section 16, of gold grain of any purity or in and gold coins – except coins traded under the second-hand margin scheme, see The Margin and Global Accounting Scheme (VAT Notice 718), supplies of dental gold, gold targets and gold slugs are excluded
- goods containing gold for which the amount paid or payable for the supply (apart from any VAT) does not exceed, or exceeds by no more than a negligible amount, the open market value of the gold contained in the goods – the open market value of the gold is the ‘fix price’ of the gold at the time of supply, this is the price set in the twice-daily meetings by London Gold Fixing Ltd and includes supplies of scrap (including live scrap – scrapped jewellery, broken jewellery, watch cases, cigarette cases and so on) and sweepings – supplies of part manufactured or finished jewellery, gold compounds and semi manufactured carated products, are excluded (except gold grain)
- investment gold regardless of whether the supply is classed as a supply of goods or a supply of services where the seller has exercised the option to tax outlined at section 4, or where the supply is between a member and a non-member of the London Bullion Market Association
- services of treatment or processing work on your customers goods and the goods produced are fine gold see section 16, gold grain of any purity or gold coins
11.3 How the scheme works
If you’re liable to use the Special Accounting Scheme, you should follow this procedure.
Step 1 – Are you a UK VAT-registered business?
If ‘yes’, go to step 3.
If ‘no’, go to step 2.
Step 2 – Are you liable to be registered for VAT?
If ‘yes’, apply to register. Failure to do so may make you liable to financial penalties.
If ‘no’, you’re not making taxable supplies.
For further information see section 13 and VAT Notice 700/1: should I be registered for VAT?.
Step 3 – Is this a supply of gold of a type described in paragraph 11.2?
If ‘yes’, go to step 5 for gold coins, or step 7 for other supplies of gold.
If ‘no’, go to step 4.
Step 4 – Is this a supply of gold coins?
If ‘yes’, go to step 5.
If ‘no’, the supply is not within the scope of the Special Accounting Scheme. You must charge VAT to your customer who should pay it to you. You must issue a VAT invoice and account for the VAT to HMRC.
Step 5 – Are the coins investment gold coins?
If ‘yes’, go to step 6.
For further information see Investment gold coins (VAT Notice 701/21A).
If ‘no’, VAT may be accounted for under the margin scheme, or go to step 7.
For further information see The Margin and Global Accounting Scheme (VAT Notice 718).
Step 6 – Are you a producer or transformer of investment gold coins who has opted to tax the supply?
If ‘yes’, go to step 7.
For further information see section 4.
If ‘no’, your supply is exempt and the Special Accounting Scheme does not apply unless you’re a member or are dealing with a member of the London Bullion Market Association.
For further information see paragraph 11.5.
Step 7 – Are you satisfied your buyer is a UK VAT-registered business?
If ‘yes’, the supply is within the scope of the Special Accounting Scheme. You must issue a tax invoice as described in paragraph 11.6. The buyer pays you the VAT exclusive price of the gold and accounts for the output tax to HMRC.
If ‘no’, the Special Accounting Scheme does not apply.
For further information see paragraphs 11.4 and 11.6.
11.4 Accounting for output tax as a buyer
If you buy gold under the Special Accounting Scheme for gold, you must account for VAT on the value of the supply of gold made by the seller. If you fail to do this, we may assess you for the VAT due on the transaction.
If you buy manufactured goods containing gold which are held out for sale as such, and you pay over VAT to your supplier, you may be required to prove that your purchase did not fall within the provisions of the Special Accounting Scheme for gold. If you cannot prove this, you may be treated as if you bought gold and you’ll be required to account for the output tax due under the Special Accounting Scheme.
11.5 Dealings on the terminal market in gold
Supplies which are zero-rated under the Terminal Markets Order are unaffected by the Special Accounting Scheme for gold. But transactions between members of the London Bullion Market Association and taxable persons who are not members of that Association are taxable at the standard rate and the Special Accounting Scheme applies (see paragraph 10.5).
