The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) ETF sells a small portion of its gold holdings every month to pay its 0.40% annual expenses, as it holds no cash or income. This sale reduces the gold backing each share over time and is treated by the IRS as if the investor sold gold, potentially incurring taxes up to 28% on long-term gains since gold is taxed as a collectible. These sales often go unreported on tax forms, so investors should manually calculate gains for tax filing. Lower-fee gold ETFs like IAU and GLDM offer similar exposure with less frequent gold sales, benefiting long-term holders who do not need GLD's liquidity.
The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) ETF's monthly gold sales to cover expenses highlight a unique cost factor for investors. On Pluang, GLD trades at USD 382.74, up 1.28% as of Sep 30, 2026 03:11 WIB, with a market cap of $144.43B. Its typical hold time on Pluang is 72 days, reflecting moderate investor interest compared to IAU, which trades at USD 78.47 with a shorter hold time of 48 days.
