Buying gold in Saint John, NB
Investment-grade gold is exempt from GST/HST everywhere in Canada. In Saint John, jewellery and other taxable gold items carry 15% HST, the New Brunswick rate.
Gold has one national spot price in Canadian dollars: the prices on this page are the same as on the gold price in Canada page. What differs in Saint John is tax, explained below and on the New Brunswick page.
Sales tax on gold in Saint John
Canada has no city sales tax, so in Saint John you pay New Brunswick's rates. Investment-grade gold (gold of at least 99.5% purity, in bars, wafers or coins) is exempt from GST/HST. 22K coins such as Krugerrands and American Gold Eagles, collector coins sold above their metal value and all karat gold below 24K, and gold jewellery carry 15% HST, charged on the full price including the making charge or premium.
HST follows the federal rule, so investment-grade bullion is exempt from the full 15% HST.
Full provincial rules: gold price and tax in New Brunswick.
Gold in Saint John
Saint John is New Brunswick's port city and its second-largest city.
Tax when you sell gold in Saint John
When you sell, the CRA usually treats a profit on bullion held as an investment as a capital gain: half of the gain is added to your income and taxed at your federal and provincial rates (the 2024 proposal to raise the inclusion rate to two-thirds was cancelled in March 2025). Frequent trading can make profits fully taxable business income. The provincial part of your income tax is New Brunswick's, at your provincial marginal rate. Sales tax does not apply when you sell bullion to a dealer.
Selling gold or jewellery to a dealer in Saint John
- Licence: Licensing is municipal. Example: Moncton By-law L-302 requires a pawnbroker licence from the City Clerk, including an orientation session with Codiac RCMP; licences expire on 31 December. Bathurst By-law 2007-04 has similar rules (licence from the City Clerk, CAD 100 fee).
- Hold period: Moncton: pledged goods may not be sold until one month after the redemption date given to the borrower. No hold period for outright purchases found.
- What the dealer records: Moncton: permanent, unalterable record of each item (description, serial/model marks), date and time, borrower details and pledge number; open to police on demand.
- What sellers need: Moncton: two forms of ID recorded; no dealing with anyone who appears under 18, intoxicated or who refuses ID, or with items whose serial numbers are removed.
- Who is exempt: Moncton: banks, trust companies, credit unions and caisses populaires.
- Jewellers: No provincial jeweller licence found.
- The law: Municipal by-laws made under provincial municipal legislation (Moncton By-law L-302, 2002, amended 2006 and 2018).
Federal rules (FINTRAC): Dealers in precious metals and stones (DPMS) become reporting entities under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act when they buy or sell precious metals, precious stones or jewellery worth CAD 10,000 or more in a single transaction. They must run a compliance programme (compliance officer, written policies, risk assessment, training, two-yearly effectiveness review) and verify client identity for large cash, large virtual currency and suspicious transactions.
Quality marks: Quality marking of gold, silver, platinum and palladium articles is voluntary, but any mark used must be truthful and meet the standards and tolerances in the Precious Metals Marking Act and Regulations.
Buying and selling in Saint John
Dealers in precious metals and stones must verify your identity for purchases of $10,000 or more and report cash transactions of $10,000 or more to FINTRAC. Dealers sell Maple Leafs and bars at a premium over the spot price shown here and buy back a little under it; compare a few dealers' buy and sell prices on the same day.
Tax and duty information last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with your dealer or tax authority before a large purchase.