A precious metals IRA is an individual retirement account (IRA) that holds real gold, silver, platinum or palladium, kept for you in a vault and never at your home. The custodian, the bank or trust company that legally runs the account, buys the metal and picks the vault. That vault is called a depository.
You can add up to $7,500 in 2026, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older (IRS Notice 2025-67). Many people fund the account by moving money from a 401(k) or another IRA instead, and those moves have no dollar cap. So which metals qualify, what does each cost, and what can go wrong?
The metal you pick changes the cost the most. On $100,000 held 10 years at one custodian, spreads plus account fees ran from about $8,070 with gold coins to $34,480 with palladium coins (September 29, 2026 prices).
This guide covers the tax law behind the account (26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3)), the 6 steps, the 2 ways metal qualifies and how the 4 metals differ. Then come the costs, 7 downsides, 10 IRS rules for 2026, 8 questions for a seller and how the guide stays independent.
The table below sums up a precious metals IRA in 13 facts as of September 29, 2026.
| Item | 2026 value and source |
|---|---|
| What it can hold | Gold, silver, platinum and palladium that meet 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3) |
| Minimum purity for bars and most coins | Gold 99.5% (.995); silver 99.9% (.999); platinum and palladium 99.95% (.9995). Coins named in the law, such as the American Gold Eagle, are exempt |
| Who holds it | A custodian (a bank or trust company); the metal sits in a depository |
| Account types | Traditional, Roth, SEP or SIMPLE IRA at a custodian that allows metal |
| Yearly contribution limit | $7,500; $8,600 at 50 or older (IRS Notice 2025-67) |
| Moving existing savings | Transfers and direct rollovers: no dollar limit, no tax when done custodian to custodian |
| Yearly account fees | $215 to $656 on a $50,000 account, from the published fee schedules of four custodians (2026) |
| Cost to buy and sell 1 oz the same day | Gold Eagle 5.39%; Silver Eagle 14.6%; Platinum Eagle 10.8%; Palladium Maple Leaf 31.8% (SD Bullion, September 29, 2026) |
| LBMA PM prices (London Bullion Market Association afternoon benchmark; silver has one daily LBMA price), September 28, 2026 | Gold $4,144.55; silver $61.33; platinum $1,731.85; palladium $1,219.25 |
| Home storage | Not allowed (McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10, 2021) |
| Covered by FDIC (bank deposit insurance) or SIPC (brokerage-failure protection)? | No. Only the vault's own insurance, which pays the metal's market value, not what you paid |
| IRS list of approved coins or vaults? | None exists (IRS Retirement Plan Investments FAQs) |
| Required minimum distributions (RMDs), the yearly withdrawals the IRS requires | From age 73; 75 if born in 1960 or later |
Six words appear on every quote from a seller, and the table below defines them.
| Word | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Spot price | Today's market price for one troy ounce (31.1 grams) of pure metal |
| Premium | What a dealer charges above spot |
| Bid | The dealer's buyback price, usually below spot |
| Spread | The gap between what you pay the dealer and what it pays you back; a same-day buy and sell (a "round trip") costs you the spread |
| Melt value | The metal in a coin times the spot price |
| In-kind | Taking the coins themselves out of the IRA instead of cash |
What Is a Precious Metals IRA?#
A precious metals IRA is an IRA whose custodian buys and holds gold, silver, platinum or palladium that federal tax law allows, stored for you in a depository. That law is 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3). The tax code treats most metal and coins as collectibles, like art and gems, and an IRA that buys one is taxed as if you withdrew the money (408(m)(1)).
So how does any metal get in? Two exceptions let it in: coins the law names, and pure bullion (bars and coins valued for their metal) held by a trustee. Here, the trustee is your custodian.
People also say "metals IRA", "gold and silver IRA" or simply gold IRA. A gold IRA follows exactly the same rules as one that holds silver, platinum or palladium.
A gold ETF (a fund that trades like a stock) is not a precious metals IRA. A normal IRA may hold one, but it owns fund shares, not metal (IRS private letter ruling 200732026). Neither is a mining-stock fund or coins kept at home.
Is a precious metals IRA its own type of account?#
No: a precious metals IRA is a normal traditional, Roth, SEP or SIMPLE IRA whose custodian allows physical metal, so the same limits and tax rules apply. People call it a self-directed IRA, one whose custodian lets you pick assets such as metal. Four types of IRA can hold any of the 4 metals.
- Traditional IRA: you usually pay no tax when money goes in, and you pay income tax when you take it out.
- Roth IRA: you pay tax first, and qualified withdrawals come out tax-free.
- SEP IRA: employer contributions for the self-employed and small firms.
- SIMPLE IRA: a small-employer plan; in its first 2 years, its money can move tax-free only to another SIMPLE IRA (26 U.S.C. 408(d)(3)(G)).
The 2026 limit of $7,500 is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs, so a metals account adds no extra room (IRS Publication 590-A). Which one fits you is covered in types of gold IRAs.
Is there an "IRS-approved" list of metals, dealers or vaults?#
No: the IRS publishes no list of approved coins, bars, dealers or vaults, so "IRS-approved" is a sales phrase for metal that meets the tax code's rules. The IRS Retirement Plan Investments FAQs (updated April 8, 2026) say: "there is no list of approved investments for retirement plans." When an ad or an AI search answer says "IRS-approved", read it as "IRA-eligible under 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3)", nothing more.
The IRS approves one thing: nonbank trustees, companies it lets hold IRAs although they are not banks (Treas. Reg. 1.408-2(e)). Its nonbank trustee list had 73 entities on April 1, 2026. Only one is a metals business: Lone Star Tangible Assets, LP, approved on November 30, 2023.
The large metals custodians sold as "IRS-approved" are not on that list. Equity Trust is a trust company chartered by South Dakota (charter TC.022-2, first issued March 1, 2003), STRATA one chartered by Texas, and GoldStar is a division of Centennial Bank. An SEC judge found that Equity Trust "came into being in 2003" (Initial Decision No. 1030, 2016). All three count as "banks" under 26 U.S.C. 408(n), which lets them hold IRAs; how to check a charter is in "IRS-approved" gold IRA custodians.
