Holding Gold With Goldco: Gold IRA Overview
Goldco helps customers hold physical gold inside a self-directed IRA. The gold must meet IRS fineness rules, the account is administered by an independent custodian, the metal is stored at an independent insured depository, and the account is funded by transfer or rollover from an existing retirement account. This page covers each piece and what to confirm before you proceed.
Why Gold Needs a Special Kind of Account
Ordinary IRAs at most banks and brokerages hold stocks, bonds, and funds, not physical bars. Federal law treats most collectibles held in an IRA as a distribution, but 26 U.S.C. 408(m) carves out certain gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion, provided a trustee holds them. That is why gold ownership in an IRA requires a self-directed account with a custodian willing to administer physical metal, plus a depository to store it.
If you want the general background first, read what a gold IRA is and how holding physical gold in an IRA works.
Gold Products That Can Qualify
For gold bullion, the IRS standard is a minimum fineness of .995. There is a specific statutory exception for American Eagle coins, which is why the American Gold Eagle, struck in 22-karat gold, qualifies despite being below .995.
Goldco's product list includes gold coins such as:
- American Gold Eagle from the U.S. Mint, eligible under the American Eagle exception.
- American Gold Buffalo from the U.S. Mint, struck in .9999 fine gold.
- Gold Maple Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint, also .9999 fine.
- British Lunar Series from the Royal Mint.
Goldco also lists gold bars and numerous themed and commemorative coins. Eligibility depends on the specific product, not the name of the series, so ask whether each item you are considering is IRA eligible and get that confirmation in writing. Our guide to which gold coins are IRA eligible explains the rules in more detail, and gold coins available through Goldco covers the product list.
Bullion Coins vs Premium Coins in an IRA
Inside an IRA, the main thing you are holding is metal content. Plain bullion coins and bars tend to trade close to the value of their gold, while proof and commemorative coins usually cost more above spot. When you later sell, the buyer may or may not pay you for that extra. Ask for the premium over spot on each product, side by side, before choosing.
Who Does What
Goldco
Goldco is the precious metals company. It sells the gold, coordinates paperwork, and helps arrange shipment. Its precious metals specialists explain options but are not licensed to give financial, legal, or tax advice.
The custodian
The self-directed IRA custodian holds the account, executes purchases on the IRA's behalf, keeps records, files Form 5498 each year, and issues statements. Goldco says it works with all major self-directed IRA custodians, and its FAQ references Equity Trust statements.
The depository
An independent insured depository physically stores the gold. Ask whether storage is segregated (your specific bars and coins set aside) or non-segregated. Our Goldco storage and custodians page goes further.
Funding the Gold Purchase
Most Goldco gold IRAs are funded by moving money from an existing account:
- A trustee-to-trustee transfer from another IRA, which is not treated as a distribution.
- A direct rollover from a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or similar plan, which avoids the 20% mandatory withholding on eligible distributions paid to you.
- An indirect rollover, which must be completed within 60 days and is limited to one IRA-to-IRA rollover in any 12-month period.
The Goldco rollover process page walks through each route.
What It Costs
Goldco's published fee statement, including its IRA minimum, appears below exactly as the company provides it.
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.
In addition, each product's price includes a premium over spot, and selling later involves a spread between buy and sell prices.
Gold's Role in a Portfolio
Some people hold gold as a potential hedge against inflation or as a way to diversify away from stocks and bonds. The World Gold Council publishes long-run data on how gold has behaved, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index used to measure inflation. Gold's price can rise or fall sharply, it produces no income, and past behavior does not predict future results. See gold and inflation for a balanced discussion, and consult a licensed financial professional about your own allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep IRA gold at home?
Generally no. Under 408(m), eligible bullion must be held by a trustee or approved depository; personal possession can be treated as a distribution.
Is gold in an IRA taxed differently from other IRA assets?
Traditional IRA distributions are generally taxed as ordinary income regardless of what the account holds. IRS Publication 590-B covers distributions.
Can I take the gold out later?
Yes, through an in-kind distribution, which the custodian reports. For a traditional IRA, the value is generally taxable when distributed.
Does Goldco buy the gold back?
Goldco advertises a buyback program for IRA-approved coins. Read the written terms before relying on it.