Gold IRA Data: Fees, Premiums and Rules

On November 6, 2026, 17 of the 31 gold and silver dealers whose sites we could read published any per-product price online; another 10 of the 41 firms we checked refused automated page requests.

On November 6, 2026, we found no per-product prices on the pages we checked for 14 of the 20 IRA-focused gold companies whose sites we could read, including National Gold Group, which owns this site. Three (Lear Capital, Orion Metal Exchange and U.S. Money Reserve) showed a buyable per-coin price, and 3 more showed estimates or prices for other products only.

On November 6, 2026, 4 of the 31 sellers whose sites we could read showed a buyback (bid) price online: SD Bullion, Hero Bullion and Golden Eagle Coins for coins and bars, and BullionVault on its vaulted-bullion order board. None of the IRA-focused coin firms we could read showed one.

On November 6, 2026, 10 of 41 gold dealer websites we checked refused an ordinary automated page request with a challenge, captcha or decoy page.

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a 1 oz American Gold Eagle at the 10 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 4.1% to 12.8% over spot (median 5.7%).

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a 1 oz American Gold Buffalo at the 6 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 3.2% to 13.0% over spot (median 7.3%).

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a 1 oz Canadian Gold Maple Leaf at the 7 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 2.7% to 10.4% over spot (median 3.2%).

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a dealer's cheapest 1 oz gold bar at the 9 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 0.7% to 12.1% over spot (median 3.2%).

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a 1 oz American Silver Eagle at the 11 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 8.2% to 25.5% over spot (median 15.8%).

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a 1 oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf at the 8 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 4.7% to 17.7% over spot (median 12.4%).

On November 6, 2026, after the Friday New York close, the one-unit price (check or wire where stated) of a dealer's cheapest 10 oz silver bar at the 8 sellers whose sites we could read and that listed it as orderable ran from 3.7% to 19.8% over spot (median 8.5%).

On November 6, 2026, the two dealers whose sites we could read that showed a per-product buy price for a 1 oz American Gold Eagle (Hero Bullion and Golden Eagle Coins) listed buy prices 5.45% and 5.55% below their one-unit selling price. Buyback minimums apply.

On November 6, 2026, the two dealers whose sites we could read that showed a per-product buy price for a dealer's cheapest 1 oz gold bar (Hero Bullion and Golden Eagle Coins) listed buy prices 3.90% and 5.60% below their one-unit selling price. Buyback minimums apply.

On November 6, 2026, the two dealers whose sites we could read that showed a per-product buy price for a 1 oz American Silver Eagle (Hero Bullion and Golden Eagle Coins) listed buy prices 15.40% and 15.92% below their one-unit selling price. Buyback minimums apply.

On November 6, 2026, the median one-unit check or wire price was 5.7% over spot for a 1 oz American Gold Eagle and 3.2% for the cheapest 1 oz gold bar at sellers whose sites we could read, a gap of about 2.5 percentage points.

On November 6, 2026, a 1 oz American Silver Eagle carried a median premium of 15.8% over spot against 5.7% for the 1 oz Gold Eagle at sellers whose sites we could read, about 2.8 times as much.

On November 6, 2026, the three IRA-focused firms that posted a 1 oz American Gold Eagle price online listed it at 5.9% to 12.8% over spot, against a median of 4.7% (check or wire) at 7 online bullion dealers whose sites we could read. Two of the three did not state a payment method. Most IRA-focused firms, including National Gold Group, which owns this site, quote by phone, so this says nothing about their prices.

On a hypothetical $100,000 metals holding, the annual custodian fee plus commingled storage ranged from $215 (GoldStar Trust Company) to $610 (Equity Trust Company) among the 4 custodians whose fee schedules publish both (schedules captured 6 Nov 2026; setup, transaction, wire and shipping fees excluded).

On a hypothetical $100,000 holding of gold, the annual custodian fee plus segregated storage ranged from $315 (GoldStar Trust Company) to $660 (Equity Trust Company) among the 4 custodians whose fee schedules publish both (schedules captured 6 Nov 2026; STRATA's segregated price covers gold, platinum and palladium only).