How long have precious metals been allowed in IRAs?#
Gold and Silver Eagles have been allowed in IRAs since 1987, and platinum coins plus gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion since 1998. Gold was first allowed from 1975 until Congress banned collectibles in IRAs in 1981. The history of gold in IRAs runs through 5 laws and rulings, shown in the table below.
| Year | Law or ruling | What changed for metals |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | ERISA (September 2, 1974); gold ownership law Pub. L. 93-373 | IRAs created for tax years after 1974; Americans may own gold again from December 31, 1974 |
| 1981 | Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-34) | Collectibles, including metal and coins, banned for property bought after December 31, 1981 |
| 1986 | Tax Reform Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-514) | American Gold and Silver Eagles allowed for purchases after December 31, 1986 |
| 1997 | Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-34, sec. 304) | Platinum coins and gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion allowed for tax years beginning after December 31, 1997 |
| 2021 | McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 | Tax Court confirms the trustee, not the owner, must hold IRA metal |
A 1988 law also allowed coins issued by a U.S. state. Each law is quoted in the history of gold in IRAs.
How Does a Precious Metals IRA Work? 5 Parties and 6 Steps#
A precious metals IRA works in 6 steps: open it, fund it, choose the metal, let the custodian pay, hold it, then sell or take it out. Five parties take part, and the table below shows what each one does.
| Party | What it does | What it does not do | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| You | Sign the forms and tell the custodian what to buy or sell | Touch or store the IRA's metal | You pay all fees, from the IRA or from outside |
| Custodian | Holds the IRA, pays the dealer, reports to the IRS on Form 5498 (yearly value) and Form 1099-R (withdrawals) | Check the dealer's price (SEC Initial Decision No. 1030, 2016) or give advice | Yearly and per-trade fees |
| Dealer | Sets the price you pay and may buy the metal back | Act as your fiduciary (someone legally bound to put your interests first) | Its spread, built into the price |
| Depository | Stores and insures the metal | Insure the premium you paid over the metal's value | Storage fees, usually billed by the custodian |
| IRS | Sets the tax rules | Approve any coin, dealer or vault | Collects tax when you withdraw |
The gold IRA company you call from an ad is a dealer: it sells the metal and earns the spread. Most brokerage IRAs hold only fund shares; Fidelity is an exception and sells bullion inside its own IRAs ($1,000 minimum purchase, 2026). So step 1 needs a self-directed IRA for gold and silver at a custodian that holds coins.
- Open a self-directed IRA with a metals custodian, usually online.
- Move money in: a transfer from another IRA, a rollover from a 401(k), or a new cash contribution.
- Pick a dealer and IRA-eligible metal, and get a written price for each coin or bar.
- Let the custodian pay the dealer, which ships the metal straight to the depository.
- Hold the metal and pay yearly custodian and storage fees.
- Sell inside the IRA, take coins out as a withdrawal, or take required distributions from age 73 (75 if born in 1960 or later).
Plan on about 2 to 6 weeks from a brokerage IRA to metal in the vault (SafeOunce estimate).
How do you open or set up a precious metals IRA?#
You open a precious metals IRA with a custodian that holds metal, often through an online application, for a setup fee of about $50 (2026 schedules). Equity Trust and GoldStar charge $50, and STRATA waives its $50 fee online (schedules read September 29, 2026). You need 4 things.
- A signed application, online or on paper.
- A photo ID, such as a driver's license.
- A beneficiary form naming who inherits the account.
- A transfer or rollover request for the old account.
The steps to open a gold IRA are the same for every metal, and each step's cost is in how to open a gold IRA.
Federal rules let you cancel (revoke) a new IRA for at least 7 days after you open it. The refund comes "without adjustment for such items as sales commissions, administrative expenses or fluctuation in market value" (Treas. Reg. 1.408-6). In plain English: you get every dollar back.
How do you move a 401(k) or IRA into precious metals without taxes?#
Move it custodian to custodian: an IRA-to-IRA transfer or a direct 401(k) rollover is not taxed and has no tax withheld. A transfer moves money between IRA custodians, and a direct rollover sends plan money straight to the new custodian. The rollover guide shows every way to move retirement savings into precious metals, source by source.
| Method | Tax withheld | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| IRA-to-IRA transfer (custodian to custodian) | None | No 60-day clock, no once-a-year limit (IRS Publication 590-A) |
| Direct rollover from a 401(k) or other plan | 0% | No 60-day clock |
| Check made out to you (indirect rollover) | 20% from a plan (26 U.S.C. 3405(c)); 10% by default from an IRA | Deposit within 60 days; what goes back must be what came out; one IRA-to-IRA 60-day rollover per 12 months (Bobrow v. Commissioner, 2014; IRS Announcement 2014-15) |
From another IRA, ask for an IRA to gold IRA transfer, which works the same for any metal, not a check made out to you.
Rolling a 401(k) into an IRA gives up 4 plan features: the age-55 exception, plan loans, the still-working RMD delay and creditor protection outside bankruptcy (see the 401(k) section below). Rollover money keeps its bankruptcy protection, even above the $1,711,975 IRA cap (11 U.S.C. 522(n), cases filed from April 1, 2025).
Where are precious metals IRA metals stored, and who insures them?#
Precious metals IRA metal sits in a private vault chosen through your custodian, such as the Delaware Depository, and the vault's own insurance covers it, not FDIC or SIPC. FDIC covers only uninvested cash, up to $250,000, and SIPC ($500,000) covers securities, never metal. A guide to where IRA metals are stored compares each vault's fees and owners.
The Delaware Depository's cover works as follows (FAQ read September 29, 2026).
- Cover: $1 billion of all-risk insurance (any loss not excluded) plus $100 million of contingent (backup) cover.
- Payout: the metal's market value, not the premium you paid.
- Exception: a declared value you registered in advance.
- Exclusions: war, terrorism, cyber events and government confiscation.
Exclusions and claim rules for each vault are in how gold IRA storage is insured.
Commingled storage keeps your metal with the same products of other owners, still recorded as yours. Segregated storage keeps your exact bars and coins apart for $50 to $100 a year more. Segregated silver is hard to get: The Entrust Group's Delaware option (Entrust is a different company from Equity Trust) and STRATA segregate only gold, platinum and palladium.
Vaults can fail. At First State Depository, $56.8 million to $110.4 million of metal went missing, according to the accounting firm working for the court-appointed receiver (2023). It held 2,102 accounts, 90% of them IRAs; its owner was sentenced to 65 years in prison on June 17, 2025.
Which Metals Can a Precious Metals IRA Hold? 4 Metals, 2 Legal Routes#
A precious metals IRA can hold metal in 2 ways: a US coin the law names (Route A), or pure bullion held by the custodian (Route B). The bullion purity bar is .995 for gold, .999 for silver and .9995 for platinum and palladium. Every coin or bar must also be on your custodian's own list.
