Augusta Precious Metals vs Birch Gold Group: Fees, Minimums, Buyback and Complaints Compared (2026)

Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group charge the same yearly account fees, about $235, but Augusta asks for $50,000 to start and Birch for $5,000. So which one costs you less, and what does each put in writing?

The biggest cost at both companies is one neither prints: the markup, the margin the dealer adds to its own cost of the coins. Account fees are the yearly charges of the custodian (the trust company that holds the IRA) and the vault. This page belongs to our guide to gold IRA companies, and it is built from each company's own pages, custodian fee schedules, BBB records and court dockets.

The five key numbers are listed below; the verdict goes by situation, not an overall winner.

• Minimum: $50,000 at Augusta vs $5,000 at Birch (Augusta FAQ, last updated October 20, 2026; Birch FAQ, September 28, 2026).
• Yearly account fees: $235 at Augusta vs about $235 at Birch (same two pages).
• Fee offer: Augusta may pay fees for qualifying accounts "potentially for up to ten years"; Birch pays the first year above $50,000 and gives up to $10,000 in free metals from $50,000 (October 2026).
• Cancellation: up to 7 days for some Augusta purchases vs refunds only for counterfeit coins at Birch (October 20 and September 29, 2026).
• BBB complaints closed in three years: 1 for Augusta vs 9 for Birch (rechecked November 6, 2026).

Augusta Precious Metals vs Birch Gold Group at a Glance: 18 Facts Side by Side#

The table below compares the same 18 facts for Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group, each with its source and the date we checked it. A depository is the vault that stores IRA metal. Segregated storage keeps your coins apart; non-segregated storage pools them with other owners' coins.

Augusta Precious Metals vs Birch Gold Group: 18 facts, checked November 6, 2026 (date of each source in the last column)

Company website links in this table: SafeOunce earns nothing from these links.

Where a cell says "not published", we found nothing on the company's website. BBB accreditation is a paid membership, separate from the grade. Arbitration means a private judge decides a dispute instead of a court.

Our Augusta Precious Metals review covers the company alone, quoting its FAQ of September 23, 2026. Augusta rewrote parts of that FAQ on October 20, 2026, and this page quotes both versions where they differ.

Other comparison pages read on November 6, 2026 list Birch's minimum as $10,000, its yearly fee as $200 and its founding as 2003, and give Augusta a $100 storage fee and "zero complaints". The figures above come from each company's own dated pages and the BBB.

The Birch Gold Group review covers Birch alone, with its BBB and fee figures rechecked on October 2, 2026.

How Do Augusta and Birch Gold Fees Compare?#

Augusta and Birch Gold list the same $235 in yearly account fees, so the fee offers and the coin markup decide which costs you less. Account fees are the fixed yearly charges of the custodian and the vault. The markup is what the dealer adds to its own cost of the coins. What else do you pay, and what are the two fee offers really worth?

One point of markup on a $100,000 purchase is $1,000. That is more than four years of the $235 account fee. Our guide to gold IRA fees lists every cost layer, from setup to exit.

Account fees: the same $235 a year from the same custodian schedule#

Both companies list a $125 custodian fee and a $110 storage fee, which add up to $235 a year and match Equity Trust's metals-only fee schedule line for line. Augusta's FAQ, last updated October 20, 2026, lists "a $50 one-time account setup charge, a $125 annual custodian charge, and a $110 annual depository storage and insurance charge". That is "$285 in third-party account fees in the first year and $235 annually thereafter", with no management fee of Augusta's own.

Birch's FAQ (September 28, 2026) says the fees "typically average around $235 per year". Its prices page example: $50 setup, a $30 wire, $125 and $110 at Equity Trust. Birch also says there is "no single, fixed fee structure", so ask which schedule applies. These are flat fees: the same dollars at any account size.

The table sets the fee lines side by side, before any fee offer.

GoldStar figures are the custodian's schedule (GTC Rev. 01/2026), not a Birch quote. Before any fee offer.

GoldStar Trust's $215 is $90 plus $125 for commingled (shared) storage. The full Equity Trust precious metals IRA fees include exit charges.

Fees Birch adds and fees neither lists: the wire, segregated storage and exit charges#

Birch lists a $30 wire fee that Augusta's FAQ does not, and neither company lists the custodian's charges to sell, move or close the account. The four cost items below come from the Equity Trust (Rev. 081726) and GoldStar Trust (Rev. 01/2026) schedules.

