Independent gold buying guides · US · UK · Canada · Australia

Buy physical gold with your eyes open

What we do

GoldVetted is an independent guide to buying physical gold coins and bars. We check what dealers really charge above the gold spot price, explain the tax rules in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, and show you how to sell later. Some dealers pay us commission, but it never changes our findings.

Start with our buying guideSee our dealer price checks

Live gold price

US dollar

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... per gram

British pound

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... per gram

Canadian dollar

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... per gram

Australian dollar

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... per gram

Spot price per troy ounce (31.1 g). Loading live price. Dealers add a premium on top. Source: gold-api.com.

Choose your country

Tax rules, dealers and even which coins make sense change from country to country. Start with the guide for where you live.

United States

Gains on gold held over a year are taxed as collectibles, at up to 28% federally. Compare APMEX, JM Bullion, SD Bullion and Costco.

United Kingdom

No VAT on investment gold, and no Capital Gains Tax on Sovereigns and Britannias. See our dealer price check.

Canada

No GST/HST on gold of at least 99.5% purity, but 22-carat coins such as the Gold Eagle are taxable. Compare Canadian dealers.

Australia

No GST on investment gold of 99.5% fineness or more. Compare the Perth Mint, ABC Bullion and Ainslie.

Original data · checked 10 October 2026

What dealers really charge

The premium above spot is the biggest cost of buying gold, and it varies far more than most people expect. We check it ourselves, on the dealer's own website, and publish the date.

UK: one 1oz UK gold coin (Britannia or equivalent)
Dealer	Price	Premium
Chards	£3,259.95	2.80%
Hatton Garden Metals	£3,281.19	3.47%
Atkinsons Bullion	£3,285.02	3.59%
The Royal Mint (2027 coin)	£3,397.16	7.13%

Spot £3,171.03/oz. Full UK comparison

US: one 1 oz American Gold Eagle (random year)
Dealer	Wire	Card
SD Bullion	$4,335.39 3.33%	$4,516.03 7.64%
APMEX	$4,424.29 5.45%	$4,608.64 9.84%

Spot $4,195.60/oz. Premium shown under each price. Full US comparison

New to gold? Start here

How to buy gold

Eight steps, from choosing coins or bars to paying safely and planning how you will sell.

What is the spot price?

The live wholesale price of gold, and why you will never pay exactly that.

Gold premiums explained

Why a small coin can cost 10% more than its gold, and how to pay less.

Best gold coins for beginners

Eagles, Maple Leafs, Britannias and Krugerrands compared on cost, tax and resale.

Is my gold real?

Simple checks you can do at home, and when to get a professional test.

Gold value calculator

Work out what any coin, bar or piece of jewellery is worth at today's price.

Quick check: what is my gold worth?

Weight

Unit

Purity

US dollars at the live spot price. Dealers and buyers pay less than melt value when they buy from you. For other currencies use the full calculator.

How we review gold dealers

1. Price checks

We record the single-item price on the dealer's own site and work out the premium over spot, with the date and time.

2. Published criteria

Every dealer is scored on the same checks: pricing, payment fees, delivery, buyback, storage and transparency.

3. Official sources

Tax and legal points are checked against HMRC, the IRS, the CRA and the ATO, and linked on every page.

4. Regular re-checks

We re-check prices monthly and policies quarterly, and log every change on our corrections page.

Read our full methodology · Editorial policy · About us and how we make money

Frequently asked questions

What is GoldVetted?

GoldVetted is an independent website that explains how to buy, store and sell physical gold coins and bars. We compare dealers using published criteria and our own dated price checks. We do not sell gold, hold customer money or give personal financial advice.

How does GoldVetted make money?

Some dealers pay us a commission when readers click our links and buy. Commission never affects our scores, our price checks or the order of our lists, and we list dealers that pay us nothing. Our affiliate disclosure has the details.

What is the cheapest way to buy physical gold?

Buy larger, common products (such as 1oz bars or 1oz bullion coins) from a specialist dealer and pay by bank transfer or wire. Small coins and card payments cost more. In our October 2026 US check, paying by card added about 4.2% to the price of a 1oz Gold Eagle at both APMEX and SD Bullion.

Is buying gold a good idea?

It depends on your goals. Gold has no yield, can fall in price for years, and costs money to buy, store and sell. Some people hold a small amount as insurance against inflation or market stress. Read our balanced guide, is gold a good investment?, before you decide.

Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.