Route A, in 408(m)(3)(A), names the Gold Eagle (1, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 oz), the Silver Eagle (1 oz only), the Platinum Eagle and coins issued under state law. A named coin qualifies at any purity: the 22-karat Gold Eagle (91.67% gold) counts by name. The full list shows exactly which gold, silver, platinum and palladium the tax code allows.
So why does the .9995 Palladium Eagle count only as bullion? It was created by a 2010 law and never added to the named list. Like the Gold Buffalo, another US coin the law does not name, it qualifies only through Route B.
Custodians add rules. STRATA and GoldStar take proof coins only in original mint packaging with a certificate, and GoldStar and Equity Trust refuse Gold Buffalo proofs.
The table below compares the 4 metals as of September 29, 2026.
| Metal | Minimum purity for bullion (Route B) | Named US coin (Route A) | Examples custodians list | Common products that do not qualify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | .995 (see gold IRA purity requirements) | American Gold Eagle (1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/10 oz) | Gold Buffalo (bullion only), Maple Leaf, Philharmonic, Kangaroo, Britannia 2013 and later, bars from accredited refiners | Krugerrand, Sovereign, pre-1933 US gold, graded coins |
| Silver | .999 | American Silver Eagle (1 oz only) | Maple Leaf, Philharmonic, Kookaburra, Britannia 2013 and later, America the Beautiful 5 oz, .999 bars and rounds | 90% "junk" silver, classic Morgan and Peace dollars, pre-2013 Britannias, sterling |
| Platinum | .9995 | American Platinum Eagle (bullion and proof) | Maple Leaf, Australian Koala, Isle of Man Noble, .9995 bars | Coins below .9995 |
| Palladium | .9995 | None | Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf, .9995 bars; Palladium Eagle as bullion only (not named on STRATA's or GoldStar's lists: get written approval) | Coins below .9995; rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium in any form |
SafeOunce checks each coin and bar against the tax code in its IRA-eligible precious metals database.
Which coins look eligible but are not?#
The Krugerrand, British Sovereign, older Britannias, pre-1933 US gold, 90% silver coins, classic silver dollars and graded coins look eligible but are not. Here are the 7 look-alikes and the reason each one fails.
- Krugerrand and British Sovereign: 22 karat (.9167), the same purity as the Gold Eagle, but not named in the law.
- Britannias dated 2012 or earlier: gold .917 and silver .958; only 2013 and later coins pass.
- Pre-1933 US gold coins: .900 fine and not named.
- Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters and half dollars: 90% silver, sold as "junk silver".
- Classic Morgan and Peace dollars: .900 silver.
- Graded ("slabbed") coins of any metal: sealed in a plastic holder with a grade, and refused by custodians.
- Rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium: collectibles in any form.
Buying one inside your IRA is taxed as if you had withdrawn its cost (408(m)(1)). So $10,000 of Krugerrands bought by an IRA adds $10,000 to your taxable income, plus a 10% additional tax under 59 1/2 unless an exception applies. Why the wrong coin is taxed as a withdrawal is the IRS collectibles rule.
Can you keep precious metals IRA coins at home?#
No: if you, or an LLC (a simple company) you control, keep IRA metal at home, the IRS treats it as withdrawn and taxes it. The U.S. Tax Court confirmed this for gold and silver coins in McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (docket 1377-19).
In McNulty, an IRA-owned LLC bought 320 Gold Eagles for $374,000 in 2015 and 2,000 Silver Eagles for $37,380 in 2016, kept at the owner's home. The court (opinion filed November 18, 2021) taxed both as distributions of their cost.
Every "home storage gold IRA" pitch is checked in home storage gold IRA.
Gold, Silver, Platinum or Palladium: How Do the 4 Metals Compare in an IRA?#
In an IRA, gold swings least and costs least to trade; silver, platinum and palladium swing about twice as much and cost 2 to 6 times more. The swings are measured over 2006 to 2025, and the trading costs are one dealer's prices on September 29, 2026. Volatility measures how much a price swings in a typical year; higher means bigger ups and downs. The table below compares the 4 metals on 10 measures.
| Measure | Gold | Silver | Platinum | Palladium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBMA PM price (silver: LBMA silver price), September 28, 2026 | $4,144.55 | $61.33 | $1,731.85 | $1,219.25 |
| Record LBMA PM price (silver: LBMA silver price), date | $5,405.00 (Jan 29, 2026) | $118.45 (Jan 29, 2026) | $2,811 (Jan 26, 2026) | $3,015 (Mar 7, 2022) |
| Fall from 2026 high to 2026 low | -26.1% | -53.3% | -44.3% | -43.9% |
| Fall from 2026 high to September 28, 2026 | -23.3% | -48.2% | -38.4% | -42.1% |
| Yearly swings (volatility), 2006-2025 | 19.7% | 42.6% | 39.3% | 45.1% |
| Down years, 2006-2025 | 4 of 20 | 8 of 20 | 9 of 20 | 7 of 20 |
| Same-day buy and sell, 1 oz coin | 5.39% (Gold Eagle) | 14.6% (Silver Eagle) | 10.8% (Platinum Eagle) | 31.8% (Palladium Maple Leaf) |
| Price rise needed to break even, same coin | 5.7% | 17.1% | 12.1% | 46.6% |
| What $100,000 weighs (spot, September 29, 2026) | 24.1 oz (0.75 kg) | 1,630.3 oz (50.71 kg; 111.8 lb) | 58.6 oz (1.82 kg) | 80.3 oz (2.50 kg) |
| Up in US recessions since 1969 | 7 of 8 | 3 of 8 | 1 of 8 | n/a |
Metals and stocks do not move in a fixed pattern. From their January 2026 highs to their summer lows, gold fell 26.1%, silver 53.3% and platinum 44.3% (platinum's low came on June 30). Over gold's fall, from January 29 to July 16, 2026, the S&P 500 stock index rose from 6,969 to 7,534.
In 2022 it was the reverse: the S&P 500 fell 18.0% and Treasury bonds 17.8%, while gold rose 0.4%, silver 3.7% and platinum 7.5%. Over rolling 10-year periods, the correlation of gold with the S&P 500 (a score from -1, moving opposite, to +1, moving together) ranged from -0.34 to +0.23.
For a gold vs silver IRA choice, two rows matter most: swings of 42.6% against 19.7%, and a trading cost of 14.6% against 5.39%. Allocation between the two is weighed in gold vs silver IRA.
