Gold IRA Fees Explained: Setup, Storage, Markups
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 June 2026.
Short on time? The essentials
- Four fee categories on a gold IRA: setup one-time (50 to 100 dollars), custodian annual (80 to 300 dollars), depository storage annual (100 to 250 dollars commingled), and dealer premium over spot (3 to 7 percent typical on standard bullion).
- The dealer premium is by far the largest first-year cost and the hardest to compare between dealers; always ask for the premium as a percent over spot in writing.
- Custodian and storage fees are flat, so drag as a share of the account drops as the balance grows; the 1 percent line sits near 30,000 dollars of gold at a 300 dollar flat stack.
- Segregated storage typically runs 50 to 150 dollars per year more than commingled; the metal stays physically separated in your name.
- Premiums above 10 percent over spot on standard IRA-eligible bullion are a red flag; premiums on proof or promotional coins can exceed 30 percent and wreck the position.
- Home storage of IRA metal is not allowed; McNulty v. Commissioner (2021) treated a home-stored IRA as a fully taxable distribution.
- Texas has no state personal income tax under Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution, so distributions are taxed federally only.
- The Texas Bullion Depository in Leander, operated by Lone Star Tangible Assets (an IRS-approved non-bank trustee since 2023), stores IRA metal in-state under State of Texas oversight.
- The IRA-eligibility rule (IRC Section 408(m)(3)) sets 99.5 percent fineness for gold with a statutory exception for the American Gold Eagle at 91.67 percent.
On this page
- The four fees on every gold IRA
- Setup fee: what you pay to open the account
- Custodian annual: what the trust company charges
- Storage annual: what the depository charges
- Dealer markup: the largest and least visible line
- The four fees at a glance
- Where a first-year 50,000 dollar rollover really goes
- Texas-specific fees and tax after the fee stack
- Worked example: a Fort Worth 75,000 dollar rollover
- Run the fee-drag calculator on your target amount
- How to vet a gold IRA fee schedule
- When these fees make a gold IRA a bad fit
- Frequently asked questions
The four fees on every gold IRA
A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds physical bullion at an IRS-approved depository, under IRC Section 408(m)(3). The structure requires three separate parties working together, and each takes a fee.
The self-directed custodian holds the IRA account itself, files the required IRS forms, and processes transactions. The depository stores the metal on behalf of the custodian. The dealer sells the coins or bars to the custodian, using your account funds. Each party charges its own fee, on top of a one-time setup fee at account opening.
The four fee categories are the same at every legitimate gold IRA firm. What changes is the dollar amount inside each category, and the transparency around the dealer premium. The rest of this page separates the four, shows what each typically runs, and highlights the one that dwarfs the other three.
Setup fee: what you pay to open the account
The setup fee is a one-time charge from the self-directed IRA custodian for opening a new account. It usually covers paperwork, IRS filings, and the initial funding of the account by rollover or transfer.
Typical band across established self-directed IRA custodians (Equity Trust Company, STRATA Trust Company, GoldStar Trust Company, Madison Trust Company): 50 dollars to 100 dollars. A few dealers waive the setup fee as a promotion, absorbing the cost themselves in exchange for a signed account. Always confirm the current setup fee directly with the custodian, not the dealer.
Some dealers publish a higher "processing" fee that layers on top of the custodian setup fee. Treat any dealer-side setup charge above about 100 dollars as a signal to ask what the fee actually covers, since the substantive custodian work is already priced in the custodian's own fee schedule.
Custodian annual: what the trust company charges
The custodian charges an ongoing annual fee to keep the self-directed IRA open, file the annual IRS Form 5498, process any distributions, and interact with the depository on your behalf. Typical band: 80 dollars to 300 dollars per year.
The pricing model matters. Some custodians charge a flat annual fee regardless of the account size (STRATA Trust historically prices this way for precious-metals IRAs). Others charge on a sliding scale that rises with the account value, which behaves more like a percentage fee. Confirm which model applies before signing.
A flat fee is friendlier to a large account and harsher to a small one. A sliding fee compresses the drag on a small account but eats more on a large account. Neither is inherently better; the choice depends on the balance you plan to hold and whether you expect it to grow.
Storage annual: what the depository charges
An IRS-approved depository stores the physical metal on behalf of the custodian. The depository charges an annual storage fee that varies with the type of storage you choose.
Commingled storage keeps IRA metal in a bulk vault, tracked by ownership records rather than by physical separation. It is the cheaper option, typically 100 dollars to 150 dollars per year. Segregated storage keeps your metal physically apart in a labeled bin or safe, and typically runs 150 dollars to 250 dollars per year, sometimes higher.
