In the Netherlands, physical investment gold that meets legal purity and form requirements is exempt from VAT (BTW) at purchase. Silver does not qualify for this exemption and is generally subject to the standard 21% VAT rate. Separately, gold and silver you own as a private individual are treated as wealth and must be declared in Box 3 of your annual income tax return, valued as of 1 January each year.
Under EU rules that the Netherlands follows, gold meeting the legal definition of "investment gold" is treated as a financial asset rather than a traded commodity, and is exempt from VAT. To qualify, bars generally need a purity of at least 995/1000, and gold coins generally need to be at least 900/1000 purity, minted after 1800, and recognized as legal tender in their country of origin (which covers the vast majority of bullion coins sold as investment products). Nearly everything sold as investment-grade gold bars and coins falls within these criteria.
Silver does not get the same treatment. Tax authorities classify silver as an industrial raw material rather than a financial product, so it doesn't qualify for the investment-metal VAT exemption that applies to gold. In practice this means standard Dutch VAT (21%) generally applies to silver bars and coins. GoldPenthouse applies VAT correctly wherever it's due and shows it clearly on every applicable product page and invoice, so the price you see is the price you pay - there's no VAT surprise at checkout.
Whether or not VAT was charged at purchase, physical precious metals you hold as a private individual generally count as wealth (assets) for Dutch income tax purposes, and need to be declared in Box 3 alongside savings and investments. The value used is typically based on a reference date of 1 January of the relevant tax year, so the price on that specific date is what matters for your declaration, not the price you originally paid. It is your own responsibility as a taxpayer to declare this correctly - GoldPenthouse doesn't report your holdings to the Belastingdienst on your behalf.
For historical year-end reference prices to help with your own valuation, see our Tax Information page.
On GoldPenthouse, every product page shows whether VAT applies before you add it to your cart, and it's itemized separately on your invoice wherever relevant. This is one reason gold is often the more straightforward entry point for new buyers in the Netherlands - the price at checkout already reflects the VAT-exempt treatment, with no separate tax to plan around at purchase.
Read our full Tax Information page for year-by-year reference prices, or see our Gold Investment Guide if you're just getting started.