THE SHORT ANSWER
Buy a documented product and a documented exit, not a vague gold price
Define why you want physical gold, choose an exact bar or coin, verify fine content and VAT status, compare complete same-time quotes, preserve an invoice capable of supporting future ownership and acquisition cost, and decide custody before payment. The cheapest headline premium can lose once delivery, payment, documentation and resale deductions are included.
SEVEN-STEP PURCHASE
Turn a product listing into an auditable transaction
Define the job. Emergency liquidity, long-term allocation and collecting require different products.
Verify fine gold. Record gross weight, fineness and contained fine ounces from an authoritative specification.
Check VAT status. Apply the bar or coin test to the exact issue, not a category label.
Normalize quotes. Compare total checkout cost per fine ounce at one observation time.
Verify the counterparty. Confirm legal identity, address, terms, payment instructions and complaints route independently.
Demand useful records. Preserve invoice, payment, order and delivery evidence.
Plan custody and exit. Price insurance, access, withdrawal and a same-product buyback before buying.
QUOTE NORMALIZATION
Compare euros per fine ounce, not sticker price
Contained fine ounces equal gross troy ounces multiplied by fineness as a decimal. Melt reference equals fine ounces multiplied by the same-time EUR price. All-in premium equals checkout total minus melt reference. Divide the premium by melt reference for a comparable percentage.
A smaller coin may be rational despite a higher percentage premium when divisibility matters. A large bar may be efficient for long-term storage but forces a larger single sale. The answer reverses when your likely exit size changes.
DOCUMENTATION VALUE
A proper invoice protects more than a warranty claim
French capital-gain election rules make acquisition evidence unusually important. The document should identify the acquired property clearly enough to connect it to the later sale. A generic cash receipt may be weaker than an invoice naming the product, quantity and transaction price.
Keep digital and offline copies. If gold arrives sealed, photograph the external package, label and identifiers before moving it to custody. Do not publish serial numbers or exact storage locations.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Official law and administration pages, not dealer summaries
- EU VAT Directive, Articles 344–356 for the investment-gold definition, exemption and recordkeeping framework.
- French General Tax Code, Articles 150 VI–VM for the precious-metals transfer-tax scope, liability, rate and election.
- BOFiP guidance on the flat precious-objects tax for the 11% precious-metals rate and 0.5% CRDS.
- BOFiP guidance on the capital-gain election for proof conditions and the alternative route.
- CGI Article 150 VC for the 5% allowance for each completed holding year after the second.
- Form 2091-SD and Form 2092-SD for the administration's declaration routes.
Reviewed August 2, 2026. This material describes a general legal framework; residence, business activity, product classification, transaction location and current forms can change the result.
FAQ
Buying gold in France
Where can I buy gold in France?
Specialist bullion and coin dealers offer physical gold. Verify the legal business, exact inventory, total price, delivery and buyback terms rather than relying on a directory label.
What should a French gold invoice show?
Keep seller, buyer, date, exact product, quantity, price, fees, VAT treatment, payment route and identifying details such as serial or assay references where available.
Should I buy bars or coins?
Bars can reduce fabrication cost; recognizable coins can improve divisibility. Compare the same-time all-in premium and executable resale bid for your intended holding size.
Can I rely on the dealer's spot chart?
No chart replaces an executable total. Record the reference source and time, then compare final checkout cost per fine ounce.