The dollar difference is 50 to 150 dollars per year. Whether segregated storage is worth the premium depends on the volume of metal and personal preference. On a smaller account the segregation cost as a percent of the position can meaningfully lift the total drag. On a larger account it is closer to a rounding line.
Major private depositories serving Texas gold IRA accounts include Delaware Depository (Wilmington, DE), Brinks Global Services, International Depository Services (IDS), and CNT Depository. Verify current fees directly with the depository before choosing.
Dealer markup: the largest and least visible line
The dealer markup, sometimes called the premium over spot, is the difference between the spot price of gold and what the dealer charges your IRA for the coin or bar. Spot is the wholesale reference price on the LBMA or COMEX. Premium is what the retail buyer actually pays on top.
Typical premium on standard IRA-eligible bullion coins (American Gold Eagle, American Gold Buffalo, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Austrian Gold Philharmonic): about 3 percent to 7 percent over spot at a reasonable dealer. A 5 percent premium on a 50,000 dollar order is 2,500 dollars, which is roughly six times the first-year custodian and storage stack combined.
Premium on IRA-eligible gold bars (from LBMA or COMEX-approved refiners like PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Credit Suisse legacy, Perth Mint): often lower than coins, roughly 2 percent to 4 percent over spot at wholesale-oriented dealers. Bars typically carry the lowest premium of any IRA-eligible product.
Premium on proof coins, "exclusive" coins, or promotional coins packaged for gold IRA sale: often 15 percent to 30 percent over spot and sometimes higher. These premiums are the mechanism behind the "free silver" and "premium coin" upsell tactics that regulators have flagged, and they are the single largest source of buyer complaint on gold IRAs.
How to compare dealer premium in writing
Ask each dealer for the specific premium over spot on a named product, in writing, before you sign. For example: "What is your premium over the London PM fix for a one-ounce American Gold Eagle at a 50,000 dollar order size?"
A dealer that answers with a clear percentage and matches the LBMA reference is being transparent. A dealer that answers with only a total price, or that steers the conversation to a proof or "exclusive" coin, is not. Walk from the second.
The four fees at a glance
| Fee category | Typical band | Charged by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup (one-time) | 50 to 100 dollars | Self-directed custodian | Some dealers waive as a promotion. Confirm with the custodian. |
| Custodian annual | 80 to 300 dollars | Self-directed custodian | Flat or sliding scale; ask which model applies. |
| Storage annual (commingled) | 100 to 150 dollars | IRS-approved depository | Metal tracked by record, not physical separation. |
| Storage annual (segregated) | 150 to 250 dollars | IRS-approved depository | Metal held physically apart. Higher fee, tighter chain of custody. |
| Dealer premium (standard bullion) | 3 to 7 percent over spot | Precious-metals dealer | The largest first-year line by far. Get the percent in writing. |
| Dealer premium (proof or promo coin) | 15 to 30 percent over spot | Precious-metals dealer | Red-flag territory for a bullion allocation. |
| Wire and shipping | 25 to 50 dollars each way | Custodian or dealer | Small but real; confirm at both ends of the transaction. |
Sources: published fee schedules from Equity Trust Company, STRATA Trust Company, GoldStar Trust Company, Madison Trust Company, Delaware Depository, Brinks Global Services, and industry premium reporting. Individual figures move; verify current numbers directly with the party charging the fee. Checked June 2026.
Where a first-year 50,000 dollar rollover really goes
The chart below breaks out the four first-year fee categories on a 50,000 dollar gold IRA rollover, using mid-band figures. The dealer premium at 5 percent over spot dwarfs the flat setup, custodian, and storage fees combined.
Two takeaways. First, most articles focus on the flat fees because they are easy to publish; the dealer premium is where the buyer actually loses the most in year one. Second, comparing dealers on the flat lines alone misses the largest cost difference between them.
Years two and later look different. The 2,500 dollar premium is a one-time cost paid at purchase and does not repeat unless you add metal. From year two onward, the ongoing drag is the flat custodian and storage stack (roughly 350 dollars on this example, or 0.7 percent of a 50,000 dollar position).
Texas-specific fees and tax after the fee stack
Federal fee rules apply the same way in Texas as in any other state. Two Texas-specific facts, both grounded in state law and public records, change what happens after the fees are paid.
No state personal income tax on distributions
Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution prohibits a state personal income tax. The gold IRA eventually pays out. That may be an RMD at age 73 or 75 under SECURE 2.0, an early withdrawal before age 59 and a half, or a Roth conversion. In each case the tax is federal only. A retiree moving into Texas from California, New York, or Oregon gains state tax savings on every future distribution.
