What is a Precious Metals IRA?

A Precious Metals IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that allows you to hold physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with the same tax advantages as traditional IRAs. Thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Americans can diversify retirement savings with IRS‑approved coins and bars stored at approved depositories.

You may hear this type of retirement account referred to as a Gold IRA, Silver IRA, Platinum IRA, Palladium IRA, Precious Metals IRA, or Physical Gold IRA. They all describe the same structure: an IRA that owns approved physical precious metals.

National Gold Group helps clients diversify and safeguard their retirement savings by opening and funding self-directed IRAs across many plan types, including:

A Precious Metals IRA follows the same IRS rules that apply to other IRAs. You can make annual contributions (subject to IRS limits), transfer or roll over funds from existing retirement plans, and take distributions in cash or in kind. In-kind distributions let you receive your physical metals when eligible; cash distributions are made by selling metals within the IRA and distributing proceeds. The key difference from “paper” IRAs is that your underlying assets are tangible precious metals held in secure, IRS‑approved storage.

At National Gold Group, we’re committed to transparent pricing, expert guidance, and best‑in‑class service to help you invest with confidence.

Own Physical Metals

Hold IRS‑approved coins and bars inside your IRA—tangible assets, not ETFs or paper proxies.

Flexible Funding

Rollover or transfer from IRAs, 401(k), 403(b), TSP, and more—or make new contributions when eligible.

Secure, Insured Storage

Assets are held at IRS‑approved depositories with comprehensive insurance and independent audits.

Flexible Distributions

Take distributions in cash or in‑kind metals when eligible; RMD rules apply to Traditional IRAs.

Step 1

Open Your Account

Our dedicated National Gold Group account representative will walk you through the simple application. It takes about 5 minutes to complete using our online application. Once done, our in house IRA department will process the rollover or transfer and have your new self directed IRA account completely set up within 24 hours!

Step 2

Fund Your Precious Metals IRA

One of the most common ways our clients fund their new IRAs is through a rollover, or transfer of funds from an existing retirement account. Our full service IRA department does all the heavy lifting, and quickly completes a rollover / transfer call with your existing custodian.

Step 3

Choose Your Metals

Once your precious metals IRA is funded, you can start to fill it with any combination of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium that you want. Your account representative will help walk you through your options of bullion, bars and coins to fill your account. After you decide, we take care of everything else!

Gold

Minimum Fineness: 0.9950

Gold Coins

American Gold Eagle
American Gold Buffalo
Canadian Maple Leaf
Australian Kangaroo/Nugget
Austrian Philharmonic
British Britannia
Chinese Panda

Gold Bars

From approved refiners (Perth Mint, Valcambi, PAMP, Rand, RCM, Metalor)
Common sizes: 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kg
Serialized with assay (minted or cast)

Silver

Minimum Fineness: 0.9990

Coins

American Silver Eagle
Canadian Maple Leaf
Australian Kangaroo/Kookaburra/Koala
Austrian Philharmonic
British Britannia
Chinese Panda

Bars

From approved refiners (RCM, PAMP, Valcambi, Asahi, etc.)
Common sizes: 10 oz, 100 oz, 1 kg
Hallmark and assay required

Platinum

Minimum Fineness: 0.9995

Coins

American Platinum Eagle
Canadian Maple Leaf
Australian Platypus
British Britannia
Austrian Philharmonic

Bars

From approved refiners
Common sizes: 1 oz, 10 oz
Serialized with assay (minted or cast)

Palladium

Minimum Fineness: 0.9995

Coins

American Palladium Eagle
Canadian Maple Leaf

Bars

From approved refiners
Common sizes: 1 oz, 10 oz
Serialized and assayed

IRS Rules for Precious Metals IRAs (All Metals)

Core requirements that apply to Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium.

Form: Bullion coins or bars in uncirculated condition; no collectibles/numismatics unless specifically allowed by IRS.

Manufacturer: Coins/bars must be produced by approved national mints or accredited refiners/assayers.

Custody: Assets must be held by a qualified IRA custodian/depository; home storage is not permitted.

Prohibited items: Jewelry, unapproved rare/numismatic coins, commemoratives not meeting IRS criteria, and any items below purity thresholds.

How Storage Works

All IRA metals must be held by a qualified custodian at an IRS-approved depository.
Choose between Segregated storage (your specific items, individually tracked) or Commingled storage (fungible bullion of same type/purity held together).
End-to-end insured logistics for transfers and shipments to the depository.
Regular independent audits and real-time inventory controls at the facility.

Title remains in your IRA’s name; your custodian provides statements and online view-only access.
Comprehensive all-risk insurance for metals in custody at approved facilities.
Distributions: liquidate to cash or take in-kind distribution per IRS rules.
Professional storage and custody maintain your IRA’s tax-advantaged status.

IRS‑Approved Depositories

Your IRA metals are stored at one of the following IRS‑approved facilities, featuring 24/7 security, climate control, comprehensive insurance, and independent audits.