• Segregated storage: $160 a year at Equity Trust ($285 in total); at least $225 at GoldStar. Neither company prices it.
• Sale of metal: $30 per sale at Equity Trust; no fee at GoldStar.
• In-kind distribution or transfer out: $125 at Equity Trust; $75 at GoldStar, plus $10 and shipping. In-kind means you take the coins out instead of cash.
• Closing the account: a $250 termination fee at Equity Trust; $150 at GoldStar.

Selling once and closing at Equity Trust costs $280 ($30 + $250), at either company.

Birch's second custodian is profiled in GoldStar Trust precious metals IRA fees.

Augusta's fee coverage vs Birch's fee waiver and free metals, costed at 4 account sizes#

On paper, Augusta's fee coverage is worth up to $2,350 and Birch's two offers $500 to $10,315, so Augusta's is worth more below $250,000 and Birch's from $250,000.

Augusta's FAQ, last updated October 20, 2026, says: "Augusta may pay eligible custodian and storage fees for qualifying accounts under the applicable fee-coverage program, potentially for up to ten years." Its FAQ of September 23, 2026 said: "Every account also receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta."

Birch's FAQ "covers the first year's fees for accounts over $50,000". Its prices page says "if your initial purchase is $50,000 or more" and also "for transfers over $50,000". A separate offer reads "Get up to $10,000 in Precious Metals for FREE", for purchases of at least $50,000. Its terms say "The metals purchased must be of eligible types" but do not name them (October 2, 2026).

The table shows the most each offer can be worth at four account sizes, in dollars and in markup points.

Most each offer can be worth; terms not published in full. Augusta: $235 a year for 10 years. Birch: year-one fees at Equity Trust ($315) plus free metals at Birch's selling price; at exactly $50,000 the $315 counts only if Birch treats $50,000 as "over $50,000". A markup point is 1% of the purchase. Illustration, not a quote.

The free metals come at Birch's selling price, so they resell for less. At a 20% spread (the dealer's margin as a share of your price), $1,000 of free metals resells for about $763 on the same day.

So which costs less in total? The table adds each offer to 10 years of list fees at Equity Trust, before any markup.

Illustration, not a quote. Assumes Augusta's coverage applies for all 10 years and Birch's free metals count at Birch's selling price. Markup not included.

How other no-fee gold IRA offers compare is costed on our fee-waiver page.

Neither offer puts three things in writing, listed below.

• Qualifying rules: which accounts get Augusta's coverage, and for how many years.
• Eligible metals: which metals Birch gives free, and at what markup.
• Exit fees: whether either offer pays Equity Trust's $30, $125 and $250 exit charges.

How free silver and bonus metal gold IRA promotions are paid for is explained step by step.

The markup: neither company publishes its coin prices#

Neither Augusta nor Birch Gold publishes a price per coin or a markup range, and the markup is the largest cost in a gold IRA. Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) says: "That quoted price includes Augusta's dealer margin." Birch's prices page says "we do not quote product prices online", and its fees blog (July 23, 2026) says: "Like any precious metals dealer, we charge a premium over the spot price."

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) put typical bullion premiums at 5% to 10% over spot and collector coins at 40% to 200% (release 8215-20, August 4, 2020). Of 15 operating sellers SafeOunce tracks, 4 publish a spread range (October 2, 2026). Augusta and Birch are not among them.

The table shows what $100,000 is worth on the day you buy, at four spreads.

Illustration: dealer's bid 4.69% below its own cost, the template in Lear Capital's terms (December 2025) and Preserve Gold's agreement (June 2025). Not a quote from either company.

Our explainer on gold IRA markups and spreads shows how to get the number in writing.

Augusta's 5% buyback-spread target: what it covers and what it does not#

Augusta's FAQ now names an approximately 5% purchase-to-buyback spread target, but only for qualifying structured transactions, and it is not a promised price. The FAQ (October 20, 2026) says: "Augusta works toward an approximately 5% purchase-to-buyback spread target for qualifying structured transactions under applicable terms, including eligible partial IRA distributions and RMDs; immediate full liquidation is different. The target is not a guaranteed future bid."

RMDs are required minimum distributions, the yearly withdrawals the law requires from age 73 (born 1951 to 1958) or 75 (born 1960 or later). The scope breaks down into three parts.

• Covered: qualifying partial IRA distributions and RMDs.
• Not covered: an immediate full liquidation (selling everything at once).
• Not stated: which products qualify, and which "purchase" price the 5% is measured from.