On a hypothetical $100,000 holding, segregated storage cost a median $75 a year more than commingled storage among the 4 custodians that publish both prices (range $50 to $100).

On a hypothetical $250,000 holding, segregated storage cost a median $75 a year more than commingled storage among the 4 custodians that publish both prices; the range ran from $50 to $325, the top end being GoldStar, whose segregated fee is 0.18% of the metal's value above $125,000.

On a hypothetical $100,000 metals holding, the published annual custodian fee before storage ranged from $90 (GoldStar Trust Company) to $500 (Equity Trust Company) among the 9 custodians whose fee schedules we captured on 6 Nov 2026; the median was $300. Entrust is shown for a single metal type ($414 with two or more) and Digital Trust for one asset.

On a hypothetical $25,000 holding, published custodian plus commingled storage fees came to 0.86% to 2.10% of the metal's value each year among the 4 custodians that publish both (setup and transaction fees excluded).

If a hypothetical $100,000 holding kept the same value and today's published fees never changed, 20 years of custodian, setup and commingled storage fees would total $4,350 to $12,250, depending on which of the 4 custodians that publish storage prices holds it (transaction, wire, shipping and closing fees excluded).

Holding one type of metal, Entrust's recordkeeping fee ($219 plus 0.17% of value over $50,000) costs more than Preferred Trust's flat $300 precious-metals fee once a hypothetical holding passes $97,648; with two or more metal types Entrust's $329 base is above $300 at every balance. Admin fees only; neither publishes storage.

GoldStar's segregated storage ($225 minimum plus 0.18% above $125,000) costs more than a flat $240 segregated fee (Digital Trust) once metals pass $133,334.

Mountain West IRA's 0.075%-per-quarter fee stops rising at $100,000; above that it is a flat $300 a year.

Among the 4 custodians that publish both account and storage fees, a 'first-year fees waived' offer on a hypothetical $100,000 holding is worth $265 to $660 at published rates: 1.00 to 1.23 years of recurring fees, or 5.0% to 6.1% of 20 years of fees.

Only 5 of the 10 captured custodian fee schedules that cover precious metals state a storage price (one of them an undated help article); the other 5 say storage is billed by, or varies with, the depository.

Published fees to close or fully transfer out a self-directed precious metals IRA ranged from $150 to $300 among 9 custodians whose schedules we captured (median $250); moving metals out in kind can add the custodian's own re-registration fees plus depository shipping. Advanta charges 0.5% of the amount transferred, capped at $150 or $250.

The 4 custodians in our data that publish flat storage prices charge $110 to $150 a year for commingled storage; the 3 with a flat segregated price charge $160 to $240 a year (STRATA's $175 covers gold, platinum and palladium only).

For Digital Trust IRA clients, Digital Trust lists the same storage prices at Delaware Depository and Brink's: $150 a year commingled (non-segregated) and $240 a year segregated. Neither depository publishes prices on its own site, and other custodians' rates may differ.

The Texas Bullion Depository's published non-IRA storage rate is 0.49% a year, about $490 on $100,000; it says IRA storage is negotiated separately.

When we checked in October 2026, 5 of the 50 gold IRA and precious metals firms we researched had closed, stopped taking new customers or entered bankruptcy liquidation.

When we checked on 24 October 2026, 5 of the 50 firms we researched had closed and the websites of 3 more could not be loaded, so we could not confirm they were still trading.

We found a dollar figure for the gold IRA minimum on the websites of 10 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026.

We found 4 operating companies that say they set no gold IRA minimum of their own; three of them are sister brands under Gold.com and still apply a $100 minimum to every order.

Among the 8 operating companies that state a single required IRA minimum, the median is $15,000, ranging from $2,000 to $50,000.

3 of the 8 operating companies that state a single IRA minimum require $25,000 or more to open the account.

We found a dollar figure for the gold IRA setup fee, usually the custodian's fee, on the websites of 8 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026.

$50 was the setup fee most often quoted: 5 of the 6 operating companies we found quoting a single setup figure quote $50, usually the custodian's charge.