In such a case the London Bullion Market Association member or non-member must raise a VAT invoice as usual. This must bear the form of words detailed in paragraph 11.6 and the buyer is responsible for accounting for the seller’s output tax. See Commodities and terminal markets (VAT Notice 701/9).
11.6 Issue of VAT invoices for supplies of gold covered by the scheme
If you make a supply of gold under the Special Accounting Scheme for gold, you must issue a VAT invoice to the buyer. This must show all of the information normally required to be shown on VAT invoices. See VAT guide (VAT Notice 700), and for investment gold paragraph 6.2. The amount of output tax due under the Special Accounting Scheme for gold, must be clearly stated on the seller’s invoice but should not be included in the amount shown as total VAT charged.
The seller’s invoice must also include a form of words to the effect that the output tax shown on the invoice is payable to customs by the buyer of the gold. The suggested form of words is:
‘£……output tax on this supply of gold to be accounted for to HMRC by the buyer.’
The invoice must also show:
(a) the time of supply (or tax point). This is ordinarily the date of delivery of the gold or the date when the gold is made available for removal by the purchaser, (see VAT guide (VAT Notice 700))
and
(b) a description sufficient to identify the goods which includes:
- the weight of the gold
- the purity of the gold
- the number of individual items (where possible)
- the fix price of the gold on the day of delivery
and
(c) the name and address of the buyer;
and
(d) the invoice date and number.
If you’re approved to issue self-billed VAT invoices, you must also show all of these details.
12. Filling in your VAT Return
| Box | Information to enter |
|---|---|
| 1 | If you have purchased gold, include the VAT due on your purchase of gold. The purchase of gold is treated as a supply by you as well as by your supplier. You must account for the output tax in the same period that you purchase the gold or it is made available for removal by you whether or not you have sold it. If you have sold gold under the Special Accounting Scheme, do not show the VAT shown on your sales invoice in this box. In this box you must also show output tax due on your other supplies under the normal VAT accounting mechanism. |
| 4 | Include the VAT due on your purchases of gold. In this box you must also show input tax to be reclaimed under the normal VAT accounting procedures on your other purchases. |
| 5 | Complete as normal. |
| 6 | Complete as normal. If you have sold gold, enter the VAT exclusive value of the sale. If you have purchased gold include its value here. This is deemed to be a supply by you, as well as by your supplier. |
| 7 | Complete as normal. Include the value of gold you have bought. |
13. Registration
The Special Accounting Scheme for gold covers supplies of gold between taxable persons as outlined in paragraph 11.2. A taxable person is someone who is either registered for VAT or who is liable to be registered for VAT.
The supply of gold covered by the scheme is treated as a taxable supply by the customer as well as by the seller for the purposes of registration.
In deciding if you’re liable to register for VAT you must add the value of your business purchases of gold to the value of other taxable supplies which you make including sales of gold to arrive at your taxable turnover. So, if you purchase gold in the course or furtherance of a business and you’re not registered for VAT, then you must consider whether you’re liable to be registered as follows if either:
- in a 12-month period your taxable supplies exceed the registration threshold, you must notify the National Registration Service within 30 days of the end of the month in which the limit was exceeded
- there are reasonable grounds for believing that the taxable supplies which you’ll make in the next 30 days will exceed the threshold, then you must notify the National Registration Service within 30 days of the day on which grounds first existed, but there are special rules for persons who become liable to be registered for VAT solely by virtue of their dealings in investment gold with members of the London Bullion Market Association
If you require further advice you should contact the HMRC VAT helpline.
Further information on VAT registration can be found in Notice 700/1: should I be registered for VAT?. If you fail to notify HMRC at the proper time you may be liable to a financial penalty.
