Welcome to Retirement With Gold
Plain-English guides to holding physical gold and silver in an IRA: how it works, what it costs, and how to avoid the sales traps.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you request a kit or open an account through our links, at no cost to you. We are not financial advisors. How we make money
What are the 2026 gold IRA numbers?
- Annual IRA contribution limit
- $7,500
- Extra catch-up at age 50+
- $1,100
- Minimum gold purity for bullion
- 99.5%
- Age required distributions begin
- 73
Limits from the IRS 2026 announcement. Rollovers and transfers do not count toward the contribution limit.
What is a gold IRA, in one paragraph?
A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that owns IRS-approved physical metal instead of stocks or funds. The metal sits in an approved depository, a custodian keeps the records, and the account follows normal IRA tax rules.
You can open one as a traditional IRA (tax-deferred) or a Roth IRA (tax-free withdrawals if you qualify). Most people fund it by moving money from an old 401(k), 403(b), TSP or existing IRA rather than by writing a new check.
Gold does not pay interest or dividends. Its job in a retirement plan is diversification: it has tended to move differently from stocks and bonds, and many people hold it as a hedge against inflation and currency risk.
How does a gold IRA work, step by step?
Open a self-directed IRA
Regular brokerages cannot hold physical metal, so you open an account with a custodian that handles precious metals. The dealer usually helps with the paperwork.
Fund it with a transfer or rollover
A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is the safest route. With an indirect rollover you have 60 days to redeposit, and you get one indirect IRA rollover per 12 months.
Choose IRS-approved metal
You pick coins or bars from a dealer. Compare the price you pay with the current spot price so you know the markup.
Store it in a depository
The metal ships straight to an approved vault. You can choose commingled or segregated storage, and you get regular statements.
Is a gold IRA right for you?
It can be a sensible small slice of a retirement plan, but it is not for everyone. Be honest about which column sounds like you.
Often a good fit if you
- Have savings in a 401(k) or IRA you can move without needing the cash soon
- Want a hard asset that does not depend on any one company or bank
- Plan to keep metals to a modest share of your total savings
- Are comfortable holding for many years through price swings
Probably not a fit if you
- Need your retirement savings to produce monthly income
- Have a small balance where yearly fees would eat into returns
- Might need the money quickly, since selling metal takes days
- Are being pressured to move everything into gold
What does a gold IRA really cost?
Account fees are usually modest. The cost that hurts people is the dealer spread, so ask for it in writing before you buy.
Ranges are typical industry figures and vary by company and account size. Get a written quote before you sign anything.
| Cost | How it is charged | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | One time, often under $100 | Is it waived for larger accounts? |
| Custodian fee | Yearly, flat or by account value | Flat or scaled with my balance? |
| Storage fee | Yearly, often $100 to $300 | Commingled or segregated, and which vault? |
| Dealer spread | Built into the metal price | What is the markup over spot on each product? |
| Buyback spread | When you sell or take distributions | What would you pay me today for the same metal? |
$76M
Judgment against Red Rock Secured in 2024, after the SEC alleged it charged retirees hidden markups of up to 130%.
How do you spot a gold IRA scam?
- They push you to move all of your savings, or warn of a crash to rush you
- They steer you to "exclusive," rare or numismatic coins with huge markups
- They will not put the markup over spot price in writing
- They suggest storing IRA metal at home, which the IRS does not allow
- They pose as a financial advisor while acting as a salesperson
In 2023, 42 state regulators secured $5.5 million for Lear Capital customers over undisclosed fees. Read our full guide to gold IRA scams
Which gold IRA company do we work with?
Our current partner is Noble Gold Investments. We plan to add more reviewed companies so you can compare.
Noble Gold was founded in 2016 and is based in Encino, California. It offers gold, silver, platinum and palladium IRAs, storage at approved depositories in Texas and Delaware, and a buyback program. Confirm current minimums and fees directly with the company before you open an account.
Get a free gold IRA kitWhere should you start reading?
Gold IRA questions, answered
What is a gold IRA?
A gold IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that holds IRS-approved physical gold, silver, platinum or palladium instead of stocks and funds. It follows the same contribution, rollover and distribution rules as any other traditional or Roth IRA.
How much can I put in a gold IRA in 2026?
For 2026 the IRS limit for new contributions across all your IRAs is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you are 50 or older. Rollovers and direct transfers from a 401(k), 403(b), TSP or another IRA do not count toward that limit.
Can I keep my IRA gold at home?
No. IRS rules require IRA bullion to stay in the physical possession of a bank or approved non-bank trustee, which in practice means an approved depository. Taking possession at home can be treated as a distribution, which may trigger income tax and a 10% penalty if you are under 59 and a half.
What does a gold IRA cost each year?
Expect a one-time setup fee, an annual custodian fee and an annual storage fee, which together commonly run a few hundred dollars a year. The bigger cost is often the dealer spread, the gap between what you pay for metal and what it is worth. Always ask for it in writing.
Is a gold IRA a good idea?
It can make sense as a small diversifying slice for people who want a hard-asset hedge and can accept that gold pays no interest or dividends and can fall in price for years. It is a poor fit if you need income, liquidity or low fees.
How do I avoid gold IRA scams?
Be wary of anyone who pushes you to sell everything, sells "exclusive" or rare coins for an IRA, or will not state their markup in writing. In 2024 a federal court ordered Red Rock Secured to pay about $76 million after the SEC alleged it charged hidden markups of up to 130%.
Ready to see what a gold IRA would look like for you?
Request the free kit, read it at your own pace, and ask for every fee and markup in writing before you decide.
Get a free gold IRA kitRetirement With Gold is an independent publication, not a financial advisor, broker or dealer. Information is general and educational, not investment, tax or legal advice. Precious metals can fall in value, pay no income, and may be harder to sell than stocks or funds. Past performance does not predict future results. Talk with a licensed professional about your situation before moving retirement money.