Gold & Tax

Gold and Inheritance

Gold coins are one of the oldest things families pass from one generation to the next. Here is how they are treated when the time comes.

Last reviewed October 2026

In short: Physical gold forms part of your estate for Inheritance Tax like any other possession. Its strengths are practical: coins are simple to value, simple to divide and simple to pass on. UK legal tender coins are also exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents, which gold bars are not.

How Inheritance Tax treats gold

There is no special Inheritance Tax exemption for gold. Coins you own at death are valued at market price and counted in your estate alongside your other assets. Inheritance Tax is generally charged at 40 percent on the value above the available nil-rate bands, which is why gold coins belong in your estate planning conversation.

Gifting coins during your lifetime

Many owners pass coins to children and grandchildren while they are alive. Gifts to individuals are generally treated as potentially exempt transfers: survive seven years from the gift and it falls outside your estate. Because Britannias and Sovereigns are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents, gifting them does not create a Capital Gains Tax bill either.

Why coins are easy to pass on

Coins divide naturally between family members, one for each grandchild if you wish. A Sovereign given today is the same recognisable coin in fifty years. Keep a simple record of what you own and where and tell your executor.

Read more: Gold and trusts · How to store gold

This page is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Inheritance planning depends heavily on individual circumstances. Please speak to a qualified adviser or solicitor about your own position. The value of gold can go down as well as up.

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