Gold IRA: the metal most IRAs hold#
Gold is the cheapest precious metal to trade in an IRA: a Gold Eagle cost 5.39% to buy and sell back the same day on September 29, 2026. Gold qualifies as the named American Gold Eagle or as bullion at least .995 fine, such as the Gold Buffalo, Maple Leaf or Philharmonic.
That morning at SD Bullion, the Gold Eagle sold for $4,280.53, 2.91% over the spot price read at the time, and a 1 oz gold bar cost 5.22% round trip. Premiums on IRA-eligible gold coins vary: a 1 oz Kangaroo sold for 2.02% over spot and a Philharmonic for 2.03%. The premium for every coin is in IRA-eligible gold coins.
Gold returned 9.0% a year from 1971 to 2025, or 5.0% after inflation (LBMA).
Silver IRA: cheaper per ounce, costlier to trade and store#
An ounce of gold buys about 68 ounces of silver, but a Silver Eagle cost 14.6% to buy and sell back the same day on September 29, 2026. That gold/silver ratio was 67.6 on September 28, 2026 (LBMA). Silver qualifies as the 1 oz American Silver Eagle, the only size made, or as bullion at least .999 fine.
At SD Bullion, a random-year Silver Eagle sold for 11.2% over spot and a 100 oz bar for 6.3%. Yet the bar's round trip was higher, 15.3%, because the dealer paid less to buy bars back.
Silver is also bulky: $100,000 of it weighed 1,630.3 oz (50.71 kg, or 111.8 lb) at spot on September 29, 2026. At the Delaware Depository, GoldStar keeps silver separate only in 1,000-oz bars. Silver returned 7.1% a year from 1971 to 2025, and coins vs bars are compared in the silver IRA guide.
Platinum IRA: one named coin and fewer choices#
Platinum has one named US coin, the American Platinum Eagle, and a 1 oz platinum bar cost 8.1% to buy and sell back the same day on September 29, 2026. The Eagle qualifies by name, proofs included. Other platinum must be .9995 fine, such as the Canadian Maple Leaf, Australian Koala, Isle of Man Noble or .9995 bars.
The Platinum Eagle sold for 11.4% over spot and cost 10.8% round trip at SD Bullion that day. A 1 oz bar sold for 5.5% over spot and a 10 oz bar for 3.2%.
Platinum also swings hard. It returned 5.3% a year from 1971 to 2025 (World Bank monthly averages before 1991), with 23 down years out of 55. Its 2008 peak of $2,273 took 17.8 years to regain, until January 6, 2026, then fell 44.3% from its January record to its June low. A platinum IRA has fewer products to pick from, and every eligible one is in the platinum IRA guide.
Palladium IRA: no named coin and the widest spreads#
Palladium is the costliest metal to trade in an IRA: a Palladium Maple Leaf bought for $1,644.72 sold back for $1,121.73 the same day. That was a 31.8% loss before any price move (SD Bullion, September 29, 2026).
No palladium coin is named in the law, so palladium qualifies only as .9995 bullion, such as the Maple Leaf or .9995 bars. The .9995 American Palladium Eagle is not named either, and STRATA's and GoldStar's lists omit it, so get written approval first. One dealer, JM Bullion, charged 71.7% over spot for the bullion Palladium Eagle on August 5, 2026. A graded 2025-W reverse proof Palladium Eagle cost 162% over spot on September 29, 2026: a collector coin that custodians refuse.
A 1 oz palladium bar cost 21.6% round trip on September 29, 2026. Palladium also fell 86.4% from 2001 to 2003 and took 16.9 years to recover, so read the palladium IRA guide before you buy.
What if you had invested $1,000 in each metal 10 years ago?#
$1,000 in gold or silver on September 28, 2016 grew to about $3,100 to $3,200 by September 28, 2026 (LBMA prices). The same $1,000 in platinum or palladium grew to only about $1,700. These are spot values before dealer spreads, IRA fees and taxes.
| Metal | $1,000 on Sept 28, 2016 became (Sept 28, 2026) | Per year | $1,000 from Sept 28, 2006 (20 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | $3,134 | 12.1% | $6,873 |
| Silver | $3,208 | 12.4% | $5,260 |
| Platinum | $1,701 | 5.5% | $1,506 |
| Palladium | $1,739 | 5.7% | $3,798 |
| S&P 500 (price only, dividends not included) | $3,539 | 13.5% | n/a (not in SafeOunce's dataset) |
Costs cut these numbers. $10,000 in gold on September 28, 2006 grew to $68,732 at spot by September 28, 2026. In a low-cost gold IRA (5% premium, $250 a year in fees, sold 1% below spot), it grew to $49,929. What costs do, year by year, is in gold IRA returns since 1971.
The start date also changes the result. Gold returned 4.6% a year from 1981 to 2025 but 11.0% from 2000 to 2025.
Over the longest window, 1971 to 2025, the S&P 500 with dividends returned 11.1% a year against gold's 9.0%. Every start date is compared in gold vs the S&P 500 since 1971.
How Much Does a Precious Metals IRA Cost?#
On $100,000 held 10 years at one custodian, a precious metals IRA cost from about $8,070 with gold coins to $34,480 with palladium coins (September 29, 2026 prices). Most of that is the dealer's spread, $5,390 on gold coins and $31,800 on palladium coins; account fees add about $2,680.
Gold IRA fees and those for other metals come in the same 5 layers, compared across companies in gold IRA fees.
- Dealer premium (the markup over spot): bullion typically sells for 5% to 10% over spot, and collector coins for 40% to 200%. Those ranges come from a 2020 advisory by the CFTC, the federal commodities regulator.
- Buyback gap: how far the dealer's bid sits below spot when you sell.
- Setup fee: about $50 at metals custodians (2026 schedules).
- Custodian and storage fees: $215 to $656 a year on a $50,000 account at the four published schedules below (2026).
- Per-trade and exit fees: $30 per sale, $125 per in-kind withdrawal and $250 to close at Equity Trust (metals-only schedule, Rev. 081726).
