Goldco Storage and Custodian Partners

By the Bullion Beacon Editorial Team · Updated October 31, 2026

Goldco does not hold your retirement metals itself. A self-directed IRA custodian administers the account (Goldco says it works with all major custodians, and its FAQ references Equity Trust statements), and the metals are stored at an independent insured depository. Understanding these two roles tells you who to call, who reports to the IRS, and where your metal physically sits.

Three Parties, Three Jobs

A precious metals IRA separates selling, record-keeping, and safekeeping:

• Goldco, the precious metals company, sells the metals and coordinates paperwork.
• The custodian holds the IRA on your behalf, executes purchases and sales at your direction, keeps records, and handles IRS reporting.
• The depository physically stores and insures the metals and reports holdings to the custodian.

This separation is deliberate. Under 26 U.S.C. 408(m), eligible coins and bullion in an IRA must be in the physical possession of a trustee, which is why the metal does not go to your home. Our collectibles rule page explains why.

How Custodians Work With Goldco

Goldco says it works with all major self-directed IRA custodians. Its FAQ references statements from Equity Trust, which indicates that Equity Trust is among the custodians its customers use. Ask Goldco which custodians it currently works with and whether you can choose among them.

A custodian's duties typically include:

• Opening the self-directed IRA and verifying your identity.
• Receiving transfers and rollovers from your existing accounts.
• Paying for metals you approve and recording them in your account.
• Sending periodic statements and filing Form 5498 each year with the account's fair market value.
• Issuing Form 1099-R for any distribution, whether cash or in-kind metals.

Custodians are the regulated party for the account. You can contact yours directly to confirm holdings at any time. See precious metals custodians: what they do.

How Depository Storage Works

An independent depository is a high-security vault that specializes in precious metals. Typical features include insurance coverage on stored metals, regular audits, and detailed inventory records reconciled with custodians. Ask which depository would hold your metals, where it is located, who underwrites its insurance, and how often it is audited. Our depositories explainer covers what to look for.

Segregated storage

Your specific coins and bars are kept apart from everyone else's, often in a labeled container or bin. When you sell or take an in-kind distribution, the exact items you bought are the ones released. Segregated storage often costs more.

Non-segregated (commingled) storage

Your metals are pooled with identical products owned by others. The depository tracks how many of each item you own, and you are entitled to return of the same type and quantity, though not necessarily the same physical pieces. This is generally less expensive. For standard bullion coins, the practical difference may be small; for bars with serial numbers or collectible-grade coins, it can matter more. See segregated vs non-segregated storage.

Storage and Custody Costs

Custody and storage are recurring costs that continue every year you hold the metals. Goldco's published fee statement sets them out:

Ask which party bills each item, whether the storage charge differs between segregated and non-segregated options, and how fees are collected (from the account or from an outside payment).

Why Not Store Retirement Metals at Home?

Some marketers promote "home storage" IRAs. The IRS position on collectibles, and Tax Court decisions on the topic, make that approach risky: personal possession of IRA metals may be treated as a distribution, which can bring tax and potential penalties. Our home storage risks page explains the issue. If you want metal you can hold yourself, a non-IRA purchase is the cleaner route; see buying directly from Goldco.

Verifying Your Holdings

Because the custodian and depository are separate from Goldco, you have independent ways to confirm what you own. Compare each custodian statement against your original purchase confirmations: product names, quantities, and weights should match. If you use segregated storage, ask whether the depository can provide an itemized holdings report. Any discrepancy should go to the custodian first, in writing.

Questions to Ask About Storage

1. Which custodian will administer my account, and can I choose another?
2. Which depository will hold my metals, and in what location?
3. Is segregated storage available, and what does it cost?
4. Who insures the stored metals, and what does the coverage include?
5. How do I verify my holdings independently?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Goldco store my metals?

No. For IRA accounts, metals go to an independent insured depository, and a custodian administers the account.

Is Equity Trust the only custodian Goldco uses?

Goldco says it works with all major self-directed IRA custodians; Equity Trust is the one named in its FAQ. Ask which options are currently available.

How do I see what metals I own?

Your custodian's statements list your holdings. You can also contact the custodian directly. See what to expect as a Goldco customer.

Sources

• Cornell LII — 26 U.S. Code § 408
• IRS — About Form 5498
• IRS — Publication 590-A
• U.S. Tax Court