Brink’s Global Services

Industry leader with multiple U.S. locations

Delaware Depository Service Company

Established precious metals storage

Texas Precious Metals Depository

State‑of‑the‑art Texas facility

International Depository Services (IDS)

Comprehensive storage solutions

We’ll confirm your preferred custodian and depository during account setup. Availability may vary by location.

Storage Options

Segregated Storage

Your metals stored separately from other investors’ holdings.
Individual serial numbers tracked; item-level accountability.
Higher storage fees; maximum specificity.
Ideal for larger holdings or specific bar/coin preferences.

Commingled (Non‑Segregated) Storage

Metals stored with other investors’ bullion of the same type and purity.
Lower storage costs; fully insured and IRS‑compliant.
Common, cost‑effective choice for silver and mixed-metal IRAs.

Why Home Storage Is Prohibited

IRS Consequences

Immediate taxation, because it's treated as a distribution at fair market value.
10% early withdrawal penalty applies if you’re under age 59½.
Loss of tax‑advantaged IRA status for the metals.

Compliance & Protection

Professional custody preserves IRA compliance and audit trails.
Avoids collectible tax treatment outside the IRA (up to 28%).
Maintains eligibility for comprehensive insurance and controls.

Depository Security Features

24/7 Armed Security

Professional security personnel on‑site around the clock.

Advanced Surveillance

State‑of‑the‑art camera systems and motion detection.

Comprehensive Insurance

Full coverage against theft, damage, and natural disasters.

Regular Audits

Independent third‑party audits ensure inventory accuracy.

Storage Fees and Billing

Annual storage and account fees are billed by your IRA custodian and/or depository.
Fees vary by storage type (segregated vs commingled), metal mix, and account size.
Shipping to the depository for new purchases through National Gold Group is insured and coordinated by our team.

In‑Kind Distributions

Receive your actual coins/bars shipped to you as your distribution.
Taxed as ordinary income for traditional IRAs; Roth IRAs may be tax‑free if qualified.
Fair market value is determined at the time of distribution.
Counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if applicable.

Your custodian coordinates release from the depository and reports the distribution on IRS Form 1099‑R.

Cash Distributions

Sell metals within the IRA; receive cash proceeds as a distribution.
Traditional IRA cash distributions are taxable; Roth IRA qualified withdrawals are tax‑free.
Useful for meeting RMDs while keeping the rest of your metals invested.
No capital gains taxes inside the IRA—taxation occurs only upon distribution.

Your account representative can help coordinate a sale for liquidity; your custodian handles reporting.

Choosing the right precious metals allocation for your IRA requires understanding how each metal performs under different economic conditions and market cycles. While all four metals offer protection against currency debasement and inflation, their unique characteristics make them suitable for different investment objectives and risk tolerances.

Understanding the fundamental drivers behind each metal's price movements helps you make informed allocation decisions. Gold's monetary role makes it the ultimate safe haven, while silver's industrial applications provide growth potential. Platinum and palladium offer exposure to specific industrial sectors that can outperform during economic expansions.

Precious Metals Comparison Chart

Characteristic	Gold	Silver	Platinum	Palladium
Primary Role	Store of value + Money	Store of value + Industrial	Industrial precious metal	Industrial precious metal
Volatility	Low	Medium	Medium	Medium
Annual Production	3,000 tons	25,000 tons	190 tons	210 tons
Above-Ground Supply	244,000 tons	1.6 million tons	2,700 tons	7,000 tons
Industrial Demand	10%	50%	60%	80%
Investment Demand	90%	50%	40%	20%
20-Year Performance	+670%	+490%	+240%	+400%
Crisis Performance	Excellent	Good	Good	Good
Inflation Hedge	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good
Liquidity	Highest	High	High	High
Storage Costs	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard

Can I store IRA metals at home?

No. IRS rules require third‑party custody at an approved depository. Home storage is treated as a taxable distribution and can trigger penalties.

How long does setup and funding take?

Application takes minutes. Rollovers/transfers typically complete in a few business days once your custodian processes the request.

What metals are approved for IRAs?

Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium that meet IRS fineness standards. Common coins: American Eagle/Maple Leaf/Philharmonic and bullion bars from approved refiners.

How do fees work?

Annual storage and account fees are billed by your IRA custodian/depository and vary by storage type and account size. Shipping to the depository for new purchases is insured.

How do I sell or take a distribution?

You can sell inside the IRA for cash or take an in‑kind distribution of metals. Traditional IRA distributions are taxable; Roth IRA qualified distributions are tax‑free.

When do RMDs start and how are they handled?

Traditional IRAs have Required Minimum Distributions beginning at the IRS‑specified age. You can meet RMDs via cash from a sale or in‑kind metals; the custodian reports distributions.

START YOUR PRECIOUS METALS IRA

As a trusted leader in the precious metals market, the National Gold Group team has helped thousands of clients start a Precious Metals IRA. We make the process simple and transparent. Contact us today to get started.

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What Is A Precious Metals IRA? The Full Guide.