The table below shows the 10-year cost of $100,000 at Equity Trust (metals-only schedule FS-0004-05 Rev. 081726, commingled storage), with one purchase, one sale and a flat price. Fees are $50 setup, 10 years of $235 ($125 account + $110 storage), $30 to sell and $250 to close: $2,680.
| Metal and product | Buy-and-sell cost (September 29, 2026) | Price rise needed to break even | Account fees, 10 years | Total | Total as % of $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Eagles | 5.39% = $5,390 | 5.7% | $2,680 | $8,070 | 8.1% |
| 1 oz gold bars | 5.22% = $5,220 | 5.5% | $2,680 | $7,900 | 7.9% |
| Silver Eagles | 14.6% = $14,600 | 17.1% | $2,680 | $17,280 | 17.3% |
| 100 oz silver bars | 15.3% = $15,300 | 18.1% | $2,680 | $17,980 | 18.0% |
| Platinum Eagles | 10.8% = $10,800 | 12.1% | $2,680 | $13,480 | 13.5% |
| 1 oz platinum bars | 8.1% = $8,100 | 8.8% | $2,680 | $10,780 | 10.8% |
| Palladium Maple Leafs | 31.8% = $31,800 | 46.6% | $2,680 | $34,480 | 34.5% |
| 1 oz palladium bars | 21.6% = $21,600 | 27.5% | $2,680 | $24,280 | 24.3% |
In every row, the spread costs more than 10 years of fees. In fraud cases, the CFTC has seen spreads of "30 to 300 percent or more" (Precious Metals IRA Lies vs Facts, 2024). How dealers set them is in gold IRA markups and spreads.
Account fees differ by custodian, as the four published 2026 schedules below show.
| Custodian (schedule, revision) | Setup | Annual fee | Storage commingled / segregated | Close account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoldStar Trust (GTC Rev. 01/2026) | $50 | $90 | $125 / $225 minimum (higher above $125,000) | $150 |
| Equity Trust metals-only (FS-0004-05 Rev. 081726) | $50 | $125 | $110 / $160 | $250 |
| STRATA Trust (fee page, August 31, 2026) | $50 (waived online) | $150 | $115 / $175 (plus $75 per trade) | $250 |
| Madison Trust (effective January 1, 2026) | See schedule | $556 ($139 a quarter) | $100 minimum | $225 |
The Entrust Group's schedule (Rev. 01/09/2026) matters for mixed-metal accounts. It charges "A single asset $219 annually" and "Two or more assets $329 annually," plus 0.17% of value above $50,000. Its example of 1998 and 2019 Gold Eagles plus 2019 Platinum Koalas says "there are three asset types in this example." In plain English: ask Entrust in writing how it counts your holdings.
How much money do you need to start a precious metals IRA?#
The IRS sets no minimum, and the gold IRA companies that publish one ask for $5,000 to $25,000 (September 29, 2026). Some sellers go lower: the dealer APMEX sets a $2,000 IRA purchase minimum and Fidelity a $1,000 one.
| Company | Published minimum | Where it is published |
|---|---|---|
| Birch Gold Group | $5,000 | Company FAQ |
| GoldenCrest Metals | $10,000 | Company website |
| Noble Gold | $20,000 | Gold IRA page |
| Goldco | $25,000 ("we generally require a minimum of $25,000") | Company FAQ |
| APMEX (dealer; custodian Equity Trust) | $2,000 IRA purchase | IRA page |
| Fidelity (its own IRA) | $1,000 metals purchase | Fee schedule FA-FEES-0926 |
| American Hartford Gold, Lear Capital, Preserve Gold, Priority Gold, Patriot Gold | None published | Company websites |
Each figure, with its source, is in how much money you need to start a gold IRA.
Fixed fees hit small accounts hardest. At Equity Trust's $235 a year (2026), fees take 4.70% of $5,000, 2.35% of $10,000, 0.94% of $25,000, 0.47% of $50,000 and 0.24% of $100,000. A $25,000 minimum equals 2.9 years of the $8,600 maximum contribution at 50 or older, so many accounts start with a transfer, which has no cap.
Two best-of lists print other minimums (read September 29, 2026). CNBC Select and Forbes Advisor show Birch Gold at $10,000; Birch's FAQ says $5,000. CNBC Select also shows Goldco at $10,000 (Goldco's FAQ: $25,000) and American Hartford Gold at $10,000, a figure that company does not publish.
Why does your first statement show less than you paid?#
Your first statement shows less than you paid because the custodian values your metal near its melt value, while you paid the dealer's price, which includes the spread. The Entrust Group's page says IRA metals are "valued using the daily spot price, often referred to as the melt value." Equity Trust uses "the previous day's metal type value", meaning the prior day's market price for that metal.
Each line of a gold IRA statement is explained in gold IRA statement.
What Are the Risks of a Precious Metals IRA? 7 Downsides in Numbers#
The 7 main downsides of a precious metals IRA are price swings, the dealer's spread, fixed fees, no income, long recoveries, sales pressure and slower access. For most buyers the spread costs the most, and every downside can be measured before you sign.
- Price swings. From their January 2026 highs to September 28, 2026, gold fell 23.3%, silver 48.2%, platinum 38.4% and palladium 42.1% (LBMA). Over the longer 1971-2025 window, gold's volatility was 27.1%, against 16.9% for the S&P 500; the 19.7% in the comparison table covers only 2006-2025.
- The dealer's spread. A same-day round trip cost 5.39% on a Gold Eagle but 31.8% on a Palladium Maple Leaf (SD Bullion, September 29, 2026). Lear Capital's court-filed Chapter 11 (bankruptcy reorganization) plan (2023) states its own 2022 average spread was 23.4%, one company's figure and not an industry average. At that spread, gold must rise 37.0% before you break even, because the dealer also buys back below spot. Test your own quote in the gold IRA break-even calculator.
- Fixed fees on small balances. A flat $235 a year takes 2.35% of a $10,000 account every year (Equity Trust metals-only schedule, 2026).
- No income. Metals pay no interest or dividends, so the whole return must come from the price, after fees.
- Long recoveries. Gold took 28.0 years to regain its 1980 peak (45.6 years after inflation). Silver took 45.7 years and was still 71.2% below that peak after inflation on September 28, 2026. Platinum's 2008 peak took 17.8 years, and palladium was still 59.6% below its 2022 record on September 28, 2026; every drop is dated in gold and silver crashes.
- Sales pressure and fraud. The CFTC says "over $500 million" of overpriced metals was sold to investors over a decade (release 8881-24, 2024). In the Red Rock Secured case, at least 950 people paid over $69 million for coins worth about $30 million (CFTC settlement order, April 23, 2024).
- Slower access and bulk. You sell or withdraw through the custodian, which charges $30 per sale and $125 per in-kind withdrawal at Equity Trust (Rev. 081726). $100,000 of silver weighed 111.8 lb at September 29, 2026 spot.
Is a precious metals IRA a good idea?#
A precious metals IRA fits people who move $50,000 or more from an old 401(k) or IRA, want physical metal and plan to hold it for years. It costs too much for balances under about $10,000. The data shows 3 points in its favor, none of them a promise about future prices.