We found a dollar figure for the annual gold IRA custodian or account fee on the websites of 10 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026.

$125 a year is the most commonly quoted annual gold IRA custodian fee: 5 of the 8 operating companies that quote a single figure quote $125.

We found a dollar figure for annual gold IRA storage, usually the depository's charge, on the websites of 6 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026.

Among 8 dealers that publish a percentage rate for storing gold outside an IRA, the entry-level annual rate runs from 0.12% to 0.72%, with a median of 0.525%.

We found a percentage range for the dealer spread from only 4 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026, and all 4 print it in a PDF transaction agreement rather than on a web page.

In the 4 transaction agreements we found that state a spread range, the top of the range runs from 23% to 59.99%; the highest figures apply to rare or numismatic coins.

We found a spread, commission or premium percentage published by 6 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026.

We found at least one specific IRA custodian named on the websites of 23 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026.

Equity Trust Company is named by 11 of the 23 operating companies that name any IRA custodian.

GoldStar Trust Company is named by 8 of the 23 operating companies that name any IRA custodian.

New Direction Trust Company is named by 6 of the 23 operating companies we found naming an IRA custodian (two of them are sister brands with the same FAQ text).

We found a specific depository or vault operator named on the websites of 28 of the 42 operating companies we checked in October 2026 (30 if non-IRA storage programs are included).

Delaware Depository is named by 13 of the 28 operating companies that name any depository.

Brink's is named by 10 of the 28 operating companies we found naming an IRA depository (12 of 30 counting non-IRA storage programs).

We found 6 of the 42 operating companies saying they store customer metal in a vault that they or their parent company own.

We found 10 of the 42 operating companies advertising that they pay, may pay or waive gold IRA custodian or storage fees for qualifying accounts in October 2026.

4 of the 10 companies we found advertising IRA fee coverage describe it as lifetime coverage for qualifying accounts, with conditions that are often not published.

4 of the 10 companies we found advertising IRA fee coverage publish the account size needed to qualify.

We found 5 of the 42 operating companies advertising free silver, coins or metals for qualifying customers in October 2026.

We found 6 of the 42 operating companies stating in their own terms that they do not or cannot guarantee to buy your metals back.

We found 4 of the 42 operating companies using the word 'guarantee' for their buyback, including National Gold Group, which owns this site; none of them promises to repay the price you paid.

5 of the 8 dealers that publish sell-back minimum terms require you to sell at least $1,000 to $5,000 at a time.

We found 5 of the 42 operating companies offering to match or beat a lower competitor price, each with its own conditions.

Among the 9 operating companies we found publishing a minimum for buying metal outside an IRA, the median minimum is $5,000, from $100 to $50,000.

We found 5 of the 42 operating companies saying they have no minimum, or no fixed minimum, for buying metal outside an IRA.

The median operating gold IRA or bullion company we checked had been in business for about 17 years in 2026, counting from its stated founding year or BBB business start date.

7 of the 35 operating companies with a verified founding year started in 2015 or later.

On 24 October 2026, 35 of the 40 operating companies whose BBB grade we verified held an A+.

On 24 October 2026, 31 of the 39 operating companies whose BBB accreditation status we verified were BBB accredited.

13 of 40 operating companies with a verified business address list one in California, more than any other state.

9 of the 40 operating companies with a verified business address list one in Texas, the second most common state; four of them belong to the same parent, Gold.com.

We found 9 of the 42 operating companies promoting a named celebrity, media figure or public personality on their website, 24 people in total, in October 2026.

We found 5 of the 42 operating companies naming a membership in a precious metals trade body on the pages we checked in October 2026.

Of eight basic items (IRA minimum, setup fee, annual fee, a storage rate, product prices, a spread or commission percentage, a named custodian and a named depository), we confirmed a median of 3 on each operating company's website in October 2026, and at most 6 for any one company.

We found a figure for all four of the IRA minimum, setup fee, annual fee and storage fee on the websites of 5 of the 42 operating companies in October 2026, mostly as examples of the custodian's and depository's charges.

