Segregated vs Non-Segregated Metals Storage
In segregated storage, the depository keeps your specific coins and bars physically separate and labeled under your account, so the exact items you bought are the ones you get back. In non-segregated (also called commingled) storage, your metal is pooled with identical products owned by others, and you are entitled to the same type and quantity, not the same pieces. Segregated storage usually costs more; whether it is worth it depends mostly on what you hold and whether you plan to take delivery.
How Each Arrangement Works
Segregated storage
Your holdings are placed in a dedicated bin, box, or shelf space marked with your account. Bars are tracked by serial number. If your account holds a particular 10-ounce bar from a named refiner, that bar stays yours and is the one shipped or sold when you give instructions.
Non-segregated or commingled storage
The depository keeps inventory by product. If you own 20 one-ounce American Gold Eagles, the vault records that your account is entitled to 20 of them out of a larger pool. When you sell or take delivery, you receive 20 Eagles of the same product, which may not be the exact coins originally shipped for you.
Commingled storage in an IRA is generally still allocated: your account owns a specific quantity of specific products, recorded on the depository's books. That is different from an unallocated arrangement, where an owner may hold only a general claim on a provider's metal. Ask the depository how its pooled storage is titled. Our page on depositories explained covers how holdings are logged.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Question | Segregated | Non-segregated |
|---|---|---|
| Are your items kept apart? | Yes, labeled under your account | No, pooled with identical products |
| Do you get the same pieces back? | Yes | Same product and quantity, not necessarily the same pieces |
| Relative price | Usually higher | Usually lower |
| Bar serial numbers tracked to you? | Yes | Often not individually |
| Best suited to | Unique or varied items, plans to take delivery | Standard bullion coins and bars |
What It Costs
Segregation takes more space, handling, and record-keeping, so depositories typically charge more for it. Pricing may be a flat annual amount or scaled to account value. Goldco's published fee statement shows how one company presents the two options:
Gold IRA Fees
The required minimum purchase at Goldco to start a gold IRA is $25,000. Goldco’s preferred Custodian charges a flat annual account service fee which includes a one-time IRA account set-up fee of $50. as well as a $30 wire fee. Annual maintenance is $100, and storage is $150 for segregated storage or $100 for non-segregated storage.
Fees for gold storage and custodianship can vary depending on the company you select to handle these services (required by the IRS, as all IRA assets must be managed by a custodian). Depending on the Custodian, storage fees can range from $10 to $60 per month, or as a percentage of assets, from 0.35% to 1% annually.
Use Goldco's published fee statement above as a reference point when comparing other providers, and ask each for its storage pricing in writing for both options. Over a holding period of many years, the difference between the two can add up, so it is worth deciding deliberately rather than by default. Our page on precious metals IRA fees puts storage alongside the other recurring costs.
When Segregated Storage May Make Sense
- Varied or distinctive products. If you own themed, proof, or limited-mintage coins, receiving the exact pieces may matter, since condition and packaging can affect resale. See proof vs bullion coins.
- Bars from specific refiners. Some owners prefer to keep the specific serial-numbered bars and original assay cards they bought. Our page on IRA-eligible bars covers why packaging matters.
- Plans to take delivery. If you expect to take an in-kind distribution, segregation means you receive the same items you chose.
- Peace of mind. Some people simply prefer knowing exactly which items are theirs.
When Non-Segregated Storage May Be Enough
- Standard bullion. One American Gold Eagle of a given size and condition is interchangeable with another for pricing purposes, so receiving different pieces of the same product makes little practical difference.
- Plans to sell rather than take delivery. If you expect to sell inside the account, the identity of each coin rarely matters to the buyer.
- Cost sensitivity. Lower storage charges leave more of the account's value in metal over time.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing
- Is pooled storage allocated to my account by product and quantity, and how is it titled?
- For segregated storage, are bars recorded by serial number and coins kept in original packaging?
- Can I switch between options later, and what does that involve?
- Does insurance coverage differ between the two?
- Are there differences in shipping or release times when I sell or take delivery?
For metals held outside an IRA, the same idea applies to private vaulting services; see precious metals storage options compared. If you are considering Goldco, its customers' IRA metals go to an independent insured depository, and our page on Goldco storage and custodian partners explains what to confirm about segregation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is non-segregated storage less secure?
Not inherently. Both are held in the same vault under the same security and insurance. The difference is how holdings are identified, not how well they are protected.
Can a depository lend out pooled metal?
Professional IRA depositories typically state that they hold customer metal in custody and do not lend it. Confirm this in the storage agreement.
Does segregation affect taxes?
No. The tax treatment of the IRA is the same either way, and in both cases the metal stays in the trustee's custody, which Internal Revenue Code section 408(m)(3) requires for bullion. Only the storage arrangement differs.