At 73 the IRS divisor is 26.5 (Publication 590-B), so a $100,000 IRA must pay out about $3,774. A 5% spread on that sale is about $189. For scale, a 1-ounce Gold Eagle cost 5.39% to buy and sell back at SD Bullion on September 29, 2026. Birch publishes no buyback spread or target.

How much must gold rise to cover the markup?#

At a 20% spread, gold must rise about 31% before a same-day sale gets your money back; at 30%, about 50%. The spread is the markup measured as a share of your price. In words: divide 1 by (1 minus the spread) times 0.953, then subtract 1. The 0.953 is the dealer's bid template from the table. These are break-even points, not forecasts. Test your own quote in the gold IRA break-even calculator.

Minimum Investment: $50,000 at Augusta vs $5,000 at Birch Gold#

Augusta's minimum first purchase is $50,000 and Birch Gold's minimum is $5,000, so only Birch takes accounts from $5,000 to $49,999. Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) sets "a standard minimum initial purchase of $50,000, whether the purchase is made through an IRA or with personal funds". Birch's FAQ (September 28, 2026) says Birch "currently requires a minimum investment of $5,000, though this amount can vary depending on market conditions and product availability".

The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 at 50 and older (IRS Notice 2025-67). Birch's $5,000 fits inside one year's contribution. Augusta's $50,000 needs a rollover, or about 5.8 years of maximum contributions at 50 or older ($8,600 a year) and 6.7 years under 50. We list gold IRA minimums by company for every seller we track.

Augusta's FAQ of September 23, 2026 said opening "typically takes one to two weeks", and Birch's prices page says "5-10 business days minimum, as long as six weeks in rare cases" (October 2, 2026). Trustpilot's summary of Augusta reviews puts its up-front education calls at 4 to 6 hours (September 29, 2026).

What the minimum means for fee drag#

At Birch's $5,000 minimum, the $235 yearly fee takes 4.7% of the account each year, while at Augusta's $50,000 minimum it takes 0.47%. Fee drag is the share of your account that the yearly fees take. Flat fees weigh most on small accounts, as the table shows.

Account fees only, markup not included, before Augusta's fee coverage (terms not published). Company pages read September 29 to October 20, 2026.

Less than $25,000? A gold ETF in an IRA you already have costs less#

Below about $25,000, a gold ETF held in an IRA you already have usually costs less a year than Birch's flat $235. An ETF (exchange-traded fund) trades like a stock, and some hold gold bars in a vault. Its expense ratio is its yearly fee as a share of your money: GLDM charges 0.10%, about $5 a year on $5,000; IAU 0.25%; GLD 0.40% (fund 10-K filings, 2025-2026). The costs are set out in gold IRA vs gold ETF.

An ETF gives you a share of a fund, not coins held in your IRA's name, and these figures show a cost gap, not advice. Other low-entry options are on best gold IRA companies for small investors.

Buyback and Cancellation: What Each Company Puts in Writing#

Neither company promises to buy back your metal or publishes its purchase agreement, and their written cancellation and dispute terms differ sharply. Why does the written wording matter more than the sales call? Disputes are decided on the signed documents and the website terms, not on what a representative said.

Buyback wording: "not guaranteed" at Augusta, "we do not make any money when we buy back" at Birch#

Augusta's FAQ says future repurchases and prices are not guaranteed, and Birch says it does not make money on buybacks but publishes no buyback price formula. A buyback is the dealer buying your metal back, and liquidation means selling it for cash. The table sets each company's exact words beside what they mean.

Our guide to buyback prices and custodian fees explains the bid.

In a BBB complaint filed January 23, 2026, an Augusta customer alleges they were asked to sign a Buyback Transaction Agreement with "confidentiality and non-disparagement language". Augusta replied on July 10, 2026 that "there is no confidentiality agreement required before receiving buyback pricing". SafeOunce has not read that agreement.

Five dealer contracts SafeOunce has read, including American Hartford Gold's and Lear Capital's, say the law prohibits guaranteeing a repurchase. Other sellers' wording is in gold IRA buyback programs compared.

Cancellation and returns: 7 days for some Augusta orders, counterfeit-only refunds at Birch#

Augusta's FAQ says some purchases qualify for a 7-day money-back protection, while Birch publishes no cancellation window and refunds only counterfeit coins returned within 90 days.

Augusta's FAQ, last updated October 20, 2026, says: "Some purchases may qualify for Augusta's seven-day money-back protection, and applicable state law can provide additional cancellation rights." It adds that "not every order has the same protections". Its FAQ of September 23, 2026 gave up to seven calendar days "for all transactions". Augusta's policy text on its BBB profile limits the window to first-time premium-coin orders (September 29, 2026).