Among the government actions we reviewed, we counted 28 enforcement actions in 19 separate matters since 2015 over precious-metals sales to retail and IRA customers, each traced to a regulator or court document. This is not a complete count: some state records, including California DFPI orders, could not be retrieved.

By lead agency, the actions break down as: Alabama Securities Commission 1, CFTC 15, DOJ 4, Multistate (state securities regulators) 1, New York Attorney General 1, SEC 2, Texas State Securities Board 2, Washington DFI Securities Division 2.

In the 10 CFTC precious-metals actions filed since 2015 that we reviewed and found a final order for, courts ordered about $235.3 million in restitution. These are amounts ordered, not money recovered, and some are offset by payments in parallel SEC or criminal cases.

Across the 9 CFTC precious-metals fraud actions since 2015 where we found a court order, courts ordered $160,364,188.18 in civil monetary penalties.

In the 2 SEC gold and silver coin cases we reviewed, courts ordered $80,942,151.32 in disgorgement.

In the 2 SEC gold and silver coin cases we reviewed, courts ordered $37,850,245.70 in civil penalties.

In the 2 SEC gold and silver coin cases we reviewed, courts ordered $11,567,175.98 in prejudgment interest.

In the matters we reviewed, regulators' charging documents allege that customers paid more than $600 million into these schemes. These are allegations, and money paid in is not the same as money lost.

In the matters we reviewed where a regulator put a number on it, the highest markup or spread stated for each matter ranged from 30% to more than 300%. Agencies measure this differently, and most of these figures are allegations.

10 of the 19 matters (53%) involved retirement-account rollovers or self-directed IRAs, according to the agency documents.

In 5 of the 19 matters we reviewed (26%), the agency documents describe elderly or retirement-aged people as the targets of the scheme.

Of the companies reviewed on this site, Lear Capital is the only one that was a party to an action in the set we reviewed: a New York Attorney General lawsuit (filed June 2021) resolved by consent order with a $6 million payment (January 3, 2022), and a multistate settlement built into its Chapter 11 plan (confirmed June 12, 2023). The New York release does not state that Lear admitted the allegations.

In a March 2024 investor bulletin with FINRA, the CFTC said that over the past decade it had charged numerous companies with selling overpriced precious metals to customers, for an alleged total of more than $500 million in fraudulent sales.

In an August 2020 customer advisory, the CFTC said bullion prices are based on the spot price plus a markup or premium of between 5% and 10%, while customers are often encouraged to buy numismatic coins with premiums that can range from 40% to 200% above spot.

In an August 2020 advisory, the CFTC described a complaint alleging that a gold dealer and IRA custodian charged nearly $150,000 in commissions and fees to a customer who rolled over a $300,000 retirement account into a gold IRA.

The CFTC and FINRA say some fraudulent dealers have charged spreads of more than 300 percent, while other dealers may charge less than 20 percent.

In a May 2023 complaint, the CFTC alleged that Red Rock Secured misled customers into believing its markup would be 4% to 29% (or in some cases 1% to 5%) while it charged markups of approximately 100% to 130% on the coins it sold. In April 2024, Red Rock consented to a court order without admitting or denying the allegations.

In an October 2023 consent order, which Safeguard Metals entered without admitting or denying the findings, the court found customers paid an average 71% markup on silver coins when the customer agreement stated a maximum of 23%. The SEC's 2022 complaint alleged average markups of about 64% against 4% to 33% disclosed.

In a September 2020 complaint, the CFTC and 30 states allege that Metals.com (TMTE, Inc. and the Chase Metals companies) and Barrick Capital solicited and received over $185 million, including more than $140 million in retirement savings, from at least 1,600 people, with overcharges averaging 100% to more than 300% over market price. As of November 6, 2026 nothing has been proven: the case is stayed pending a parallel criminal case, and the court has certified a question on the CFTC's jurisdiction for appeal.

In a May 2019 emergency order, Texas regulators said most Metals.com clients were 65 to 90 years old, according to evidence the State Securities Board gathered, and that the firm convinced an 80-year-old Dallas woman to liquidate $850,000 in retirement accounts. Metals.com later agreed to an order offering refunds to 84 Texas investors.

