A Northern California couple unearthed $10 million worth of gold coins in their backyard and may be giving half of their jackpot away in the form of State and Federal taxes. While walking their dog, the couple discovered six steel cans that were filled with thousands of mint condition gold coins that date from 1847 to 1894. There has been speculation that these coins were buried in conjunction with a bank heist in the early 1900s.

In 1969, the United States Federal Court ruled that treasure is taxable the year that it was discovered. “If you find and keep property that does not belong to you that has been lost or abandoned (treasure-trove), it is taxable to you at its fair market value in the first year it is in your undisputed possession.” Read More