Birch's risk disclosure allows no refunds "other than counterfeit coins returned in their original holders within ninety (90) days of purchase" (read September 29, 2026). It also says: "Customer should be prepared to hold any item purchased for at least a three to five-year period."

A separate right comes from the tax rules: under 26 CFR 1.408-6, you have at least 7 days to revoke (cancel) a new IRA. That right runs against the custodian, not the dealer. Our page on whether you can cancel a gold IRA separates the IRS right from the dealer's terms.

Contracts and disputes: arbitration at Augusta vs JAMS in Des Moines at Birch#

Both companies' website terms send disputes to private arbitration and bar class actions, and Birch's terms add a 50/50 fee split and a confidentiality rule. A class action waiver means you give up joining a group lawsuit. JAMS is a private company that runs arbitrations.

The table compares the dispute terms each company shows on its website.

Birch's terms reach "(d) any transaction, communication or interaction between You and Birch Gold Group". In plain English: the website terms are part of the deal, even though you never sign them.

At Equity Trust you also sign a custodial agreement that requires individual arbitration unless you opt out within 65 days of opening (Article XVIII; Clark v. Equity Trust, D.N.M., October 29, 2024). An opt-out is a written notice that takes you out of the clause.

Ask each company to email the Transaction Agreement before you move any money. Our table of gold IRA company contracts compared shows the clauses at sellers that publish them.

Custodians and depositories: Equity Trust at both, five vaults at Birch#

Augusta names Equity Trust as custodian and the Delaware Depository as its vault, while Birch names Equity Trust and GoldStar Trust and five vaults. Augusta's gold IRA page (read November 6, 2026) says "Augusta works with Equity Trust Company" and "Augusta stores metals at Delaware Depository". Its FAQ of September 23, 2026 said metals are "held fully allocated", meaning assigned to your account; the October 20 FAQ names neither firm.

Birch's FAQ says: "We most frequently use Equity Trust Company and Goldstar Trust Company." Its gold Roth IRA page (May 7, 2026) says you may "choose any other qualified custodian if you prefer". The two vault lists are below.

• Augusta: Delaware Depository.
• Birch: Delaware Depository, Brink's, International Depository Services, Texas Precious Metals Depository and Texas Bullion Depository.

Both sites say "fully insured" (Augusta gold IRA page and Birch homepage, November 6, 2026). The Delaware Depository carries $1 billion of all-risk insurance (cover for most causes of loss) plus $100 million of contingent cover (FAQ, September 29, 2026). It pays metal value, not premiums, and excludes war, terrorism, cyber events and confiscation. FDIC and SIPC never cover IRA metal.

Fees and insurance terms are on our Delaware Depository page.

Complaints, Lawsuits and Regulatory Records Compared#

Augusta has 1 BBB complaint in three years and Birch Gold 9 (November 6, 2026), and we found no customer lawsuit over prices and no federal regulator action against either (searches from September 29 to November 6, 2026).

Augusta's record in detail is on Augusta Precious Metals complaints and lawsuits.

BBB and Trustpilot: 1 vs 9 complaints in three years#

Augusta's BBB profile shows 0.7 complaints per 100 reviews and Birch's 3.9, as of October 2, 2026. Complaint density is complaints divided by reviews, a rough gauge of how often buyers complain. The one-star share is the part of Trustpilot reviews at the lowest score.

The BBB grade mostly measures complaint handling: 90 of its 100 points relate to complaints, and reviews are not used. Trustpilot adds seven 3.5-star reviews to every score. Among the ten gold IRA sellers SafeOunce compares, Birch's 6% one-star share is the highest.

Counts grow with sales volume, which neither company publishes; Birch's homepage claims "over 40,000 customers" (November 6, 2026), not checked by SafeOunce. Disputes sent to confidential arbitration never reach the BBB. That matters more at Birch, whose terms make arbitration "strictly confidential".

Why star ratings barely separate these firms is covered in BBB, BCA and Trustpilot ratings.

What the complaint texts allege, and how each company replied#

The complaints against both companies that have text allege the same thing: premiums far above what the customer expected, which both companies deny.

Augusta's one BBB complaint, filed January 23, 2026, alleges premiums "approximately 84% above typical market pricing for gold and over 200% above typical market pricing for silver". The customer put the excess at "over $57,000" (unchecked figures). Augusta replied on May 18, 2026: "The third-party analysis is completely incorrect." A one-star Trustpilot review (date of experience March 19, 2026), from a reviewer who says they did not buy, alleges steering to fractional silver coins that "were exclusive to APM". No Augusta reply was shown on October 2, 2026.