- Tax deferral: moving $100,000 by transfer costs no tax, while cashing it out to buy coins cost a sample couple $19,920 of extra federal tax (2026).
- Recessions: gold rose in 7 of 8 US recessions since 1969 (median +5.2%). In 2007-09 it rose 17.7% while the S&P 500 with dividends fell 34.8%.
- Smoother swings: 10% gold lowered a 60/40 portfolio's volatility from 11.2% to 9.9% a year, 1972-2025 (SafeOunce calculation).
The table below shows what the numbers say in 7 common situations.
| If you... | What the numbers say | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Have under about $10,000 to invest | Fixed fees take 2.15% to 6.56% a year of a $10,000 account at four published schedules (2026); a gold ETF in an IRA you already have costs 0.10% to 0.40% a year (the funds GLDM, IAU and GLD) | Gold IRA vs gold ETF |
| Have $50,000 or more in an old 401(k) or IRA and want physical metal | Account fees are 0.43% to 1.31% a year on $50,000; the dealer's spread decides the outcome (see the 10-year cost table above) | Gold IRA markups and spreads |
| May need the money within about 5 years | Round trips on 1 oz coins cost 5% to 32% by metal (September 29, 2026), and falls from the January 2026 highs reached 23% to 48% by September 28, 2026 | Gold and silver crashes |
| Want silver, platinum or palladium for "more upside" | Round trips of 10.8% to 31.8% on 1 oz coins against 5.39% for a Gold Eagle (SD Bullion, September 29, 2026), and larger 2026 falls | Silver IRA |
| Are 55 to 59 1/2, retired and drawing on a 401(k) | Rolling it into an IRA gives up the age-55 exception to the 10% additional tax | 401(k) to gold IRA rollover |
| Want the coins in your own hands | Not possible inside an IRA; buy outside with after-tax money | Gold IRA vs physical gold |
| Hear a seller say to move "everything" | The CFTC lists "Putting all your retirement savings in precious metals is safe and secure" as a lie (2024) | Gold IRA scams |
The full verdict, with pros and cons by situation, is in is a gold IRA a good investment.
How much of your savings should be in metals?#
No rule sets the right amount: from 1972 to 2025, adding 10% or 20% gold to a 60/40 portfolio slightly raised its return and lowered its swings. A 60/40 portfolio holds 60% stocks and 40% bonds, rebalanced each year (SafeOunce calculation).
| Gold share of a 60/40 portfolio | Return a year, 1972-2025 | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | 9.4% | 11.2% |
| 10% | 9.7% | 9.9% |
| 20% | 9.9% | 9.6% |
The start date changes the answer: from 1981 to 2025, the same mixes returned 10.1%, 9.7% and 9.3% a year. The "about 10%" and "no more than 15%" figures on two high-ranking websites (read September 29, 2026) cite no study. The data behind how much gold to hold in an IRA covers every start date.
What IRS Rules Apply to a Precious Metals IRA? 10 Rules for 2026#
A precious metals IRA follows the normal IRA rules plus 2 rules for metal: only eligible metal may be bought, and the custodian must hold it. Rule 8 uses the term prohibited transaction, a deal the law bans between you and your own IRA. The table below lists the 10 rules for 2026 with their legal source.
| # | Rule | Source | In plain English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eligible metal only | 26 U.S.C. 408(m)(3); 408(m)(1) | Anything else counts as a withdrawal of its cost |
| 2 | The trustee holds the metal | 408(m)(3)(B); McNulty v. Commissioner (2021) | No home storage, including through an LLC |
| 3 | Contributions | IRS Notice 2025-67; SECURE Act (2019) sec. 107; 26 U.S.C. 219(f)(1) | Cash only, from work income; Social Security, pensions, RMDs, interest and dividends do not count. 2026: $7,500 ($8,600 at 50 or older). No maximum age since 2020. 2027 limits not announced as of September 29, 2026 (gold IRA contribution limits) |
| 4 | Transfers | IRS Publication 590-A | Unlimited, and not rollovers |
| 5 | 60-day rollover | 408(d)(3); Estate of Caan, 161 T.C. No. 6 (Tax Court, 2023) | Deposit by day 60 and return the same property (60-day rollover rule) |
| 6 | Once-a-year limit | Bobrow v. Commissioner (Tax Court, 2014); Announcement 2014-15 | One IRA-to-IRA 60-day rollover per 12 months across all your IRAs |
| 7 | Withholding | 26 U.S.C. 3405(c) | 20% held back from plan checks paid to you; 0% on direct rollovers |
| 8 | Prohibited transactions | 26 U.S.C. 4975; 408(e)(2) | No personal use and no selling your own coins to the IRA; a breach treats the whole IRA as withdrawn at its January 1 value |
| 9 | Required minimum distributions (RMDs) | 401(a)(9); 4974 | Start at 73, or 75 if born in 1960 or later; born in 1959: 73 under proposed IRS rules, not yet final. A missed RMD costs 25% of the amount not taken, or 10% if corrected in time (gold IRA required minimum distributions) |
| 10 | 7-day revocation | Treas. Reg. 1.408-6 | You can revoke a new IRA for at least 7 days after opening, for a full refund |
Rules 1 and 2 come from the statute on metals; the other 8 apply to every IRA (26 U.S.C. 408; IRS Publication 590-A). At 73, you can meet an RMD by selling enough metal inside the IRA or by taking coins out in-kind at their fair market value. These gold IRA rules apply unchanged to silver, platinum and palladium; each one, with its source, is in gold IRA rules.
How are precious metals IRA withdrawals taxed?#
Withdrawals from a traditional precious metals IRA are taxed as ordinary income, like wages, whether you take cash or coins, and qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free. The 28% tax rate on collectibles, which applies to metal held outside an IRA, never applies inside one.
Before 59 1/2, a 10% additional tax applies unless an exception fits. IRAs hold back 10% for tax by default, and you can change that on Form W-4R. IRA withdrawals also do not count toward the 3.8% net investment income tax that higher earners pay on investment gains. Forms and state rules are in gold IRA taxes.
An in-kind withdrawal means the coins themselves leave the vault. Your custodian reports them on Form 1099-R at fair market value, the market price that day (IRS Publication 590-B).
Outside an IRA, the same bar is taxed differently. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (sec. 311) defines collectibles gain "as defined in section 408(m) without regard to paragraph (3) thereof." In plain English: IRA-eligible bullion is still a collectible in a taxable account, so the 28% collectibles rate applies only to metal held outside an IRA (IRS Topic 409).
