Harry’s Coins: Texas Gold IRA and Precious Metals Retirement Guide
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission when a reader opens an account through links on this page. The commission has no effect on what you pay or on what we publish. We are not a financial or tax advisor; consult a licensed advisor for your situation. Last reviewed July 2026.
Start here if you are new
- A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds IRS-approved physical bullion instead of paper securities. Federal IRC 408(m)(3) sets the metal fineness rules; the same rules apply in every state.
- Texas adds two real advantages: no state personal income tax on IRA distributions, and in-state storage at the state-run Texas Bullion Depository in Leander.
- A precious-metals IRA needs three pieces: a self-directed IRA custodian, IRS-approved metals from a dealer, and an IRS-approved depository. The owner cannot take personal possession.
- Home storage of IRA metal is not allowed. The 2021 Tax Court decision in McNulty v. Commissioner confirmed a self-managed home-storage IRA triggers a full taxable distribution.
- Annual IRA contribution limits for 2026: 7,500 dollars plus a 1,100 dollar catch-up at age 50 or older. Rollovers from a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), TSP, or pension refund are separate from these limits.
What we cover
Our coverage is organised into eight clusters. Each cluster has a pillar page that explains the topic end-to-end, plus deep pages that answer specific questions Texans actually ask.
Gold IRA fundamentals
What a gold IRA is, the federal rules, and why the collectibles exception matters.
The Texas wedge
What is different for a Texan: state tax, state depository, and the Constitution.
Rollover mechanics
Moving a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), TSP, or pension refund into a Texas gold IRA.
Texas public pensions
TRS, ERS, TMRS, TCDRS, and major city plans: what is rollable, what is not.
Custodians and depositories
Who holds the paper, who holds the metal, and how to vet them.
Taxes and RMDs
Federal tax rules and Texas overlay for distributions, conversions, and RMDs.
Company reviews
Same criteria applied to every dealer. No paid placement inside a review.
Risks and red flags
Where gold IRAs actually go wrong. Pattern-matched to real complaints.
Cities and counties covered
City and county pages address the geographic questions Texans ask: where the nearest depository is, which local pension applies, and how state rules interact with municipal or county employment. Start with a metro or county hub.
Major metros
Metroplex hubs
Selected counties
Our editorial standards
How we work
- Source priority. IRS publications (Pub 590-A, 590-B, Topic 413, Topic 558), the Internal Revenue Code, statutes of Texas, the Texas Comptroller, FINRA, SEC investor.gov, BBB, and each company’s own filings. Blog claims and press releases are not cited as primary sources.
- No market predictions. We do not forecast gold prices, silver prices, or any market. We publish rules, structures, and mechanics.
- Verify time-sensitive facts live. IRS limits, RMD ages, custodian fees, and depository schedules are re-checked and datestamped on each page.
- Editorial independence. Company reviews use the same criteria across every provider. A review of a non-affiliate company contains no affiliate link and no outbound link to the company being reviewed.
- Correction policy. Any factual error is corrected on the page, with the correction noted in the page footer.
- Personal advice. We are not a financial or tax advisor. Every reader should consult a licensed advisor for their situation.
How this site makes money
Harry’s Coins is affiliate-supported. We participate in the Augusta Precious Metals affiliate program. If a reader opens an account with Augusta through a link on our site, we may receive a commission at no cost to the reader.
Affiliate revenue does not change the price a reader pays and does not change what we publish. Company reviews of non-affiliate providers carry no affiliate link and no outbound link to the reviewed company. See our affiliate disclosure for the full policy.
See the Augusta Precious Metals gold IRA company checklist Augusta is our primary affiliate partner. Their checklist works for vetting any provider you talk to, including Augusta itself. Sponsored link. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.Latest published guides
Freshness matters for retirement-account rules that change year to year. The list below is generated live from the site and shows the most recently published guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Harry’s Coins a coin dealer or a jewelry shop?
No. We are an editorial site. We do not sell coins, we do not sell jewelry, and we do not take deposits. The site is a Texas-focused gold IRA research guide.
Do you manage or hold IRA accounts?
No. A gold IRA must be held by a qualified self-directed IRA custodian (or IRS-approved non-bank trustee) and stored at an IRS-approved depository. We are neither. Our role is to explain the rules and compare the providers.
Why focus on Texas specifically?
Two reasons. First, Texas has no state personal income tax under Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution, which changes the after-tax math on IRA distributions. Second, Texas hosts the only state-administered precious-metals depository in the United States (the Texas Bullion Depository in Leander), which added IRA-storage capability in 2023 through operator Lone Star Tangible Assets.
How do you make money if you do not sell anything?
We participate in the Augusta Precious Metals affiliate program. When a reader opens an account with Augusta through a link on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to the reader. Affiliate revenue does not affect editorial decisions or company review criteria. Full details on the affiliate disclosure page.
Do you review companies other than Augusta?
Yes. We review the major gold IRA providers using the same criteria across all of them: fees, minimums, custodian and depository partnerships, dealer markup pattern, complaint history, and regulatory footprint. Reviews of non-affiliate providers carry no affiliate link and no outbound link to the reviewed company.
Can I contact the editorial team?
Yes. See our contact page for editorial corrections, source suggestions, and the process we follow when a reader flags an error.
Who writes for Harry’s Coins?
Articles are written by the Harry’s Coins Editorial team using the source-priority policy above. Every page carries a byline and a last-reviewed date. Learn more on our about page.
Primary sources referenced across this site
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590a. Checked July 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590b. Checked July 2026.
- Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). Collectibles rule and bullion exception.
- Texas Constitution, Article 8, Section 24. State personal income tax prohibition.
- Texas Bullion Depository. IRA Storage Services. texasbulliondepository.gov. Checked July 2026.
- United States Tax Court. McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (November 18, 2021).
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Investor alerts on precious-metals investing.
- Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor.gov guidance on self-directed IRAs.