Contents
Approved metals and purity standards
| Metal | Minimum fineness | Exception |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | .995 (99.5%) | American Gold Eagle (.9167) is allowed by statute |
| Silver | .999 (99.9%) | None |
| Platinum | .9995 (99.95%) | None |
| Palladium | .9995 (99.95%) | None |
Bars and rounds must be produced by a national government mint or by a refiner accredited by NYMEX/COMEX, LBMA, LME, NYSE/LIFFE, ISO 9000 or a similar body. Coins must be legal tender of the issuing country.
IRS-approved coins and bars (common choices)
Gold
- American Gold Eagle (bullion and proof)
- American Gold Buffalo
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
- Austrian Gold Philharmonic
- Australian Gold Kangaroo / Nugget
- British Gold Britannia (2013+)
- Bars: PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Credit Suisse, Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint
Silver, platinum, palladium
- American Silver Eagle
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
- Austrian Silver Philharmonic
- Australian Silver Kookaburra / Koala
- American Platinum Eagle, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf
- Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf
- Accredited-refiner bars in all three metals
Not allowed
- South African Krugerrands (.9167, no statutory exception)
- Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, Swiss Francs, British Sovereigns (collectible / below purity)
- Rare, graded or numismatic coins of any kind
- Jewelry, gemstones, art
Contribution limits: 2026 official, 2027 projected
| Limit | 2025 | 2026 (official) | 2027 (projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA base limit (Traditional + Roth combined) | $7,000 | $7,500 | $7,500 to $8,000 |
| Catch-up, age 50+ | $1,000 | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| Total, age 50+ | $8,000 | $8,600 | $8,600 to $9,100 |
| 401(k) employee deferral (for context) | $23,500 | $24,500 | ~$25,000 to $25,500 |
| Rollovers and transfers | No limit; do not count toward contribution limits | ||
The IRS announces the following year's limits in late October or November based on third-quarter inflation data. Roth IRA income phase-outs also adjust annually; for 2026 the single-filer phase-out begins at $153,000 and the married-filing-jointly phase-out at $242,000 (modified AGI). Check the IRS notice for exact figures when it is published.
Storage and custodian requirements
- Metals must be held by an IRS-approved trustee or custodian (a bank, federally insured credit union, or a non-bank trustee approved by the IRS).
- Physical storage must be in an approved depository: Delaware Depository, IDS (Texas and Delaware), Brink's, A-M Global Logistics and others.
- You may not take personal possession while the metal is in the IRA. "Home storage" and "checkbook LLC" structures were rejected in McNulty v. Commissioner (T.C. 2021); the taxpayer owed tax on the full IRA plus penalties.
- Segregated and commingled (allocated) storage are both permitted.
Prohibited transactions
Section 4975 bans "self-dealing" between the IRA and disqualified persons (you, your spouse, ancestors, descendants and entities you control). In a Gold IRA this means you cannot:
- Sell metal you already own to your IRA, or buy metal from your IRA personally.
- Store IRA metal at home, in a personal safe-deposit box, or with a relative.
- Pledge the IRA metal as collateral for a loan.
- Use the IRA to buy collectibles (coins outside the approved list, art, antiques).
Consequence: the IRA is deemed fully distributed as of January 1 of the year of the violation.
Withdrawals, RMDs and taxes
| Rule | Traditional Gold IRA | Roth Gold IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty-free withdrawals | From age 59½ | Contributions any time; earnings from 59½ + 5-year rule |
| Early withdrawal | 10% penalty + ordinary income tax | 10% penalty + tax on earnings only |
| Required minimum distributions | Age 73 (75 if born 1960 or later) | None for original owner |
| Tax on withdrawals | Ordinary income | Tax-free if qualified |
| Form of distribution | Cash (after selling metal) or in-kind delivery of the physical coins/bars at fair market value | |
| Collectibles tax rate (28%) | Does not apply inside an IRA | |
RMDs on physical metal: the custodian values holdings at December 31; you can satisfy the RMD by selling enough metal for cash or by taking coins in kind. Missing an RMD carries a 25% excise tax (10% if corrected within two years).
Reporting
Your custodian files Form 5498 (contributions and year-end value) and Form 1099-R (distributions). Direct rollovers appear on your old plan's 1099-R with distribution code G and are not taxable. Keep every purchase confirmation; the cost basis matters for in-kind Roth distributions.