Are Gold IRAs IRS-approved?
Yes — IRC § 408(m)(3) explicitly permits IRAs to hold gold (≥99.5% pure), silver (≥99.9%), platinum (≥99.95%), and palladium (≥99.95%).
Last updated: April 2026
Reviewed by Gold IRA Blueprint Editorial TeamLast updated
Quick Answer
Gold IRAs are governed by IRC § 408(m). Eligible metals: gold ≥99.5%, silver ≥99.9%, platinum/palladium ≥99.95% (American Gold Eagles are an explicit statutory exception). Storage must be at an IRS-approved depository — home storage triggers a deemed distribution. RMD age is 73 under SECURE 2.0.
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1970 Gold IRA Rule Reference
Eligible metals (IRC § 408(m)(3)). Gold ≥99.5% pure, silver ≥99.9%, platinum and palladium ≥99.95%. Statutory exception: American Gold Eagles, which are 91.67% pure but explicitly permitted.
Storage. Bullion must be in physical custody of an IRS-approved depository. Home storage was definitively rejected in McNulty v. Commissioner (Tax Court, 2021).
Custodian. The IRA must be held by a qualified, regulated trustee (a state-chartered trust company, federally chartered bank, or IRS-approved non-bank trustee).
RMDs. Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73. Roth IRAs (including Roth Gold IRAs) have no lifetime RMDs.
60-day rollover. If you receive a distribution check, you have 60 days to deposit it elsewhere or owe income tax + 10% penalty (under 59½). Direct trustee-to-trustee transfers don't trigger the 60-day window — that's why nearly every Gold IRA rollover is structured this way.
SECURE 2.0 changes most relevant to Gold IRA holders: RMD age $73 now / 75 in 2033; Roth catch-up requirement for high earners; tightened beneficiary distribution rules.
Custodians That Handle Gold IRA Compliance Best
Editorial rankings updated April 2026. We weight BBB rating, minimum, fees, customer review volume, and time in business.
| Rank | Provider | Min | BBB | Best For | Get Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Augusta Precious Metals ★ 5 · 13 yrs | $50,000 | A+ | $100k+ savers wanting white-glove service and education-first onboarding | Free Kit |
| #2 | Birch Gold Group ★ 4.8 · 22 yrs | $10,000 | A+ | Accounts under $100k that need an accessible entry point with strong education | Free Kit |
| #3 | Goldco ★ 4.8 · 19 yrs | $25,000 | A+ | Mid-range investors who value fast setup and the up-to-10% free silver promotion | — |
| #4 | American Hartford Gold ★ 4.9 · 10 yrs | $10,000 | A+ | Cost-sensitive savers under $100k who want low fees and an easy online setup | — |
| #5 | Advantage Gold ★ 4.9 · 12 yrs | $5,000 | A+ | Beginners — $5,000 minimum is the lowest of any major Gold IRA company | — |
Rankings reflect editorial review of BBB rating, minimum, fees, customer reviews, and time in business. Last updated April 2026.
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Related Free Tools
Frequently Asked Questions — Gold IRA Rules 1970
People Also Ask
Quick answers to the adjacent questions 1970 retirement savers ask alongside this one.
What gold coins are IRA-eligible?
American Gold Eagle (statutory exception, 91.67% pure), American Gold Buffalo, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Australian Gold Kangaroo, Austrian Philharmonic, and most ≥99.5% pure bullion bars from approved refiners.
Can I store Gold IRA metals at home?
No. McNulty v. Commissioner (2021) reaffirmed that home storage is a deemed distribution. Bullion must stay at an IRS-approved depository until distribution.
Why home storage is illegal →Are Gold IRAs FDIC insured?
No — FDIC insures bank deposits, not bullion. Depositories carry their own insurance (Lloyd's of London policies are standard, $1B+ coverage).
Can I take physical possession of my Gold IRA gold?
Yes, via in-kind distribution at age 59½+. The metals are valued at fair market value on the distribution date and taxed as ordinary income.
Prohibited transactions inside a Gold IRA?
Self-dealing (buying from yourself or a family member's business), pledging the IRA as loan collateral, and personal use of the metals all disqualify the entire IRA — instant deemed distribution.
Inherited Gold IRA rules under SECURE 2.0?
Spousal beneficiaries can roll into their own IRA. Most non-spouse beneficiaries must drain the inherited IRA within 10 years. RMDs may apply within the 10-year window depending on the original owner's age.
Roth Gold IRA 5-year rule?
Earnings are tax-free only if 5 years have passed since your first Roth IRA contribution AND you're 59½+. Conversions have a separate 5-year clock.
Can I contribute foreign coins to a Gold IRA?
Most non-US sovereign coins qualify if ≥99.5% pure. The American Eagle is the named statutory exception that allows 91.67% purity.
What if my Gold IRA custodian goes bankrupt?
Your bullion is segregated from the custodian's assets and remains your property. The depository or another custodian can take over administration; the metals themselves are unaffected.
Key Terms & Related Concepts
The vocabulary every Gold IRA decision touches — IRS regulations, custody, tax treatment, and adjacent retirement concepts.
- Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA)
- An IRA structured to hold alternative assets including precious metals. Same federal contribution limits as a regular IRA but the custodian permits a wider asset menu.
- Custodian
- An IRS-approved trust company that holds title to your IRA assets. Required for every Gold IRA — you can't be your own custodian.
- Depository
- An IRS-approved facility that physically stores your Gold IRA bullion. Most common: Delaware Depository, Brink's, Texas Bullion Depository.
- Trustee-to-trustee transfer
- Direct movement of funds from one IRA custodian to another with no check made payable to you — tax-free and unlimited under IRC § 408(d)(3).
- IRC § 408(m)(3)
- The federal statute that permits IRAs to hold gold (≥99.5% pure), silver (≥99.9%), platinum, and palladium meeting purity requirements.
- Spot price
- The live market price for one troy ounce of pure gold or silver. IRA-grade coins typically trade 3–8% above spot to cover minting and dealer margin.
- SECURE 2.0 Act (2022)
- Federal law that raised RMD age to 73 (rising to 75 in 2033), tightened beneficiary 10-year drain rules, and added Roth catch-up requirements for high earners.
- Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
- The annual amount you must withdraw from a Traditional Gold IRA starting at age 73 under SECURE 2.0. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs. Free RMD calculator →
- 60-day rollover rule
- If you take physical receipt of retirement funds, you have 60 days to deposit them into a qualifying IRA or owe income tax + 10% penalty under 59½.
- 5-year Roth rule
- Earnings on a Roth Gold IRA are tax-free only if 5 tax years have passed since your first Roth contribution AND you're 59½+. Conversions have a separate 5-year clock.
- In-kind distribution
- Taking physical possession of your Gold IRA bullion as a distribution. Taxed as ordinary income at fair market value on the distribution date.
- Backdoor Roth
- Strategy for high earners above Roth income limits — contribute to a Traditional IRA (non-deductible) then convert to Roth. Available for Gold IRAs too.
Sources & References
- IRS Publication 590-A and 590-B — IRA contribution and distribution rules
- IRC § 408(m)(3) — IRS-approved precious metals for IRAs
- IRS Notice 2024-80 and subsequent — annual COLA limit announcements
- SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022 — RMD age and Roth catch-up provisions
- BBB, Trustpilot, and Money.com / CNBC Select — company review aggregation
Recommended next step
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