Gold and Silver Legal Tender States 2025

Legal Tender

Legal

Not Legal

Pending

State	Legal Tender↓	Additional Details
Texas	Pending	Texas passed HB 1056 in 2025, which adds Subchapter D (Chapter 2116) to the Government Code declaring gold and silver to be legal tender in the state. It takes effect in part on Sept 01, 2026 and in full on May 01, 2027. The law further states no person may be required to offer or accept gold or silver, so use remains optional. Earlier bills (e.g., SB 2097 in 2017) proposed legal tender status but failed to become law. Texas also exempts purchases of gold/silver bullion and coins from sales tax (Tax Code §151.336 amended 2013), does not levy state‑income tax/capital‑gains tax, and established a state bullion depository under HB 483 (2015).
Alabama	Not Legal	Alabama has exempted gold and silver from sales and capital gains taxes through Senate Bills 13 (2022) and 297 (2024). However, the state has not enacted any law recognizing gold and silver as legal tender or established a state bullion depository.
Alaska	Not Legal	Alaska does not recognize gold or silver as legal tender and has no state bullion depository. The state lacks both income and statewide sales taxes, meaning precious metals are effectively exempt from such taxation. As of Novermber 2025, no legislation has been passed to designate precious metals as legal tender. A 2023-24 bill (HB 3) passed the House but died in the Senate, and a 2025-26 bill (HB 1) had yet to come to a vote.
California	Not Legal	California has not recognized gold or silver as legal tender. The state enacted a sales tax exemption in 2023 under Article 7, Regulation 1599, applying only to purchases of $2,000 or more. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation.
Colorado	Not Legal	Colorado exempts retail sales of coins and precious metal bullion from sales tax under the Colorado Department of Revenue. Gold and silver are still subject to capital gains taxation.
Connecticut	Not Legal	Connecticut exempts sales of rare or antique coins, gold or silver bullion, and legal tender over $1,000 from sales tax (threshold removed by HB 7287 effective 7/1/2027). Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation.
Delaware	Not Legal	Delaware has no state or local sales tax (gross receipts tax applies)> Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation and are not recognized as legal tender.
District of Columbia	Not Legal
Florida	Not Legal	Florida exempts sales tax on gold, silver, and platinum bullion over $500 and on U.S. minted legal tender coins. Florida has no state-level capital gains tax on precious metals and does not recognize gold and silver as legal tender.
Georgia	Not Legal	Georgia exempts sales tax on gold, silver, and platinum bullion and coins. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation and are not recognized as legal tender.
Hawaii	Not Legal	Hawaii has no sales tax exemption for precious metals (GET applies to businesses). Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation and are not recognized as legal tender.
Idaho	Not Legal	Idaho exempts sales of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion from sales tax, but gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation.
Illinois	Not Legal	Illinois exempts sales of legal tender, medallions, and bullion from sales tax. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation and are not recognized as legal tender.
Indiana	Not Legal	Senate Bill 99 was introduced in 2013 to declare U.S.-minted gold and silver coins as legal tender and tax-exempt, but the bill did not pass into law. Gold and silver are not officially recognized as legal tender in Indiana.
Iowa	Not Legal
Kansas	Not Legal	Kansas exempts all sales of gold or silver coins, and palladium, platinum, gold, or silver bullion from sales tax under HB 2140 (effective July 1, 2019). Bills have been proposed to declare U.S.-minted gold and silver coins as legal tender (e.g., committee action in 2013, SB 39 in 2025), but none have been enacted
Kentucky	Not Legal	Kentucky included a sales tax exemption for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins, rounds, and bullion in HB 8 (2024), but Governor Beshear’s line-item veto challenged the exemption. Its legal status remains in dispute. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Kentucky has not enacted legislation to declare gold and silver legal tender.
Maine	Not Legal	Maine legislators introduced LD 664 (2017) to provide a sales tax exemption for gold and silver coins and bullion, but it was not enacted. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Maine has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Maryland	Not Legal	Maryland allowed the longstanding sales tax exemption on gold, silver, and other precious metals bullion or coins to expire in 2025, and attempts to extend it for purchases over $1,000 failed. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Maryland has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Massachusetts	Not Legal	Massachusetts provides a sales tax exemption on purchases of $1,000 or more of rare coins of numismatic value, gold or silver bullion or coins, or gold or silver tender of any nation traded according to its precious metal value. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Massachusetts has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Michigan	Not Legal	Michigan provides a sales tax exemption on sales of investment coins and bullion as defined by law (gold, silver, platinum with a purity of at least 900 parts per 1,000, or numismatic coins issued by the U.S. or foreign governments). Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Michigan has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Minnesota	Not Legal	Minnesota provides a partial sales tax exemption for precious metal bullion (99.9% or more gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bars or rounds) but does not include coins. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Minnesota has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Mississippi	Not Legal	Mississippi eliminated sales tax on purchases of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins, bars, and rounds in 2023. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Mississippi has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Missouri	Not Legal	Missouri: Senate Bill 735 (2024) passed the Senate but died in the House of Representatives. Proposed legislation (HB 630, 2025) — the “Constitutional Money Act” — would recognize gold and silver as legal tender for state debts and allow optional acceptance for private debts, but it has not yet become law.
