Gold Price in France Today

French gold jewellery of 18-karat purity (750/1000) traditionally carries the "tête d'aigle" (eagle's head) hallmark, introduced in 1838 and still used today. Unlike self-applied marks in some markets, French hallmarks are struck by the state's own assay authority, the Bureau de Garantie, after the metal is independently tested — part of a hallmarking tradition tracing back to 1275, making it one of the oldest continuously operating systems in the world.

Investment gold -- ingots and coins meeting a minimum 995-fine purity threshold -- is exempt from VAT on purchase in France, the same EU investment-gold framework applied in Germany. Jewellery does not qualify for this exemption and is taxed as an ordinary retail good. This purchase-side exemption is separate from the tax treatment that applies later, when the gold is resold.

Because France taxes the resale of gold rather than its purchase, keep the original invoice for any bar, coin or piece of jewellery bought with documentation -- it materially changes how a future sale is taxed. Buying without ever intending to keep proof of purchase and origin narrows a seller's options later to the flat-rate resale tax rather than the capital-gains route, which is often less favourable for a long-held asset.

When gold is resold in France without proof of purchase (no invoice establishing origin and purchase date), the sale is subject to France's flat-rate precious-metals tax (taxe forfaitaire sur les métaux précieux, TFMP) at 11.5% of the total sale price; jewellery sold without an invoice instead benefits from an exemption up to €5,000, with a 6.5% withholding applying above that threshold. With a qualifying invoice, a seller can instead elect capital-gains treatment: a 37.6% rate on the actual gain, reduced 5% per year of ownership from the third year onward, reaching full exemption after 22 years of holding.