> Selling gold you inherited in France means choosing between the flat tax on precious metals and the capital-gains regime — and the latter is only open to y *Source : https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/sell-inherited-gold-france-tax/* --- ● Guide # Selling Inherited Gold in France: Tax and Payout Explained Published on **12/10/2025** · By **Sébastien Joumel** In brief **Selling gold you inherited in France means choosing between the flat tax on precious metals and the capital-gains regime** — and the latter is only open to you if the estate paperwork proves the gold's value and date. Beyond tax, your real payout depends on the dealer's buyback rate, which is not public, so compare offers before you sell. ## How is inherited gold taxed when you sell it in France? **Selling inherited gold in France triggers one of two tax regimes, and you choose the one that costs less.** The default is the flat tax on precious metals (_taxe forfaitaire sur les métaux précieux_), levied on the full sale price regardless of any gain. The alternative is the capital-gains regime (_régime de la plus-value_), which taxes only the profit and applies a taper relief that reaches full exemption after 22 years of ownership. The catch for an inheritance: the capital-gains route requires proof of the acquisition price and date. If you inherited the gold, your baseline is usually the value declared in the _déclaration de succession_, and the holding period runs from the death, not from when you personally received the items. ## What proof do you need from the estate? **Without paperwork, the flat tax on the full price is often your only option.** To use the capital-gains regime you need a document establishing the value and date the gold entered the estate. The key piece is the estate declaration filed with the tax office; the valuation recorded there becomes your cost basis. - **Déclaration de succession** showing the gold and its declared value. - **Notaire's inventory** or valuation, where a notary handled the estate. - **Original invoices or certificates** if the deceased kept them, which can strengthen your basis. Keep these before you sell. A buyer cannot create this proof for you, and the choice of tax regime is made at the point of sale. ## Why does the buyback rate matter more than the tax? **Tax is fixed by law and identical everywhere; the dealer's margin is not, and that is where you gain or lose most.** The spot price of gold is public and the same for every buyer on any given day. What each dealer keeps is the _buyback rate_: the percentage of spot actually paid to you. This margin is not something dealers are obliged to publish, so it varies widely. Your payout is also driven by the metal itself, not sentiment. Fineness sets the pure-gold content: 24k is 999, 22k is 916, 18k is 750, 14k is 585, 9k is 375. Weight, hallmark and condition confirm what you hold. Inherited coins may carry a numismatic premium above their metal value if they are collectable. Melt jewellery is paid on gold content alone. [Compare gold buyers in your city](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/gold-buyback/) to see who pays the highest rate. ## How is the sale itself regulated? **Every legitimate gold sale in France is traceable and identity-checked, which protects an heir.** Payment must be made by bank transfer or cheque; cash is prohibited for precious-metal transactions. You must present valid ID, and the buyer records the sale in a mandatory police register (_livre de police_). These rules work in your favour when the gold came from an estate: the paper trail shows a lawful, declared source and links the payout to the correct tax treatment. Selling jointly-inherited gold usually needs the agreement of all heirs, so settle ownership before you sell. ## Frequently asked questions Which tax applies when I sell inherited gold? By default, the flat tax on precious metals, calculated on the full sale price. You may instead elect the capital-gains regime, which taxes only the profit and tapers to full exemption after 22 years of ownership, but only if you can prove the acquisition value and date. What counts as my purchase price if I inherited the gold? Usually the value declared in the estate's succession declaration, and the holding period runs from the date of death. Without that document, you generally cannot use the capital-gains regime and fall back to the flat tax. Can I be paid in cash for inherited gold? No. French law requires precious-metal payments to be traceable, so you are paid by bank transfer or cheque. You must also show ID, and the buyer logs the sale in a mandatory police register. Do all the heirs need to agree before selling? For jointly-inherited gold, yes. Ownership is shared until the estate is settled, so all heirs normally need to consent to the sale and to how the proceeds are divided. ## Read also [ Guide What Documents Do You Need to Sell Gold in France? ](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/documents-needed-to-sell-gold-france/)[ Guide Gold Buyback and the Police Register in France: What Sellers Must Know ](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/gold-buyback-police-register-france/)[ Guide Can You Be Paid Cash for Your Gold in France? ](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/paid-cash-for-gold-france/) ## Sell at the best price near you Compare the gold buyers in your city. [See the rankings](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/gold-buyback/)