Montana	Not Legal	Montana has no sales tax. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains taxation. Montana has not declared gold or silver legal tender, has no bullion depository, and holds no reserves or pension fund assets in precious metals.
Nebraska	Not Legal	Nebraska exempts bullion and currency from sales tax (LB 867) and does not tax capital gains on gold and silver (LB 1317, 2024). Nebraska has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Nevada	Not Legal	Nevada exempts bullion used as a medium of exchange from sales tax (NAC Chapter 372) and has no state income tax, so capital gains on gold and silver are not taxed. Nevada has not declared gold or silver legal tender
New Hampshire	Not Legal	New Hampshire has no sales tax and no state capital gains tax, so purchases or gains on gold and silver are not taxed. New Hampshire has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
New Jersey	Not Legal	New Jersey exempts investment metal bullion and high-value investment coins from sales tax starting January 1, 2025 (S721, 2024). Gold and silver are still subject to state capital gains taxation.
New Mexico	Not Legal	New Mexico imposes a gross receipts tax instead of a sales tax, and gold and silver are subject to state capital gains taxation.
New York	Not Legal	New York exempts most investment-grade precious metal bullion from sales tax if purchased over $1,000, but gold and silver are subject to state capital gains taxation. New York has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
North Carolina	Not Legal	North Carolina exempts investment-grade precious metals from sales tax, but gold and silver remain subject to state capital gains taxation. North Carolina has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
North Dakota	Not Legal	North Dakota exempts refined investment-grade precious metals from sales tax, but gold and silver remain subject to state capital gains taxation. North Dakota has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Ohio	Not Legal	Ohio exempts investment-grade precious metals from sales tax as of October 2021, but gold and silver remain subject to state capital gains taxation. Ohio has not declared gold or silver legal tender.
Oregon	Not Legal
Pennsylvania	Not Legal
Rhode Island	Not Legal
South Carolina	Not Legal	House Bill H.3504 (Feb 2013) passed the House on 4/11/2013 to declare gold & silver coins legal tender and bar compulsion of acceptance, but the bill stalled in the Senate and never became law. No recognition of gold/silver as legal tender is currently in effect.
South Dakota	Not Legal	South Dakota exempts the sale of coins, currency, or bullion from state sales tax under §10-45-110 of the South Dakota Codified Laws. The state has no income tax, so gains on gold/silver are not taxed at the state level. South Dakota has not passed a law recognizing gold and silver coin as mandatory legal tender.
Tennessee	Not Legal	Tennessee exempted many gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins, currency and bullion from sales tax under HB 1874/SB 1857 (2022). The state does not levy a separate capital‑gains tax on precious metals. Although a 2016 resolution (HJR 516) supported a state bullion depository and a bill in 2025 (SB 985) would make US‑minted gold and silver coins legal tender, no law in effect as of November 2025 establishes gold and silver coins as mandatory legal tender for debt payment in Tennessee. They remain treated as property rather than currency under state law.
Vermont	Not Legal	Vermont imposes a 6% sales tax on purchases of gold and silver and subjects gains to state income/capital gains tax. Vermont has not recognized gold or silver coins as legal tender. Vermont does not have a state bullion depository and does not hold reserves or pension fund assets in physical gold or silver.
Virginia	Not Legal	Virginia exempts purchases of gold, silver, and platinum bullion and coins from sales tax, but gains are subject to state income/capital gains tax. Virginia has not recognized gold or silver coins as legal tender.
Washington	Not Legal	Washington repealed its sales tax exemption on gold and silver in 2025 (SB 5794). Washington does not recognize gold or silver coins as legal tender.
West Virginia	Not Legal	West Virginia exempts investment metal bullion and investment coins from sales tax (SB 502, 2019). However, gold and silver are not recognized as legal tender in West Virginia. A 2024 Senate bill (SB 843) attempting to establish gold and silver as legal tender died in committee, as did House Bill 2463 in 2025.
Wisconsin	Not Legal	Wisconsin exempts precious metals bullion from sales tax (AB 29, 2024) but does not recognize gold or silver as legal tender. Gold and silver are subject to capital gains taxation.
Arizona	Legal	Arizona recognizes gold and silver as legal tender following the passage of House Bill 2014 in 2017. Sales of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion are exempt from state sales tax under statute 42-5061, and capital gains on gold and silver are not taxed. However, Arizona does not have a state bullion depository or hold reserves or pension assets in precious metals.
Arkansas	Legal	Enacted the Arkansas Legal Tender Act (Act 595) on April 11 2023 (effective August 1 2023) recognizing gold and silver coins and bullion (“specie”) as legal tender and exempting their purchase, sale, or exchange from tax liability.
Louisiana	Legal	Louisiana exempts sales of platinum, gold, or silver bullion (valued on metal content) and certain numismatic coins under HB 396 (2017). Senate Bill 232 (2024) reaffirmed that gold and silver coins, specie, or bullion issued by the U.S. government are legal tender when voluntarily agreed upon in contracts. Gold and silver remain subject to capital gains tax. Louisiana has no bullion depository and holds no reserves or pension fund assets in precious metals.
Oklahoma	Legal	On June 4, 2014, Governor Mary Fallin signed into law Senate Bill 862, recognizing gold and silver US-minted coins as legal tender and exempting them from state taxation.
Utah	Legal	Utah became the first state to declare US-minted gold and silver coins as legal tender. The Utah Legal Tender Act was passed on March 10, 2011, setting the stage for other states to pursue similar legislation.
Wyoming	Legal	Wyoming enacted the Wyoming Legal Tender Act (HB103) in 2018, recognizing gold and silver coins and bullion as legal tender and exempting them from sales taxation.