How Do You Choose a Precious Metals IRA Company, Custodian and Depository? 8 Questions#
Choose a precious metals IRA seller by getting its coin and buyback prices in writing, reading its contract and checking regulator records before you sign. You choose the seller, the custodian and the depository.
The seller is one of the gold IRA companies or a bullion dealer, and SafeOunce covers gold IRA companies, including those that failed, with a published rating method. Do not count on the custodian to check the dealer or its price. On June 27, 2016, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) judge dismissed charges against the custodian Equity Trust (Initial Decision No. 1030). A stricter duty, the judge wrote, "would require custodians to charge much higher fees than did Equity Trust."
Ask these 8 questions before you sign.
- Get a written price for each coin, with its percent over spot.
- Ask for the dealer's buyback price for the same coins on the same day.
- Read the spread cap, the highest spread the contract allows. American Hartford Gold's September 2026 agreement allows up to 19.99% on bullion; Lear Capital's December 2025 terms allow 2% to 35%.
- Ask which custodian and which fee schedule (name and revision date) apply, and whether you can choose another.
- Compare the seller's cancellation window with your 7-day right to cancel the IRA. Lear allows 24 hours after the invoice (longer where state law requires), Preserve Gold 24 hours after the invoice (June 2025 agreement) and American Hartford Gold 7 days, non-bullion coins only. See how to cancel a gold IRA.
- Read the arbitration clause, which sends disputes to a private arbitrator instead of a court, and any 1-year claim deadline. Consumer filing fees are capped at $225 (American Arbitration Association) or $250 (JAMS) as of September 2026.
- Ask how many days until the metal shows on your statement; SafeOunce's benchmark is 28 days.
- Search regulator and court records (CFTC, SEC, your state securities regulator), not only Better Business Bureau (BBB) grades, where 90 of 100 points measure complaint handling.
What gold IRA custodians charge is compared in gold IRA custodians.
Which company offers the best precious metals IRA?#
No single company is best for everyone: SafeOunce rates sellers on what you actually pay, their contract terms and their legal record, with a published 100-point method. Its 100-point method weighs 7 criteria, shown in the table below.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Price you actually pay | 30 |
| Regulatory and legal record | 20 |
| Contract fairness | 15 |
| Account costs | 10 |
| Complaint record | 10 |
| Product mix and sales pressure | 10 |
| Custody and delivery | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Lists of the best gold IRA companies differ because their methods differ. Forbes Advisor's method gives spreads 10% of the weight and coin choice 25%, and CNBC Select requires a BBB A+ rating, which mostly measures complaint handling. A company that will not share its contract and a written quote is listed as "Not rated: would not disclose." Ratings appear on best gold IRA companies as each company's data is complete; no company pays for its place.
How do you spot a precious metals IRA scam?#
The clearest warning sign of a precious metals IRA scam is pressure to move all your retirement savings into metal. The 5 signs below come from CFTC warnings and real cases.
- Pressure to move "everything": the CFTC lists "Putting all your retirement savings in precious metals is safe and secure" as a lie (2024).
- A switch from bullion to "exclusive" or "semi-numismatic" (part-collector) coins that cost far more than their metal; the CFTC calls "semi-numismatic" "a made-up industry term."
- No per-coin price in writing before you pay.
- A seller who picks your custodian and depository for you.
- A "keep it at home" pitch, which McNulty (2021) shows is a taxable withdrawal.
All 11 warning signs, with the real cases, are in gold IRA scams.
The losses are large: six CFTC cases from 2020 to 2023 against dealers selling metal for IRAs involved about $380 million solicited from customers. More than $131 million of customer money is tied up in 3 firms, shown in the table below.
| Firm | Status | Customer money | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosland Capital | Failed: bankruptcy case to wind the company down (liquidating Chapter 11) filed July 2, 2026 | About $60.8 million owed | Bankr. C.D. Cal. 2:26-bk-16650-BB |
| Red Rock Secured | Sanctioned; the SEC said in May 2024 that it "now operates under the name American Coin Co." | Over $50 million paid in (SEC figure) | CFTC consent order, April 23, 2024; SEC Litigation Release 25996, May 7, 2024 |
| Regal Assets | Failed | Over $21 million misappropriated | CFTC default judgments, October 15, 2024 |
Eight of the 10 largest cases and failures among retirement-era metal sellers involved Los Angeles-area firms. Every case is tracked in precious metals IRA enforcement actions.
Why Is This Precious Metals IRA Guide Independent?#
No company can pay SafeOunce to change what this guide says: every number carries its source and date, and ratings follow a published method. A company page may link once to that company's own site.
SafeOunce works from the tax code, IRS publications, court and regulator records, fee schedules, company contracts and LBMA prices. Who runs this independent precious metals IRA guide, and how, is public.
Ratings come only from the published 7-criteria method and are never for sale. The byline is the SafeOunce Editorial Team; no expert is invented or implied.
Prices and fees are rechecked when a page is published and every quarter. Many review sites earn money when readers contact a company; see who pays SafeOunce for how this site is funded.
Precious Metals IRA vs Other Ways to Hold Metals for Retirement#
A precious metals IRA is one of 4 ways to own metal for retirement, beside coins you keep, a metal ETF in your IRA and a 401(k) metal fund. The trade-off is cost against control. Every head-to-head of gold IRAs vs the alternatives is in one place.
Is it better to have physical gold or a precious metals IRA?#
For money already in a 401(k) or IRA, a precious metals IRA usually buys more metal, because cashing out first triggers income tax. The table below shows $100,000 for a married couple filing jointly, age 62, with $80,000 of other taxable income (2026).
| Situation | Gold bought outside an IRA | Precious metals IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Tax on moving $100,000 | $19,920 of extra federal tax (cashing out) | None (transfer) |
| Gold you end up owning (Gold Eagles at the statement example's 3.03% premium) | $77,724 | $97,059 |
| Who holds it | You | The custodian's depository |
| Tax later | Up to 28% on gains (collectibles rate) | Ordinary income on withdrawals |
Buying with after-tax money is the only way to hold the coins yourself; the full tax math is in gold IRA vs physical gold.
Precious metals IRA vs a metal ETF in the IRA you already have#
A metal ETF in the IRA you already have costs far less than a precious metals IRA, but you own fund shares, not coins. On $100,000 of gold held 10 years at a flat price, the GLDM fund cost about $1,035, against $6,341 for a low-cost gold IRA (SafeOunce calculation, 2026). That gold IRA case assumes the statement example's 3.03% premium and a sale at 99% of spot; the cost table's same-day bid gives $8,070. For gold, see gold IRA vs gold ETF.