The BBB shows the text of 8 of Birch's 9 complaints. Three, filed in January and February 2026, allege premiums far above expectations. One alleges "a premium of up to ~90+%" while the agreement "states premiums between 5 to 45%". Birch replied that the customers were not charged the premiums they claim.

Birch's reply of March 9, 2026 adds that spreads "are explained in detail and require initials" in the Transaction Agreement. Yet that agreement is not on Birch's website, so you can read it only after a call.

The protection is the same at both: ask for 1-ounce bullion coins or bars and the percent over spot, in writing, before you pay.

Lawsuits: four cases naming Augusta, one trademark suit filed by Birch#

No customer has sued either company over prices on the records we found; four cases name Augusta as a party, and Birch is the plaintiff in one trademark case. A plaintiff is the party that files a lawsuit, and a docket is the court's list of filings in a case. The table lists the six cases found in court indexes and on CourtListener (September 29 to November 6, 2026).

Mediation means a neutral person helps both sides try to settle. A putative class action is a case filed for a group that a judge has not yet approved as a class. Birch's lawsuit page (July 2, 2026) says Birch "has never been sued by investors in the company", and its complaints-record page says "No reports of any legal actions against this company" (November 6, 2026), although Birch itself filed the Bishop case.

Regulator actions: no federal action found for either company#

We found no CFTC, SEC or FTC action against Augusta Precious Metals or Birch Gold Group in searches on September 29, 2026, rechecked for Augusta on November 6, 2026. State records were not checked for every state, so this is not a finding that no state regulator has acted.

Federal cases against retail metals dealers are rare. As of September 25, 2026, the last new CFTC complaint against one that SafeOunce found was Regal Assets, filed September 27, 2023 (CFTC release 8791-23); it ended in default judgments on October 15, 2024. State rules, such as dealer registration, are one of the gaps explained in who regulates gold IRA companies.

Neither company is caught by SafeOunce's gate 3, which bars a company with a settled pricing or disclosure case in the last 5 years from best-of lists.

Every case we track is in our list of gold IRA enforcement actions.

Marketing claims vs the record: "since 2003", "IRS-approved" and age 72#

Both companies' websites carry statements that the record or the tax code does not support. The table lists seven, each with the date we read it.

In plain English: no government agency approves a gold coin, a dealer or a vault. What the tax code allows is set out on IRA-approved precious metals.

Birch's own gold Roth IRA page gives the current age, 73 (October 2, 2026). The current ages are on gold IRA required minimum distributions.

Growth inside a traditional IRA is tax-deferred: you pay income tax when you take money out.

The one IRS list, of nonbank trustees under Treasury Regulation 1.408-2(e), is explained on IRS-approved gold IRA custodians.

Augusta or Birch Gold: Which Company Fits Your Situation?#

Neither company is better for everyone: your balance decides the first step, and what each company puts in writing decides the rest. The table matches ten reader situations to the company that fits better, with the fact that decides it.

SafeOunce rates companies on 7 criteria worth 100 points, from public records and a buyer-style written quote. Both results are provisional: Augusta has earned 40 of the 52 points checked so far and Birch 35 of the 47 checked (October 2, 2026). Because different points have been checked, the two cannot be ranked against each other yet, so we name no overall winner. The scoring rules are in how SafeOunce rates gold IRA companies.

No company can pay to change its rating or its place on any SafeOunce list.

Our ranked list is on best gold IRA companies.

What Should You Ask Augusta or Birch Gold Before You Sign?#

Ask both companies the same six questions by email, on the same day, before you move any retirement money. The six questions are listed below.

1. Ask for the price of each coin and its percent over spot.
2. Ask what the company would pay for the same coins today, and whether Augusta's 5% target or Birch's right of first refusal applies.
3. Ask for every yearly and exit fee, and which ones the fee offer pays, for how long.
4. Ask whether your order can be cancelled, for how many days and from when.
5. Ask which custodian and depository you will use, and for the dated fee schedule.
6. Ask for the Transaction Agreement and its dispute terms by email.

All 12 questions are in how to choose a gold IRA company.

Federal law backs the first question. Under the Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR 310.3(a)(1)(i), a telemarketer (a phone seller) must disclose the total cost before you pay. Section 310.6(b)(5) keeps metals investment sales under the rule even when you called first.

