Where can I store my IRA gold?

A Gold IRA allows you to own physical gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, but Internal Revenue Code rules forbid keeping those metals at home. Instead, a custodian must move the coins or bars to an IRS-approved depository that satisfies strict security and auditing requirements. These specialized depositories are the only lawful places your IRA precious metals can be stored, guaranteeing both compliance and the safety of the retirement assets managed on your behalf by the Gold IRA custodian.

Where can I store my IRA gold?

The Internal Revenue Code states gold must be stored in an IRS approved depository. Depositories must meet a list of strict IRS requirements before they can legally store precious metals for IRAs. Eleven IRS approved depositories are allowed to store all of the major precious metals, including Brink's Global Service, Delaware Depository, International Depository Services, Texas Bullion Depository operated by Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, and BlueVault with Southern California locations. Consumers wanting to store IRA investments in the Depository must work with their gold dealer and Equity Trust Company to coordinate delivery and storage. Equity Trust Company is a leading provider of custodial services for self directed IRAs and works with approved depositories. Precious metals held in your self directed IRA must be stored in an IRS approved depository for safekeeping and the custodian is responsible for storing gold and maintaining your account.

I learned that keeping IRA funds in a secure storage chest is not allowed by the IRS, so I selected a valued metals facility authorized by my IRA curator. Two main options are a financial institution secure storage container or a specialized facility. My custodian proves the particular bars and coins it holds on my behalf, and the service offers high-security storage in an amenable and insured setting with elaborate stock regulation and 24/7 monitoring. I do not physically hold the precious metal, yet I get routine statements from my conservator and the facility gives coverage, so I enjoy full peace of mind.

Thomas Goldfreburg

Investor at Goldfreed

What is a gold IRA depository?

A gold IRA depository is a specialized facility designed to securely store assets like precious metals. It is a secure third-party storage facility where physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are safeguarded. These depositories use vaulted storage and surveillance monitoring to protect holdings, and they provide detailed inventory tracking to guarantee accurate records of assets.

For a gold IRA, which is a self-directed retirement account that permits investment in physical gold and other precious metals, a depository is required. Physical gold must go directly from the dealer to the depository to maintain IRA compliance. The depository must meet a list of strict IRS requirements, and it must comply with strict regulatory standards to guarantee protection and adherence to IRS regulations.

Gold IRA depositories offer segregated or non-segregated storage options. Segregated storage ensures that your specific metals are stored separately from others, while non-segregated storage means your metals are stored alongside those of other investors. These depositories provide full insurance coverage, robust security, and expert handling, making them the best option for storing IRA gold.

Major depositories include Delaware Depository, Brink's, and International Depository Services, located in Dallas, Texas. These depositories are privately owned entities that have passed strict vetting for approval as designated storage sites. Lone Star Tangible Assets LP operates the Texas Bullion Depository and obtained IRS Nonbank Trustee status from the Department of Treasury, further solidifying compliance.

Gold IRA custodians, like Equity Trust Company, coordinate delivery and storage to assure that the account is managed in compliance with IRS rules. It is important to note that taking personal possession of gold results in a taxable distribution and possible penalty.

Can I store a gold IRA at home?

You cannot store precious metals held in your IRA at home because these metals must be securely stored in an IRS-approved depository. Otherwise, the IRS will deem it a distribution of your IRA. A good depository will report on your holdings.

IRS rules make home storage gold IRA impossible, and the IRS has repeatedly disallowed personal possession arrangements. Storing gold at home is a prohibited transaction that incurs severe financial penalties and significantly increases audit likelihood.

In addition to regulatory risk, gold held in your home is more vulnerable to theft, creates security concerns, and creates administrative burdens. Gold must be held by a bank or other approved trustee, and you do not have physical possession of the gold. Although home storage gold IRAs are sometimes promoted as a self-directed IRA strategy, they rarely comply with IRS rules and are ill-advised. Choose an IRS-approved depository to keep your retirement account safe and compliant.

I contemplated keeping my IRA precious metals at home, but the rules designate that valued metals must be kept by an authorized caretaker in a safe, insured facility. Keeping the metal myself would be deemed a distribution, and I learned that this is not allowed by the IRS for a self-directed IRA. The concept of holding my retirement savings physically was at first attractive, promising direct entry and better power, yet the perceived convenience was far outstripped by substantial fiscal and statutory dangers. Distribution would initiate early-withdrawal penalties and spark taxes that a safe statement could not prevent. This understanding moved my view from individual oversight to compliant custody.

Thomas Goldfreburg

Investor at Goldfreed

What are the storage fees for a gold IRA?

Annual storage fees for a gold IRA range from $100-$300, with most owners paying around $150. Custodians offer two structures: a flat dollar amount - commonly $125 - or a percentage of holdings, usually 0.5%-1% of account value. Commingled (non-segregated) storage costs $100-$250 per year, while segregated storage runs $150-$300 per year, and insurance is bundled inside these figures. A few trustees scale the fee at $100 for the first $100,000 of metal and $1 for each additional $1,000. One must expect a recurring storage fee of ~$150 every year, added to the broader custodial charge that also account maintenance and insurance.