By option, reselling silver in France may fall under the capital-gains regime for movable property: only the actual gain is taxed, with an allowance for the holding period leading to an exemption beyond a certain number of years. This regime requires a named purchase invoice.
The capital-gains regime for movable property rests on a different logic from the flat-rate tax. Instead of hitting the sale price, it taxes only the actual gain: the difference between the sale price and the purchase price. If you made no gain, there is in principle no taxable base.
This regime is not automatic, however: it is obtained by option and requires you to prove your purchase price with a named, dated invoice. Without this document, the option is generally closed and the flat-rate tax applies by default. Applicable rates change: check the scale in force (official texts / service-public.fr / a tax adviser).
The distinctive feature of this regime is the allowance for the holding period. The longer you have kept the metal, the more the taxable gain is reduced, up to a full exemption beyond a certain number of years of holding. This mechanism is what makes the option attractive for long holdings.
The number of years needed for exemption and the pace of the allowance come from the scale in force: do not fix them and check the duration applicable at the time of sale. The dated invoice is doubly useful here, since it establishes both the purchase price and the starting point of the holding period. To choose your buyer, see our ranking of silver buyback professionals.
The capital-gains option is mainly useful in two cases: an old holding, which benefits from a strong allowance, or a small or nil gain, which makes the flat-rate tax on the sale price relatively penalising. Conversely, without an invoice or for a recent holding with a high gain, the flat-rate regime is often applied by default.
As this is a quantified trade-off, have both scenarios worked out by an accountant before selling, especially for a bar or a large batch. In the case of inherited silver, the absence of an original purchase invoice often closes the option. To compare the two regimes, read our guide on the flat-rate tax applied to silver.
Generally no. The option for the capital-gains regime requires a named, dated purchase invoice, which proves the purchase price and the holding period. Without this document, the flat-rate tax on the sale price applies by default.
The regime provides an allowance for the holding period leading to an exemption beyond a certain number of years. The exact duration comes from the scale in force: do not rely on a fixed figure and check it against the official texts or a tax adviser.