VAT on Gold in the Philippines
Sales of goods, gold bars and coins sold to individuals included, carry 12% VAT on the gross selling price. Jewellery carries the standard 12% VAT on the full selling price. Today 10 grams of 24K gold cost ₱79,410 at the world price and about ₱88,940 with tax and duty.
Rules checked 26 October 2026 · Prices Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC · Not tax advice
Gold in the Philippines today, with tax
PHP · Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC| Weight | World price, 24K gold | Bar or coin, with tax and duty | 18K jewellery metal, with tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | ₱7,941 | ₱8,894 | ₱6,670 |
| 10 grams | ₱79,410 | ₱88,940 | ₱66,705 |
| 1 ounce | ₱246,994 | ₱276,633 | ₱207,475 |
| 100 grams | ₱794,103 | ₱889,396 | ₱667,047 |
| 1 kilo | ₱7,941,032 | ₱8,893,955 | ₱6,670,467 |
The rules in the Philippines
| What you buy | Tax | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bars and bullion coins | 12% | Sales of goods, gold bars and coins sold to individuals included, carry 12% VAT on the gross selling price. No VAT exemption for investment gold was found. Sales of gold to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas by registered small-scale miners and accredited traders are zero-rated, and their income from those sales is exempt from income and excise tax (RA 11256, RR 4-2020). That relief applies only to sales to the BSP, not to retail buyers. PwC confirms the uniform 12% VAT on goods but does not discuss gold specifically. |
| Jewellery | 12% | Jewellery carries the standard 12% VAT on the full selling price. Charged on: full value. |
| Import duty | 0% | A third-party tariff database (Treayo) gives the Philippine MFN duty on gold in lumps, ingots or cast bars (HS 7108.12.10) as 3%, and 0% under ATIGA, ACFTA and RCEP. The official Tariff Commission finder was not checked. Imports of gold bullion are 'regulated' and need a BIR electronic Authority to Release Imported Goods (eATRIG) for excise purposes (Philippine National Trade Repository). This suggests the 4% excise on gold under NIRC s.151 may also apply on import, but that is not confirmed. Customs law prohibits importing precious-metal articles without a fineness marking (CMTA s.118(d), WTO QR notification). The duty on finished jewellery (7113.19) was not found: only 'parts' (3%) is shown. Not applied here: the 3% figure for non-ASEAN bullion comes from a third-party tariff database, and local shop prices follow the world price. |
| Tourist refund | No | RA 12079 (signed Dec 2024) and its IRR (signed March 2025) give non-resident tourists a VAT refund on goods bought in person from accredited stores, at least PHP 3,000 per invoice, taken out as accompanied baggage within 60 days. The DOF lists jewellery as covered. But the scheme depends on accredited VAT Refund System operators. The DOF's pre-qualification deadline for operators was 21 Nov 2025, and BIR RMC 44-2026 (13 May 2026) was still circulating the operator-accreditation guidelines (DO 018-2025). No source shows a working refund counter or accredited stores as of October 2026. |
Compared with nearby countries
VAT on Gold in the Philippines: FAQ
Is there VAT on gold in the Philippines?
Sales of goods, gold bars and coins sold to individuals included, carry 12% VAT on the gross selling price. Jewellery carries the standard 12% VAT on the full selling price.
Do you pay VAT on gold bars and coins in the Philippines?
Sales of goods, gold bars and coins sold to individuals included, carry 12% VAT on the gross selling price. No VAT exemption for investment gold was found. Sales of gold to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas by registered small-scale miners and accredited traders are zero-rated, and their income from those sales is exempt from income and excise tax (RA 11256, RR 4-2020). That relief applies only to sales to the BSP, not to retail buyers. PwC confirms the uniform 12% VAT on goods but does not discuss gold specifically.
Is there import duty on gold in the Philippines?
A third-party tariff database (Treayo) gives the Philippine MFN duty on gold in lumps, ingots or cast bars (HS 7108.12.10) as 3%, and 0% under ATIGA, ACFTA and RCEP. The official Tariff Commission finder was not checked. Imports of gold bullion are 'regulated' and need a BIR electronic Authority to Release Imported Goods (eATRIG) for excise purposes (Philippine National Trade Repository). This suggests the 4% excise on gold under NIRC s.151 may also apply on import, but that is not confirmed. Customs law prohibits importing precious-metal articles without a fineness marking (CMTA s.118(d), WTO QR notification). The duty on finished jewellery (7113.19) was not found: only 'parts' (3%) is shown. Not applied here: the 3% figure for non-ASEAN bullion comes from a third-party tariff database, and local shop prices follow the world price.
Can tourists claim back the VAT on gold in the Philippines?
No. RA 12079 (signed Dec 2024) and its IRR (signed March 2025) give non-resident tourists a VAT refund on goods bought in person from accredited stores, at least PHP 3,000 per invoice, taken out as accompanied baggage within 60 days. The DOF lists jewellery as covered. But the scheme depends on accredited VAT Refund System operators. The DOF's pre-qualification deadline for operators was 21 Nov 2025, and BIR RMC 44-2026 (13 May 2026) was still circulating the operator-accreditation guidelines (DO 018-2025). No source shows a working refund counter or accredited stores as of October 2026.
Sources (10)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Philippines - Corporate - Other taxes (VAT 12% on gross selling price; tourist VAT refund) (2026-08-01)
- Philstar: BIR exempts small-scale gold miners from taxes (RR 4-2020, sales to BSP) (2020-02-21)
- FilePino: Zero-rated VAT in the Philippines (sales of gold to BSP zero-rated under RA 11256) (2026-08-14)
- Treayo: HS 7108.12 cross-border tariff comparison (Philippines MFN 3%) (2026)
- Philippine National Trade Repository: commodity 7108.12.10 (regulated import, BIR eATRIG) (undated)
- WTO QR notification: Philippines #767 - precious metals without fineness marking (2025-03-05)
- DOF: PH is now VAT-free for foreign tourists (IRR signed; jewellery covered) (2025-03-24)
- Grant Thornton PH: Implementing rules and regulations for the VAT refund for non-resident tourists (2025-06-19)
- DOF: Invitation for accreditation/pre-qualification of VAT refund service operators (deadline 21 Nov 2025) (2025-10-28)
- BIR RMC No. 44-2026 (circularizing DOF DO 018-2025 on VRS operator accreditation) (2026-05-13)
Related
General information on the tax a private buyer pays, checked 26 October 2026. Rules change; check with the seller, the tax authority or an adviser. Not tax advice.