Put both written quotes side by side in our gold IRA company comparison tool.

A phone promise is hard to prove later, so keep the emails.

How are review sites paid to recommend Augusta or Birch Gold?#

Augusta pays referral sites 8% of an order's premium-coin value, nothing on bullion and $200 per qualified lead; Birch pays per lead and for life, without published amounts. These are Augusta's "Prime" affiliate terms (apmaffiliates.com, September 29, 2026); its VIP tier pays 10% and 1%. A lead is a person who asks to be contacted.

Augusta's terms say an order's "Premium Trade Value" is "determined by Augusta", and they describe the ideal customer as "between the ages of 55 and 75". The table shows what a referral site earns on a $100,000 order.

Assumes the Premium Trade Value equals the order. The premium-coin order pays the referral site 41 times more.

Birch's affiliate page says: "We pay for every qualified lead and offer commissions on every sale throughout the customer's lifetime." It shares the program with BitIRA and publishes no amounts (September 29, 2026).

On November 6, 2026, the top search result for this pair carried an Augusta affiliate code and a Birch tracking link through BitIRA's network. Both in-depth "Augusta vs Birch" pages we found disclose that Augusta pays them. We explain the whole system in are gold IRA reviews paid.

SafeOunce takes no money from any company named on this page.

To see how SafeOunce is paid, read who pays SafeOunce.

Who endorses Augusta and Birch Gold?#

Birch Gold's homepage features Ron Paul, Dan Bongino, Steve Bannon and Megyn Kelly (November 6, 2026), and Augusta named Joe Montana a brand ambassador in 2020, according to its own press releases. Whether Montana is paid, and his role after 2023, are not confirmed. Treat each endorser as a business partner, not a neutral reviewer; the FTC's endorsement guides (16 CFR 255) govern such ads. Who endorses which seller is tracked on celebrity gold IRA endorsements.

How do Augusta and Birch Gold compare with other gold IRA companies?#

Each company has its own head-to-head pages against the other large gold IRA sellers. The eight pairs are listed below.

• Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco
• Augusta Precious Metals vs Priority Gold
• Augusta Precious Metals vs American Hartford Gold
• Birch Gold Group vs Noble Gold Investments
• Goldco vs Birch Gold Group
• Augusta Precious Metals vs Lear Capital
• Birch Gold Group vs Lear Capital
• Birch Gold Group vs Priority Gold

Gold IRAs set against ETFs, stocks and other options are on gold IRA comparisons.

Is Birch Gold a legitimate company?#

Yes: Birch Gold Group, LP is an operating, BBB-accredited dealer with 9 BBB complaints in three years, but it publishes no coin prices. It has held BBB accreditation since July 22, 2013, and the BBB grades it A+ (October 2, 2026). We found no federal regulator action against it in searches on September 29, 2026. The full record is in our Birch Gold review 2026.

What does Augusta Precious Metals do?#

Augusta Precious Metals sells gold and silver coins and bars by phone and arranges self-directed IRAs to hold them, with Equity Trust as custodian. It is a dealer, not a custodian, a fund or an adviser. Its FAQ (October 20, 2026) says it "primarily focuses on gold and silver"; the September 23 version listed "gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products". Our full take on Augusta Precious Metals reviews is on the review page.

What is the downside of a gold IRA with either company?#

The main downside at both is cost: about $235 a year plus a markup neither publishes, and gold pays no interest or dividends. At a 20% spread, a $100,000 purchase is worth about $76,250 on a same-day sale (illustration above). The general case is on gold IRA pros and cons.

Can you move from Birch Gold to Augusta later?#

Yes, if your balance meets Augusta's $50,000 minimum: metals can move between IRA custodians in kind through a trustee-to-trustee transfer, but custodians charge exit fees. A transfer is not a rollover, so there is no 60-day clock, no once-per-year limit and no withholding (IRS Publication 590-A). Equity Trust charges $125 to transfer out in kind and $250 to close; GoldStar charges $75 plus shipping, and $150. Ask Augusta whether metals bought elsewhere count toward its minimum. Steps and costs are in switching gold IRA custodians or companies.

Can you keep Augusta or Birch Gold metals at home?#

No: metals in a gold IRA must stay with the trustee, and taking them home is a taxable distribution under McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021). Augusta's FAQ (October 20, 2026) says the same. Birch's gold IRA page says you work with "a depository, where the gold will be stored securely and insured" (October 2, 2026). The ruling is explained under home storage gold IRA.