Can Gold Coins Be Held in an IRA?
People looking to own physical precious metals in an IRA can certainly do so, although it is not the most efficient method. An IRA custodian typically charges fees, and storage is costly.
Investment IRAs must conform to IRS purity standards when investing. A precious metals company offering SDIRA accounts can assist with purchasing and storing gold products eligible for your IRA account.
Purity
Gold is prized because it serves as an indestructible asset that helps secure wealth during times of economic instability. Unfortunately, its prices fluctuate wildly – which makes gold an effective long-term investment choice only when handled carefully and patiently by investors with long time horizons who can ride out any volatility.
IRA investors looking to invest in precious metals should carefully consider the purity of any coins or bullion before purchasing an IRA-eligible coin or bullion, which must meet certain fineness standards – 99.5% for gold and silver bars/rounds and 99.9% for legal tender coins issued from government mints; collectible proof coins that require additional minting steps are typically not eligible as investments and should therefore not be included as eligible IRA investments.
Some IRA-approved precious metals dealers provide an expansive selection of coins and bullion that meet IRS minimum fineness standards, with transparent pricing for purchases as well as no-nonsense buyback policies.
Appraisal
The IRS imposes stringent guidelines when it comes to holding precious metals in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Only gold bullion coins that meet specific purity and fineness criteria qualify; examples include American Eagle bullion coins, Canadian Maple Leaf coins, South African Krugerrands, British Sovereigns and Chinese Gold Panda coins.
Proof coins, however, should not be included as part of an IRA portfolio as their value largely stems from collectible value rather than their gold content. Instead, investors should opt for standard gold bullion bars and rounds priced according to weight in gold content.
Don’t forget that Gold IRA companies often charge annual maintenance, storage and insurance fees that can add up over time and hinder your return. Therefore, it is crucial that you locate a custodian with fair pricing and transparent fee structures; some even offer an LLC IRA structure to eliminate extra charges entirely by eliminating middlemen.
Taxes
Even though investors who invest in gold coins in an IRA do not incur taxes immediately, the IRS requires that their precious metals stay under custodianship throughout their investment term. Custodians usually charge set-up and annual storage/administration fees; investors may incur other costs such as insurance premiums.
Coins and bullion eligible for inclusion in an IRA must meet certain standards of fineness; thus, popular South African Krugerrand coins with only 0.9167% fineness do not qualify.
People looking for exposure to precious metals in an IRA can buy shares of mining companies or mutual funds holding such stocks, or invest in gold ETFs; these investments offer less liquidity and may incur higher maintenance fees; in the event they wish to close their retirement account, however, the dealer they sold the physical assets to will usually buy back their assets at wholesale prices.
Storage
Be it through an account with a precious metals IRA company or at home, it’s crucial that your precious metals are stored correctly. Misuse of home storage for gold IRA accounts violates IRS rules and can result in serious penalties should anyone discover them.
The IRS mandates that precious metals be stored in an insured depository located within a secure facility. A professional gold IRA custodian will oversee this entire investment and storage process to ensure complete compliance with IRS guidelines.
Professional custodians take security seriously and use world-class storage facilities with advanced surveillance technology and 24/7 monitoring to protect precious metals stored with them. Furthermore, they record all transactions to provide audit support if required and will hold onto your precious metals until you turn 72 and are required to begin taking RMDs; at which time they will ship it directly back to you via “in-kind distributions.”
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