Gold IRA vs Physical Gold

Compare tax-wrapper rules, custody, accessibility, fees and control.

Compare tax-wrapper rules, custody, accessibility, fees and control. This guide is designed to help you identify the rules, costs, and decision points that matter before you contact a dealer or move retirement assets.

The biggest difference is the tax wrapper

Personally owned bullion is held outside a retirement account. IRA-owned bullion sits inside an IRA and must follow the account’s tax and custody rules.

Control and access

With personal bullion, you choose where to store it, subject to ordinary law and practical security concerns. With qualifying IRA bullion, federal rules impose custody constraints.

Fees

An IRA can add custodian and depository expenses. Personally held bullion can avoid those specific account charges but may create its own storage, insurance and security costs.

Tax and distribution differences

IRA tax treatment depends on the account type and distribution rules. Personally owned metal is taxed under rules applicable to assets held outside retirement accounts. Get tax advice for your circumstances.