An expense ratio is a fund's yearly fee as a share of your money; the table lists the main metal funds (fund reports, 2025-2026).
| Fund | Metal | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| GLDM | Gold | 0.10% |
| IAU | Gold | 0.25% |
| GLD | Gold | 0.40% |
| SLV | Silver | 0.50% |
| SIVR | Silver | 0.45% (0.30% waived until February 28, 2027) |
| PPLT | Platinum | 0.60% |
| PALL | Palladium | 0.60% |
Fidelity sells bullion inside its own IRAs for commissions of 2.90% down to 0.99% to buy and 2.00% down to 0.75% to sell (fee schedule, September 2026). Its storage is 0.125% a quarter, or $500 a year on $100,000. The details are on Fidelity gold IRA.
Can you hold gold or silver in a 401(k) instead?#
Most 401(k) plans cannot hold coins or bars, so people who want physical metal roll an old 401(k) into a precious metals IRA. Whether your plan lets you hold gold in a 401(k), through a fund or a brokerage window, depends on its menu. The table below shows what a rollover gives up and keeps.
| Plan feature | In a 401(k) | After rolling into an IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Age-55 exception (no 10% additional tax after you leave your job at 55 or older) | Yes | Lost |
| Plan loans: up to half your vested balance (the part that is fully yours), or $10,000 if more, capped at $50,000 (26 U.S.C. 72(p)(2)(A)) | If the plan offers them | Lost |
| Delaying RMDs while you still work there | Yes | Lost |
| Creditor protection outside bankruptcy | Federal (29 U.S.C. 1056(d)(1)) | Depends on state law |
| Bankruptcy protection (11 U.S.C. 522(n)) | Yes | Kept for rollover money, even above the $1,711,975 IRA cap |
Whether to move at all is weighed in gold IRA vs 401(k).
If you move, ask the plan for a direct rollover to the new custodian, not a check made out to you.
The forms and steps are in 401(k) to gold IRA rollover.
Precious metals IRA frequently asked questions#
These 12 answers cover the questions readers ask most.
Can a Roth IRA hold precious metals?#
Yes: a Roth IRA at a custodian that allows metal can hold the same eligible gold, silver, platinum and palladium, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Qualified means 5 years have passed since January 1 of your first Roth contribution year, and you are 59 1/2 or older or another exception applies (26 U.S.C. 408A). Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs; see Roth gold IRA.
Can you put coins you already own into a precious metals IRA?#
No: IRA contributions must be cash, so coins you own must be sold and the cash contributed within the yearly limit. The cash rule is in 26 U.S.C. 408(a)(1). Selling your own coins to your IRA is also a prohibited transaction (26 U.S.C. 4975); see IRA prohibited transactions for gold and silver.
Does the IRS know about the metal in your IRA?#
Yes: your custodian reports the account's year-end value on Form 5498 every year and every withdrawal on Form 1099-R. Form 5498 box 5 shows the December 31 fair market value, and Form 1099-R box 1 shows the value of any coins distributed. More in does the IRS know about your gold.
Are free gold IRA kits worth requesting?#
A free kit is a sales brochure sent in exchange for your phone number, and the request form can let the seller call you with automated messages. Birch Gold's 2026 kit runs 24 pages, and its form makes you agree to robocalls, recorded messages and voicemails left without your phone ringing. See what is inside free gold IRA kits.
Can you cancel a precious metals IRA after you sign?#
Yes: you can cancel the IRA itself for a full refund for at least 7 days after opening, but the dealer's metal order has its own, usually shorter, terms. Lear Capital (December 2025 terms) and Preserve Gold (June 2025 agreement) allow 24 hours after the invoice; American Hartford Gold (September 2026 agreement) allows 7 days, non-bullion coins only.
How do you check that your metal is really in the vault?#
Check your custodian statement for each coin and bar by name and quantity, and ask the custodian for the vault's holding record if anything is missing after 28 days. The 28 days is SafeOunce's benchmark, drawn from past fraud cases. The next steps are in is your gold really in your IRA.
Can the government confiscate the metal in your IRA?#
No gold seizure order is in force: the 1933 order, Executive Order 6102, lost its effect when private gold ownership became legal again on December 31, 1974 (Pub. L. 93-373). It made owners hand in gold for "an equivalent amount" of paper money. The CFTC calls the pitch "The government can't seize collectible coins" a lie (2024). More on can the government confiscate your gold.
Do gold and silver protect against inflation and recessions?#
Sometimes: gold rose in 7 of 8 US recessions since 1969, but it beat inflation in only 31 of 55 years from 1971 to 2025. In the 11 years inflation topped 5%, gold beat it 6 times, but only once in 5 such years since 1980. In 2021 gold fell 4.3% against 7.0% inflation, and in 2022 it rose 0.4% against 6.5%.
Gold and silver also fell in 2026 while inflation peaked at 4.25% in May. Gold's correlation with inflation was +0.52 before 1990 and only +0.04 after. How gold and silver for retirement behave, decade by decade, is covered separately.
Why do Dave Ramsey and Warren Buffett say no to gold?#
Both say gold produces nothing, and Ramsey adds that it pays no income. Ramsey Solutions (updated March 19, 2026): "They don't produce anything, they don't pay dividends, and they don't earn interest." Buffett wrote in his 2011 shareholder letter: "if you own one ounce of gold for an eternity, you will still own one ounce at its end." More on why Dave Ramsey and Warren Buffett say no to gold.
Where do you report a problem with a precious metals IRA company?#
Report pricing or sales fraud to the CFTC, securities advice to the SEC or your state securities regulator, and elder fraud to the Justice Department's helpline. Call the CFTC at 866-366-2382 or the Justice Department at 1-833-372-8311. The FINRA Senior Helpline (FINRA oversees brokerage firms) is 844-574-3577, and SEC tips go to sec.gov/tcr. See how to report a gold IRA company.
What do spot price, premium and spread mean?#
Spot is today's market price for one troy ounce of pure metal, and the premium is what a dealer charges above it. The spread is the gap between the dealer's selling and buying prices. As the CFTC says, "A dealer will always sell metal above the spot price and buy it back below the spot price." The precious metals IRA glossary explains 60 terms.
Where can you follow rule changes and enforcement news?#
SafeOunce logs IRS limit changes, court rulings and regulator actions as they happen. The IRS had not announced the 2027 IRA limits as of September 29, 2026; its notice is expected in October or November. Follow the updates in precious metals IRA news.