The fees themselves do not change. The after-tax value of what stays in the account after the fees is higher for a Texas resident than for a resident of a high-tax state.
The Texas Bullion Depository as an in-state storage option
The Texas Bullion Depository was created by House Bill 483 of the 84th Texas Legislature and signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 12, 2015. It began operations in 2017 on a purpose-built campus in Leander, north of Austin. The vendor operator is Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, which received IRS approval as a non-bank trustee in 2023 and holds IRA metal on behalf of self-directed IRA custodians.
Storage fees at the Texas Bullion Depository are set by the operator and depend on account size, storage type (segregated or commingled), and whether the account is held individually or through an IRA. Confirm current IRA storage fees directly with the depository before choosing.
An in-state option does not lower the fee stack. It changes the storage line item and gives Texas residents the option of a state-run facility under State of Texas oversight rather than a private out-of-state vault. Source: texasbulliondepository.gov IRA Storage Services page and Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, checked June 2026.
Worked example: a Fort Worth 75,000 dollar rollover
Run the fee-drag calculator on your target amount
The calculator below estimates the annual drag of the flat custodian and storage stack on the gold portion of your IRA. It does not include the one-time dealer premium, which is paid at purchase and depends on the specific coin or bar and the dealer's quote in writing.
Use the calculator as a floor test. If the flat annual drag is above 1 percent per year on the gold portion, either raise the target dollar amount or hold that slice as a low-cost gold ETF inside a regular IRA.
Texas gold IRA fee-drag calculator
Texas gold IRAs charge mostly flat dollar fees (setup, annual custodian, storage). Flat fees take a much bigger bite out of a small account than a large one. Enter your numbers to see the drag.
Estimate only. Fee amounts vary by provider and are often not published; enter figures you confirm in writing. This tool ignores metal price changes and the dealer spread, which also affect returns. Not financial advice.
Picking a company that explains every fee up front is the first step. Get the free gold IRA company checklist.
How to vet a gold IRA fee schedule
The seven steps below are the process a Texas buyer can walk through before signing anything. Each step corresponds to a specific number to get in writing.
- Ask the custodian for its current fee schedule in writing. Setup fee, annual maintenance, wire fee, distribution fee, and any transaction fee. Get the document from the custodian directly (Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, GoldStar Trust, Madison Trust), not from the dealer's summary.
- Ask the depository for its current storage fee schedule in writing. Commingled and segregated rates, any minimum monthly fee, any inbound and outbound shipping fees. Confirm whether the fee is flat or scales with account value.
- Ask each candidate dealer for the premium over spot as a percentage on a named product. "What is your premium over the London PM fix for a one-ounce American Gold Eagle at a 50,000 dollar order size?" Get the answer in an email or PDF.
- Compare at least three dealer quotes on the same product on the same day. Spot moves. A 1 percent difference in premium on a 50,000 dollar order is 500 dollars. Ask on the same trading day so the underlying spot is comparable.
- Refuse any "exclusive" or "proof" coin recommendation for a bullion allocation. A dealer that pushes toward a 15 to 30 percent premium coin as the "IRA-eligible" recommendation is signaling how the sale is being priced. Standard IRA-eligible bullion at 3 to 7 percent premium is the target.
- Total the four fees on your specific target amount. Setup + custodian year-one + storage year-one + (dollar amount times dealer premium percent) = year-one total. Divide by the dollar amount for the year-one drag as a share of the account.
- Sign only after the numbers match on paper. The custodian agreement, the depository storage agreement, and the dealer invoice should all reflect the fees you were quoted. If any number moves, stop and ask why in writing.
When these fees make a gold IRA a bad fit
The fee stack on a gold IRA is not inherently unreasonable, but it fits some situations badly. The cases below are common ones where the arithmetic argues against the account. No call-to-action attaches to this section.
Gold portion under 25,000 dollars. A 300 dollar per year flat stack is above 1.2 percent per year at 25,000 dollars, and above 3 percent per year at 10,000 dollars. A low-cost gold ETF inside a regular IRA at Fidelity or Schwab, at roughly 0.25 percent expense ratio, delivers similar exposure at a fraction of the drag.
Time horizon under three years. The dealer premium is paid at purchase and cannot be recovered on a short sale. A round trip inside three years pays the premium going in and hits the bid-ask spread coming out, and the flat annual fees keep running the whole time.
Dealer refuses to state the premium as a percent over spot. If the dealer will not commit a number in writing, you are pricing blind. This is the single largest cost line and the one where opacity is most dangerous.
Dealer is pushing proof or "exclusive" coins for the IRA-eligible allocation. Standard IRA-eligible bullion at 3 to 7 percent premium is the target. A 15 to 30 percent premium on a proof coin can turn a reasonable gold allocation into a losing position from day one.
