Selling inherited gold in Pakistan from the USA
Selling inherited gold in Pakistan from the United States is mostly a paperwork problem, not a pricing problem. The board rate sets the ceiling on value; succession documents and an attested power of attorney determine whether the sale can happen at all.
Valuing it honestly
Weigh and karat-test before you negotiate. Older family jewellery is usually 21K or 22K, and stones, enamel and solder come off the net weight.
Apply the board rate for that karat to net weight, then expect a buy-back margin. Two written offers from different dealers is the cheapest protection available.
Authority to sell
An estate sale needs a succession certificate or letters of administration in Pakistan. If a relative is acting for you, they need a power of attorney executed in the US and attested by the Pakistani consulate or embassy.
Consular attestation is the slow step. Start it before anyone talks to a jeweller.
Where to sell
Wholesale sarafa dealers usually pay closer to the board than retail showrooms. Exchanging against new jewellery normally beats a cash sale if the family wants pieces rather than money.
Insist on a written sale note: date, board rate, karat, net weight, deductions, final amount.
Moving the money and US tax
Send proceeds through the banking channel; the bank will want evidence of source, and the sale note plus estate papers is the usual package.
Inherited property has US tax consequences on disposal, generally based on value at date of death. This is not tax advice — speak to a CPA before repatriating a large sum.
Last reviewed 2026-01-15