14. Smuggled gold
The use of the Special Accounting Scheme for gold does not alter the fact that all smuggled gold may be liable to forfeiture under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. This applies even if the gold is found in the hands of an innocent buyer. It is therefore very important that, in your own interest, you look carefully at the evidence of origin of any gold before you agree to buy it.
The following information is intended as guidance for gold dealers who may be invited to purchase gold bullion, gold coins and gold scrap.
14.1 How to avoid buying smuggled gold
If you’re buying gold it is important to safeguard your own position by satisfying yourself, as far as you reasonably can, that the metal has not been smuggled. You should satisfy yourself, as to the answers to the following questions (by asking your supplier if necessary) before agreeing to buy the gold:
- where has the gold come from?
- has it been imported from outside the UK?
- if it has been imported from outside the UK, is there evidence that the gold has been properly declared at import and that import VAT has been paid if appropriate?
- why is it being sold, and is it offered for sale below market value?
- how is it delivered and is it available in the usual variety of types?
- is a quick settlement or cash payment demanded?
- is the seller new and does the seller have a fixed place of business?
- does the seller regularly supply large quantities?
- has the seller references (from a bank, for example)?
- are there other grounds for suspicion about either the standing of the seller or the origin of the gold?
It is not sufficient to confine your questions to the past integrity of your supplier. When buying gold you should be satisfied in all circumstances that it’s safe to become involved in the transaction.
Where any person has been found to be dealing in smuggled gold, and we’re considering whether the gold should be forfeited and criminal proceedings started, we’ll look very closely at the nature of the transaction and the degree of care that was exercised.
15. List of weights accepted by the bullion markets
In paragraph 2.1 of this notice, investment gold (other than investment gold coins) is defined as: ‘gold of a purity not less than 995 thousandths that is in the form of a bar, or a wafer, of a weight accepted by the bullion markets’.
For the purposes of this definition bars and wafers are commonly traded in the following weights:
| Unit | Weights available |
|---|---|
| London Good Delivery Bar | 12.5 kilogram |
| Kilogram Bars | 1 kilogram |
| Gram | 500 gram, 250 gram, 100 gram, 50 gram, 20 gram, 10 gram, 5 gram, 2.5 gram,1 gram |
| Ounce (1 oz = 31.1035 grams) | 100 ounce, 10 ounce, 5 ounce, 1 ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce |
| Tael (1 tael = 1.1913 oz) | 10 tael, 5 tael, 1 tael |
| Tola (10 tolas = 3.75 oz) | 10 tola |
16. Glossary of terms
Throughout this notice, the following terms have the meanings shown.
Allocated: gold or gold coins are allocated if they are set apart and designated as belonging to, or reserved for specific persons or purposes. The supply of allocated gold or gold coins is a supply of goods for VAT purposes. If gold or gold coins are delivered they are, of necessity, allocated.
Central Banks: these are the Bank of England and its counterparts in other countries.
Fine gold: gold with a high purity level. A good delivery bar is acceptable at 0.995.
Unallocated: gold and gold coins are unallocated if they remain as an unidentifiable part of a larger stock held by a supplier. The supply of unallocated gold or gold coins is a supply of a service for VAT purposes. This service is a financial service for the purposes of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 Schedule 5; it is not, but an exempt financial service under Group 5 of Schedule 9. Transactions in investment gold may be exempt under Group 15 of Schedule 9.
United Kingdom (UK): references in this notice to the UK apply also to the Isle of Man unless the text indicates otherwise. VAT is chargeable in the Isle of Man under Manx law, which generally parallels UK legislation. There is no VAT in the Channel Islands, which are outside the UK for VAT purposes.
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Updates to this page
Last updated 31 December 2020 + show all updates
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This page has been updated because the Brexit transition period has ended.
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Paragraphs 3.1, 3.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 7.1 and 7.6 have been amended as the address for the VAT Written Enquiries team has changed.
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Para 11.6 amended to clarify how to correctly record the amount of output tax due under the special accounting scheme for gold.
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First published.