Even in states in which gold and silver qualify as legal tender, their acceptance as a form of payment is typically voluntary rather than required.
For example, Oklahoma’s guideline declares, “gold and silver coins issued by the United States government are legal tender in the State of Oklahoma” but follows that confirmation with the caveat “No person may compel another person to tender or accept gold or silver coins that are issued by the United States government, except as agreed upon by contract.”
Additionally, gold or silver “specie” coins issued by the US government are typically the only forms of gold and silver designated as legal tender. Raw gold and silver, items made from such, and coins minted privately or from other sources remain unrecognized as legal tender.
“Specie” coins are defined as “a precious metal stamped into coins of uniform shape, size, design, content, and purity, suitable for or customarily used as currency, as a medium of exchange, or as the medium for purchase, sale, storage, transfer, or delivery of precious metals in retail or wholesale transactions.” (Definition according to 2024 West Viriginia House Bill 5649.)
Laws regarding the legality of gold and silver as legal currency may change with little notice.

Eleven U.S. states accept gold and silver coins as legal tender, and more states have either tried to reintroduce gold and silver as currency or are in the process.

The shift is rooted in Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S Constitution, stating that “No State shall make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.”

What Is The Impact of Accepting Gold And Silver as Legal Tenders?

The state laws declaring the shift of gold and silver currency would eliminate capital gains taxes on sales of gold and silver in states that accept the two metals as legal tender.

Several states have by now passed bills eliminating these taxes. If all 50 U.S. states start using gold and silver in place of Federal Reserve notes, the Federal government would no longer be able to control the state’s money.

Gold and Silver Legal Tender States

Here’s a list of gold and silver legal tender states. The list includes the U.S. states that have already implemented the bill and those in the process.

Utah

Utah accepted gold and silver as currency on March 10, 2011, and became the first state after 80 years to make the coins legal tender. The act paved the way for other U.S. states to pursue similar legislation.

Louisiana

H.B. 682 was passed with vast support, making Louisiana the second U.S. state to exempt sales tax for gold and silver currency. The bill was later signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal.

West Virginia

The West Virginia Legislature approved Senate Bill 502 by a unanimous vote. The bill suggested tax exemptions on investment in metal bullion and coin sales. Gov. Jim Justice signed the bill effective on July 1, 2019.

Arizona

Arizona vetoed two bills to declare legal tender status for gold and silver coins. S.B.1439 was vetoed in 2013, and in 2015 Governor Doug Ducey vetoed a similar bill. HB2014 bill reinforces the residents’ ability to use precious metals and diversify away from paper currency, paving the way for gold and silver as currency.

Kansas

The House Committee on Taxation in Kansas passed a bill declaring both the legal tender and tax-exempt status of US-minted coins in 2013.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, Governor Mary Fallin signed a law, Senate Bill 862, recognizing gold and silver US-minted coins as legal tender and exempt from taxation on June 4, 2014.

Texas

In March of 2017, SB2097 was introduced, calling for establishing legal tender status for gold and silver, including safeguards from seizure by the state authorities.

Indiana

Senate Bill 99 was introduced in Indiana, declaring US-minted gold and silver coins as legal tender and tax-exempt in 2013.

Missouri

Senate Bill 98, which suggests income tax deduction for capital gains from the exchange of gold and silver, is up for consideration in Missouri, though a similar act failed in 2013 and 2014.

South Carolina

The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill declaring gold and silver legal tender on April 11, 2013.

Tennessee

Tennessee’s SB0350 calls for the sales tax exemption of gold and silver coins.

Wyoming

HB 103 was passed in 2018. This made gold and silver coins legal tender within the state.