In a July 2021 emergency order, Texas regulators alleged that GSI Exchange charged a front-end spread of as much as 30% or more and that trust records showed investors had lost as much as 39% of principal. GSI settled in September 2023 without admitting or denying the findings.

On January 3, 2022, Lear Capital agreed to a consent order with the New York Attorney General that included a $6 million payment, resolving a June 2021 lawsuit that alleged undisclosed commissions of up to 33 percent. Lear also agreed to clear fee disclosures and a 24-hour cancellation period for retirement and certain higher-fee transactions in New York. The Attorney General's release does not state that Lear admitted the allegations.

Several state securities regulators took the position that Lear Capital engaged in unregistered securities activity and gave misleading information about the metals market and the costs of investing in precious metals. The states settled through Lear's Chapter 11 plan, confirmed June 12, 2023, which provides $5.5 million for customers; claimants receive the difference between the spread charged and a hypothetical 12 percent fee.

In March 2020 the FDIC publicly demanded that Monetary Gold stop and correct advertising that, the FDIC said, falsely claimed insured bank deposits could be seized.

The owner of First State Depository was sentenced to 65 years in June 2025 after a jury convicted him; prosecutors said he stole at least $76 million and over 1,000 customer accounts were missing metal. A separate CFTC case ordered $112.7 million in restitution.

The CFTC itself warns that court orders to repay victims may not result in any money being recovered.

Gold averaged $4,105 per troy ounce in October 2026, according to the World Bank's monthly commodity price data.

Silver averaged about $57 per troy ounce in October 2026 (World Bank monthly average).

The highest monthly average gold price in World Bank data since 1960 was $5,020 in February 2026; October 2026's average of $4,105 was 18.2% below it.

In the 5 years from October 2021 to October 2026, gold's monthly average price went from $1,777 to $4,105, a 131% rise (about 18.2% a year compounded).

After adjusting for US consumer prices (CPI-U), gold's monthly average rose 98% in the 5 years to September 2026, about 14.7% a year above inflation.

In the 10 years from October 2016 to October 2026, gold's monthly average price went from $1,267 to $4,105, a 224% rise (about 12.5% a year compounded).

After adjusting for US consumer prices (CPI-U), gold's monthly average rose 133% in the 10 years to September 2026, about 8.8% a year above inflation.

In the 20 years from October 2006 to October 2026, gold's monthly average price went from $586 to $4,105, a 601% rise (about 10.2% a year compounded).

After adjusting for US consumer prices (CPI-U), gold's monthly average rose 335% in the 20 years to September 2026, about 7.6% a year above inflation.

In the 30 years from October 1996 to October 2026, gold's monthly average price went from $381 to $4,105, a 977% rise (about 8.2% a year compounded).

After adjusting for US consumer prices (CPI-U), gold's monthly average rose 428% in the 30 years to September 2026, about 5.7% a year above inflation.

Gold's worst fall in monthly average price since 1960 ran from January 1980 ($675) to July 1999 ($256), a 62% drop. In the World Bank's whole-dollar monthly averages, gold first matched the January 1980 level in May 2006, 26 years and 4 months after the peak and 6 years and 10 months after the low.

Measured in September 2026 dollars (CPI-U), gold's monthly average fell 83% from January 1980 to April 2001; it took 45 years and 1 month to regain that peak in real terms, in February 2025.

In October 2026 an ounce of gold bought about 72 ounces of silver (monthly averages); since 1960 the monthly ratio has ranged from 16 (June 1968) to 111 (April 2020), with a median of 57.

For 2026 the IRS caps total traditional and Roth IRA contributions at $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50 and older (a $1,100 catch-up).

At October 2026's average gold price of $4,105, a full 2026 IRA contribution of $7,500 (age under 50) covers 1.83 troy ounces, or 1 whole one-ounce coin, before any dealer premium or fees.

At October 2026's average gold price of $4,105, the $8,600 limit for savers 50 and older equals 2.10 troy ounces of metal value. Two whole one-ounce coins fit only if the dealer premium is under about 4.75%; above that, it buys one.

