The short answer: Traditional gold IRAs must start required minimum distributions at age 73, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Your RMD is the account’s December 31 value divided by an IRS life expectancy factor. You can meet it by selling metal for cash, taking coins or bars in kind, or taking the full amount from another traditional IRA you own. Missing it triggers a 25% excise tax, reduced to 10% if you fix it within two years. Roth gold IRAs have no RMDs for the original owner.
When do gold IRA RMDs start?
| Birth year | RMD starting age |
|---|---|
| 1951 to 1959 | 73 |
| 1960 or later | 75 |
Your first RMD is due by April 1 of the year after you reach that age. Every later RMD is due by December 31. If you delay the first one to April 1, you will take two RMDs in that calendar year, which can raise your taxes.
How is a gold IRA RMD calculated?
RMD = account value on December 31 of last year divided by your life expectancy factor.
Most owners use the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. For example, the factor is 26.5 at age 73, 24.6 at age 75 and 20.2 at age 80. Your custodian reports the year-end fair market value of your metal on Form 5498, and many custodians calculate the RMD for you.
| Age | Factor | RMD on a $100,000 gold IRA |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | About $3,774 |
| 75 | 24.6 | About $4,065 |
| 80 | 20.2 | About $4,950 |
If your spouse is your sole beneficiary and more than 10 years younger, a different table applies and the RMD is lower.
What are your options for taking an RMD from metal?
- Sell metal for cash. The custodian sells enough coins or bars, usually through a dealer, and distributes cash. Ask for the buyback price first.
- Take metal in kind. Coins or bars are shipped to you. The fair market value on the distribution date counts toward your RMD and is taxed as income. Smaller units, like 1 oz coins, make it easier to hit the amount.
- Use another IRA. If you own several traditional IRAs, you can add up the RMDs for each and take the total from any one or more of them. Many people take the whole amount from a regular IRA and leave the gold untouched.
- Keep cash in the gold IRA. Some owners hold a small cash balance in the account to cover RMDs and fees without selling metal.
Note: 401(k) RMDs cannot be satisfied from an IRA, and IRA RMDs cannot be satisfied from a 401(k).
How are gold IRA RMDs taxed?
Distributions from a traditional gold IRA are taxed as ordinary income, whether you take cash or metal. With an in-kind distribution, the metal’s value on the distribution date becomes your cost basis. If you later sell those coins outside the IRA for more, the gain is taxed under collectibles rules, at up to 28% for long-term gains. Our gold IRA tax guide explains this in more detail.
What happens if you miss an RMD?
The IRS charges a 25% excise tax on the amount you should have taken. If you correct the shortfall within the correction window, generally two years, the tax drops to 10%. You report it on Form 5329, and the IRS may waive it if the miss was due to reasonable error and you fix it promptly. Setting up automatic RMDs with your custodian is the simplest protection.
How do you plan ahead?
- Hold some metal in 1 oz units so you can distribute or sell in small amounts.
- Decide early whether you will take RMDs from the gold IRA or another IRA.
- Ask your custodian whether it calculates RMDs and handles in-kind shipping, and what it charges.
- Consider whether a Roth gold IRA, which has no RMDs for the owner, fits part of your plan.
Retirees can find broader planning tips in our guide to gold IRAs for seniors.
Frequently asked questions
Do gold IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Traditional gold IRAs do, starting at 73, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Roth gold IRAs have none for the original owner.
How do I take an RMD from a gold IRA?
Sell metal for cash, take coins or bars in kind, or take the total RMD for all your traditional IRAs from another IRA.
Can I take my gold IRA RMD in coins?
Yes. An in-kind distribution counts at the metal's fair market value on the distribution date and is taxed as ordinary income.
Can I take my gold IRA RMD from another IRA?
Yes. For traditional IRAs, you can calculate each account's RMD and take the combined amount from any one or more of them.
What is the penalty for missing a gold IRA RMD?
A 25% excise tax on the shortfall, reduced to 10% if corrected within the correction window, generally two years.
How is the value of my gold determined for RMDs?
Your custodian reports the account's December 31 fair market value, based on metal prices, on Form 5498. That value is used to calculate the next year's RMD.
Sources: IRS: required minimum distributions, IRS Publication 590-B, Schneider Downs on 2026 RMD rules. General education, not tax advice.