Gold Buying Guide: Making Charges, Profit, Tax and Invoices
Before buying gold or coins, learn what the final price is made of, what to check on the invoice and which option suits savings best.
- Jewellery price = raw gold + making charge + profit + tax on charge and profit.
- For saving, melted gold or low-bubble coins are usually better value.
- Get an official invoice showing weight, purity and making charge.
This guide explains everything about gold buying guide that you need for a good decision, with examples.
Buying gold is one of the most common ways to save in Iran, but the final price is not just the gold price. This guide explains the components and what to check.
What a jewellery price is made of
- Raw gold value: weight × price per gram of 18K gold.
- Making charge: a percentage of the gold value that grows with craftsmanship.
- Seller’s profit: a percentage of gold plus making charge.
- VAT: on the making charge and profit only.
Jewellery, coins or melted gold?
| Option | Advantage | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jewellery | Wearable | Making charges are not refunded when selling |
| Coins | Very liquid | Check the bubble |
| Melted gold | No making charge | Buy from a reputable seller with an assay slip |
Checklist
- Check today’s price on EZRate before buying.
- Ask for weight, purity, making charge and profit separately on the invoice.
- For coins, ask for the Central Bank’s sealed pack; for melted gold, an assay slip.
- When selling you only get the gold value (or the market price for coins) — making charges are not refunded.
How to work out a fair gold price
Check the live 18K gold price and multiply it by the weight to get the raw gold value. Then add the making fee (usually 7–25%), the seller’s profit (up to 7%) and VAT on the fee and profit. The calculator on the 18K page does this for you; if the invoice is much higher, ask why.
Jewellery, melted gold or coins?
- Jewellery is for wearing and gifts, but its making fee is lost when you sell.
- See the gold mesghal price for melted gold, which has no making fee and suits saving.
- Coins are easy to sell, but check their bubble before buying.
Checklist before you buy
- Get an official invoice with weight, karat, fee and tax code.
- Check the karat stamp or an assay certificate.
- Look at the live price again right before paying.
- Compare several sellers for large purchases and set a price alert to buy at your target.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to buy gold? Nobody can time it exactly; buying in steps and when the bubble is low reduces risk. A price alert tells you when your target is reached.
- Is the making fee refunded when selling? No — only the raw gold value is paid (sometimes minus a small deduction), so a low fee matters for investing.
- New or second-hand gold? Second-hand gold has a lower fee and suits saving; check the karat and the condition.
- How is tax on gold calculated? VAT applies only to the making fee and the seller’s profit, not to the raw gold value.
Summary
Buying gold pays off when you know what each part of the price is for: raw gold, making fee, profit and tax. With the live price and the EZRate calculator you can know the fair price before you walk into a shop.
Following the currency market on EZRate
The live the dollar, euro and dirham rates are refreshed every minute from real market trades. Star any rate to add it to «My watchlist» on the home page, set a free e-mail, Telegram or browser alert for your target price, and convert any amount to Toman with the converter. The EZRate Telegram channel also posts the main rates several times a day.
Important note
This article is for education only and is not buy or sell advice. Iran’s currency, gold and crypto markets can move a lot in a short time; before any financial decision check the live rate, weigh your own risk and stay away from unknown traders and guaranteed-profit offers.
