Gold Price in Germany Today

Germany's gold market splits between small-purity everyday jewellery and internationally standard fine-gold products. German hallmarks commonly show 333, 585 or 750 -- 8K, 14K and 18K -- with 585 (14K) the dominant standard for mid-market jewellery, while 750 (18K) is used for export-oriented and prestige pieces. A displayed KmalServico price reflects 24K (999.9 fine) gold value; a German 585 or 750 piece contains proportionally less fine gold per gram.

Investment-grade gold is exempt from Germany's VAT (Mehrwertsteuer) under Section 25c of the German VAT Act (UStG), a rule in place since 1993 domestically and applied EU-wide since 2000. The exemption is narrowly defined: gold bars and wafers must be at least 995-fine, and gold coins must be at least 900-fine and minted after 1800 while remaining (or having been) legal tender, with a market price not exceeding their gold value by more than 80%. Widely held investment coins such as the Krugerrand, Canadian Maple Leaf and Vienna Philharmonic meet these conditions.

A gold ring, chain or other piece of jewellery does not meet the investment-gold definition under German law regardless of its purity, so it is taxed like any other retail good rather than benefiting from the VAT exemption that applies to qualifying bars and coins. When comparing a German quote, check first whether the product is investment-grade (exempt) or jewellery (standard-rated) before assuming a price gap reflects a dealer markup rather than a straightforward tax difference.

Germany's standard VAT rate of 19% applies in full to gold jewellery, since jewellery does not qualify for the Section 25c UStG investment-gold exemption regardless of its karat purity. Qualifying investment gold -- 995-fine-or-better bars/wafers and 900-fine-or-better legal-tender coins minted after 1800 -- pays no VAT at all under the same provision. Silver, unlike gold, does not receive an equivalent EU-wide investment exemption and is generally taxed at the standard 19% VAT rate.