South Africa’s Constitutional Court rules that the zero value-added tax (VAT) treatment for second-hand gold no longer applies, closing what has been described as a long-standing loophole. The court’s decision means that most second-hand gold transactions are now subject to the standard VAT rate of 15%. As a result, sellers and buyers of second-hand gold face VAT treatment consistent with other taxable goods, rather than the previous zero-rated approach. The articles report that this change affects the broader market for second-hand gold, shifting the tax liability outcome for typical sales. The decision is framed as the Constitutional Court “slamming the door” on the earlier zero VAT position, which had allowed certain VAT exemptions or relief to persist for decades. Both outlets present the ruling as final in terms of ending the zero VAT benefit, and they note that the applicable rate going forward is the usual 15% VAT for most second-hand gold.