Traditional IRA owners (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs) must take their first required minimum distribution for the year they reach 73; under the SECURE 2.0 amendments, the age becomes 75 for anyone who reaches 74 after December 31, 2032. Roth IRA owners have no RMDs during their lifetime.

The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table divisor at age 73 is 26.5, so the first RMD is about 3.77% of the prior year-end balance; at 85 the divisor is 16.0 (about 6.25%).

An indirect rollover must be redeposited within 60 days of receiving the distribution to stay tax-free; a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer avoids the clock.

You can make only one IRA-to-IRA rollover in any 1-year period, across all your IRAs; trustee-to-trustee transfers do not count toward that limit.

IRA-held bullion escapes the tax code's collectibles rule only if its fineness meets the minimum a regulated futures exchange requires for delivery and a qualifying trustee physically holds it. The named coin exceptions include US gold coins in 1, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 oz sizes, 1 oz US silver coins, certain US platinum coins and coins issued under state law.

Hypothetical: on gold's actual path from October 2016 to October 2026, $50,000 of gold grew to $161,997 before costs; a $300 yearly cost paid by selling gold left $155,412. The fee cost $6,585 in ending value, more than the $3,000 paid, and cut the yearly return from 12.5% to 12.0%.

Hypothetical: on gold's actual path from October 2016 to October 2026, $100,000 of gold grew to $323,994 before costs; a $300 yearly cost paid by selling gold left $317,409. The fee cost $6,585 in ending value, more than the $3,000 paid, and cut the yearly return from 12.5% to 12.2%.

Hypothetical: on gold's actual path from October 2006 to October 2026, $50,000 of gold grew to $350,256 before costs; a $300 yearly cost paid by selling gold left $332,994. The fee cost $17,262 in ending value, more than the $6,000 paid, and cut the yearly return from 10.2% to 9.9%.

Hypothetical: on gold's actual path from October 2006 to October 2026, $100,000 of gold grew to $700,512 before costs; a $300 yearly cost paid by selling gold left $683,250. The fee cost $17,262 in ending value, more than the $6,000 paid, and cut the yearly return from 10.2% to 10.1%.

Hypothetical: with a 5% purchase premium, gold's monthly average had to rise 5% to break even (before any sell spread). For start months from January 1975 to October 2016, the median wait was 7 months. Among start months with enough later data, it took longer than 1 year in 36% of cases and longer than 5 years in 17%.

Hypothetical: with a 10% purchase premium, gold's monthly average had to rise 10% to break even (before any sell spread). For start months from January 1975 to October 2016, the median wait was 1 year and 4 months. Among start months with enough later data, it took longer than 1 year in 52% of cases and longer than 5 years in 25%.

Hypothetical: with a 30% purchase premium, gold's monthly average had to rise 30% to break even (before any sell spread). For start months from January 1975 to October 2016, the median wait was about 4.5 years. Among start months with enough later data, it took longer than 1 year in 81% of cases and longer than 5 years in 43%.

Illustrative: if an all-gold traditional IRA was worth $250,000 on December 31 of the prior year, the RMD at age 73 is $9,434 (divisor 26.5), about 2.30 troy ounces at October 2026's average price. Unless the owner takes it from another traditional IRA, it has to come from cash in the account, a sale of metal, or an in-kind distribution of coins or bars.

Illustrative: if an all-gold traditional IRA was worth $250,000 on December 31 of the prior year, the RMD at age 80 is $12,376 (divisor 20.2), about 3.01 troy ounces at October 2026's average price. Unless the owner takes it from another traditional IRA, it has to come from cash in the account, a sale of metal, or an in-kind distribution of coins or bars.

Illustrative: if an all-gold traditional IRA was worth $500,000 on December 31 of the prior year, the RMD at age 85 is $31,250 (divisor 16.0), about 7.61 troy ounces at October 2026's average price. Unless the owner takes it from another traditional IRA, it has to come from cash in the account, a sale of metal, or an in-kind distribution of coins or bars.