THE SHORT ANSWER
Hire for the property and assignment, not the word “certified”
Define the purpose, effective date, value type and exact property, then ask for verifiable experience with that combination. Review the appraiser's education, sample report, standards obligation, independence, inspection and testing plan, data sources, fee, delivery and update policy before handing over property or relying on a value.
COMPETENCE MATCH
Gold is not one appraisal specialty
INTERVIEW
Ask ten questions before agreeing to the assignment
- What assignment purpose and value definition will you use?
- Who are the intended users, and what reliance limits apply?
- What experience do you have with this exact property type?
- Which standards, law, policy or professional rules govern the work?
- Will you personally inspect the items, and what testing is included?
- How will you treat authenticity, title, grade and condition?
- Which market and transaction sources will you research?
- How are conflicts, referrals, buying interests and compensation disclosed?
- What will the signed report contain, and when will it be delivered?
- What event or time interval would require an update?
QUALIFICATIONS
Verify claims instead of trusting a credential label
The Appraisal Foundation publishes personal-property qualification criteria and explains that USPAP covers personal property, while whether compliance is required depends on the applicable law, regulation, policy or client arrangement. Ask which organization issued a designation, its status, property scope, education and continuing requirements. Verify directly with the issuer.
For a federal charitable assignment, IRS rules are narrower: Publication 561 describes a qualified appraiser as an individual with verifiable education and experience valuing the type of property, plus other requirements and exclusions. General business experience or ownership of a jewelry store does not by itself answer that test.
INDEPENDENCE
Commercial interest must be visible before the value is accepted
A conflict does not become harmless because it is common. It must be identified, evaluated against the assignment rules and disclosed. For charitable appraisals, prohibited-fee and excluded-individual rules require special attention.
RED FLAGS
Pause when the process begins with the desired number
- A promised value before property, date, purpose and market are defined.
- No item-level inventory, physical description, photographs or inspection limits.
- “Certified” with no verifiable issuer, discipline or current status.
- A report built from current retail asking prices for a historical or resale assignment.
- One appraiser claims equal expertise in every coin, gemstone, antique and tax purpose.
- The appraiser wants to buy immediately but does not disclose the commercial interest.
- A fee tied to appraised value, tax deduction, claim result or sale outcome.
PRIMARY AND STANDARDS SOURCES
Read the source that controls the assignment
- IRS Publication 561 and IRS Art Appraisal Services for fair-market-value, coin and jewelry evidence, qualified appraisal, qualified appraiser and report-content rules in federal tax assignments.
- The Appraisal Foundation's USPAP resource and personal-property appraisal overview for current standards and qualification context. USPAP applicability depends on law, policy, contract or professional obligation.
- NAIC homeowners and renters guidance for insurance limits, independent appraisals, documentation and policy-value boundaries.
- FTC Jewelry Guides and FTC gold-jewelry consumer guidance for truthful metal-content descriptions, karat marks, plating, hollow construction and other identity evidence.
- U.S. Mint bullion consumer awareness, official bullion programs and PCGS grading standards for product specifications, premium context and the boundary between grade and market value.
Reviewed July 31, 2026. Tax, insurance, court and professional standards can change. Confirm the exact assignment date, jurisdiction, policy, form instructions and appraiser obligations before relying on a report.
QUESTIONS
Choosing an appraiser
What qualifications should a gold appraiser have?
Look for verifiable education and experience in the exact property type and assignment purpose. A bullion specialist, numismatic grader and jewelry appraiser may have different competencies.
Does every personal-property appraiser need a state license?
No universal U.S. state license covers every personal-property appraisal. The Appraisal Foundation says USPAP applicability can arise through law, policy, client contract, professional membership or other obligation.
Should an appraisal fee be based on value?
For a qualified charitable appraisal, IRS Publication 561 prohibits a fee based on a percentage of appraised value or the allowed deduction. For any purpose, ask how compensation and commercial interests could affect independence.
Can the seller appraise the gold being sold?
A seller can provide product and price evidence, but a commercial interest is not independent. Determine whether the intended user requires an independent appraiser and disclose every relationship.