Custodian and dealer are the same party or share ownership. The IRS rules require an arms-length custodian and dealer relationship. A dealer that is also the custodian (or a controlled entity) creates a conflict of interest around the fee schedule and the metal selection. Ask about corporate ownership before signing.
You want to store the metal at home to skip depository fees. Home storage of IRA metal is not allowed. The 2021 United States Tax Court ruling in McNulty v. Commissioner treated a home-stored IRA as a full taxable distribution, plus a 10 percent penalty because the owner was under age 59 and a half.
Frequently asked questions
What are the fees on a gold IRA?
Four categories. The one-time setup fee runs about 50 to 100 dollars, charged by the self-directed custodian. The annual custodian maintenance fee runs about 80 to 300 dollars. The annual depository storage fee runs about 100 to 250 dollars for commingled storage. The dealer premium over spot on standard IRA-eligible bullion runs about 3 to 7 percent, and is the largest first-year cost.
What is a typical gold IRA setup fee?
Roughly 50 dollars to 100 dollars, charged by the self-directed IRA custodian at account opening. Some dealers waive the setup fee as a promotion by absorbing the cost themselves. Confirm the current setup fee directly with the custodian (Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, GoldStar Trust, or similar) rather than the dealer's summary.
How much does gold IRA storage cost per year?
Commingled storage at an IRS-approved depository typically runs 100 to 150 dollars per year. Segregated storage typically runs 150 to 250 dollars per year, sometimes higher, and keeps the metal physically separated in your name. Major private depositories include Delaware Depository, Brinks Global Services, IDS, and CNT. The Texas Bullion Depository in Leander is also available to Texas residents.
What is the dealer markup on a gold IRA?
The premium over the spot price of gold. Standard IRA-eligible bullion coins (American Gold Eagle, Gold Buffalo, Canadian Maple Leaf) typically carry a 3 to 7 percent premium over spot at a reasonable dealer. IRA-eligible gold bars from LBMA-approved refiners often carry 2 to 4 percent. Proof or "exclusive" coins can carry 15 to 30 percent premium or higher, which is red-flag territory for a bullion allocation.
Are gold IRA fees tax-deductible?
Custodian and storage fees paid directly from an IRA are not tax-deductible; they are simply paid from pre-tax dollars inside the account. Fees paid from outside the account (by personal check or wire) were historically deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, but the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended that deduction through 2025. Consult a licensed tax advisor for your situation.
Do Texas savers pay lower gold IRA fees?
No. Federal fee rules and dealer pricing apply the same way in Texas. The Texas-specific advantage is on the tax side: Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution prohibits a state personal income tax, so eventual distributions are taxed federally only. The Texas Bullion Depository in Leander is also available as an in-state storage option, though at fees set by the operator.
How can I reduce gold IRA fees?
Three practical steps. Compare at least three dealer premium quotes on the same product on the same trading day. Choose commingled storage over segregated if the metal volume is modest and the fee delta matters. Raise the target dollar amount above the 25,000 to 30,000 dollar practical floor so the flat 300 dollar stack drops under 1 percent of the gold portion. Refuse any proof or promotional coin recommendation for the bullion allocation.
What are hidden fees on a gold IRA?
Three items come up most often. The dealer premium is rarely quoted as a percent unless you ask for it in writing. The sliding-scale custodian fee tier can lift the annual charge at higher balances. Inbound or outbound shipping fees run between the dealer and the depository. Ask each party for a complete fee schedule in writing before signing.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590a. Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590b. Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). Collectibles rule and bullion exception. Office of the Law Revision Counsel. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Precious Metals Fraud Advisory. cftc.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Texas Bullion Depository. IRA Storage Services. texasbulliondepository.gov/ira-storage. Checked June 2026.
- Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas Bullion Depository overview. comptroller.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Texas Legislature. House Bill 483, 84th Regular Session (2015), Texas Bullion Depository Act. capitol.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Texas State Securities Board. Investor education on precious metals. ssb.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
- United States Tax Court. McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (November 18, 2021). Home-storage IRA treated as a full taxable distribution.
- Texas Constitution, Article 8, Section 24. State personal income tax prohibition. statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Equity Trust Company. Fee schedule for precious-metals self-directed IRAs. trustetc.com. Checked June 2026.
- STRATA Trust Company. Precious-metals IRA fee schedule. stratatrust.com. Checked June 2026.
- GoldStar Trust Company. Self-directed IRA fee schedule. goldstartrust.com. Checked June 2026.
- Delaware Depository. Storage rate schedule. delawaredepository.com. Checked June 2026.