Are Coins and Bullion Allowable in an IRA?
The Internal Revenue Service permits certain coins and bullion to be included as assets within Individual Retirement Accounts provided that they meet a minimum fineness requirement. Proof coins like American Eagle Proofs could qualify under this provision of law for ownership by an IRA.
Prior to purchasing precious metals through your IRA, it is essential that you conduct adequate research in finding an approved dealer. Look for one associated with recognized trade groups like the American Numismatic Association or International Coin and Trading Association.
Bullion Coins
Coins tend to be less costly and require less storage space, offering greater liquidity as they can be bought or sold more readily than bars of equal weight.
However, the IRS cautions against purchasing bulk coins for individual retirement accounts (IRAs). According to IRS regulations, any eligible bullion metals should be held by an approved custodian or depositary to prevent commingling with other properties and any one-off or ongoing storage or insurance fees that might otherwise accrue.
American Eagle gold bullion coins, produced by the U.S. Mint and available in four weight categories (one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce and one-tenth ounce), qualify as eligible investments within an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Each American Eagle coin contains 22-karat gold with small amounts of alloy to create hard and durable coins that resist scratching and marring which reduce resale value; additionally these meet IRS purity standards of at least.9167 pureness; numismatic coins do not qualify as eligible IRA investments.
Proof Coins
As for gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars approved for IRAs by the IRS, American Gold Eagles as well as gold and silver bullion bars with specific fineness levels are approved as suitable investments for IRAs. Other modern gold bullion coins that have provided solid returns on investment include Mexican Libertads, Australian Nuggets/Kangaroos and Chinese Pandas.
But one item not allowed in an IRA is proof coins – specially struck to meet collector needs and often priced above their gold and silver bullion value. But there is one small loophole in the strict no art, antiques and collectibles rule which allows Proof coins to be included into precious metals IRAs: third-party graded proof coins certified by PCGS or NGC (both accredited by COMEX) prior to being deposited with your custodian are exempt from violating this rule.
Numismatic Coins
IRS rules prohibit placing artwork, antiques and collectibles into an IRA account; however, one small loophole exists tucked away within precious metal IRA regulations.
Numismatic coins, though lesser-known, are increasingly important investments due to their unique appeal as collectibles. While often sold for more than their gold or silver content alone, these pieces offer additional value beyond pure physical assets such as weight or size.
Dealers frequently sell numismatic coins to novice collectors who don’t realize they cannot place them into an IRA, unaware they cannot invest them with this strategy. Unfortunately, due to markups and fees levied by unethical dealers and bad actors, many rare coins cost substantially more than their precious metal content; additionally they carry significant risks associated with loss of investment value due to being difficult or subjectively valued compared with conventional investments.
Gold IRA
The IRS allows gold coins and bars that meet certain standards to be held in individual retirement accounts (IRAs). These standards include being legal tender, having a minimum fineness of 99.5% and produced from reputable refiners or assayers/manufacturers. Bullion coins that meet these criteria include American Eagle bullion coins, Canadian Maple Leaves and South African Krugerrands as examples; other precious metals may qualify such as Australian Kangaroo or Austrian Philharmonic coins.
Precious metals are a popular investment choice for retirement accounts (IRAs), offering protection from inflation and market fluctuations. But investing in precious metals requires more than simply opening an IRA; you must also find a reliable dealer for purchase and an approved depository for storage.
Make sure that when selecting a dealer, they are members of industry trade organizations such as the American Numismatic Association, Industry Council for Tangible Assets and Professional Numismatists Guild to ensure they will treat your investments with care and integrity.
Categorised in: Blog