Ezel / Tax Rulings / TX
TX 8512L0681G13 Sales and/or Use Tax (State,Local,MTA) 1985-12-12

Were sales of the 1986 legal-tender Liberty commemorative coins subject to Texas sales and use tax?

Short answer: No. The Comptroller said sales of the proof half-dollar, silver dollar, and gold five-dollar Liberty Coins were exempt.

Apply this to your situation

This page answers the general question as of 1985. Ezel answers yours, under current Texas tax law, with citations.

Currency note: this ruling is from 1985
Subsequent statutory amendments, regulation changes, court decisions, or later rulings may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current tax advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, rate, or position mentioned here.
Disclaimer: This is an official 1985 Texas Comptroller taxpayer-response letter containing a short conclusion limited to three 1986 legal-tender Liberty proof coins. It does not state a general rule for other coins, bullion, collectibles, or commemorative products. Current coin, currency, legal-tender, precious-metal, and sales-tax rules may differ, and STAR documents may no longer represent current policy even when not marked superseded. Letters on STAR can support detrimental reliance only for the taxpayer to whom the letter was directly issued under 34 Tex. Admin. Code Rules 3.1 and 3.10. Taxpayer-identifying details are redacted. This summary is informational only and is not legal or tax advice.
About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official state tax ruling. The original ruling (linked on this page) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

Plain-English summary

The Comptroller said sales of the new legal-tender Liberty Coins were exempt from limited sales and use tax. The letter specifically listed the 1986 proof half-dollar, 1986 proof silver dollar, and 1986 proof gold five-dollar coin.

Common questions

Were the listed Liberty Coins taxable? No.

Which coins did the letter cover? The three listed 1986 proof coins.

Did it decide the treatment of other coins or bullion? No.

Citations and references

The reproduced letter cites no numbered statute or rule.

Source

Original ruling text

December 12, 1985

Dear ***:

Thank you for your letter of December 4, 1985, concerning the taxability
of the sale of Liberty Coins.

Sales of the new legal tender Liberty Coins (the 1986 proof half-dollar,
1986 proof silver dollar and 1986 proof gold five dollar coins) are exempt
from limited sales and use tax.

If you have any questions or need more information, please call us at
1-800-252-5555 toll free from anywhere in Texas. You may write us at the
Tax Administration Division.

Sincerely,

Tax Policy Section
Tax Administration Division

Get today's answer for your situation

You just read a 1985 ruling on this question. Ezel checks current Texas tax law and answers your specific situation, with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer cites the authority it relies on.