Gold IRA in Williamson County, Texas
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.
Short on time? The essentials
- A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA holding IRS-approved physical precious metals instead of stocks or bonds. Silver, platinum, and palladium are also allowed alongside gold.
- Williamson County sits north of Austin in the Austin-Round Rock metro area. Its major cities include Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown (the county seat), Leander, Hutto, and Taylor.
- Texas has no state personal income tax. Gold IRA distributions for Williamson County residents are taxed at the federal level only, with no Texas state layer on top.
- The Texas Bullion Depository is in Leander, in western Williamson County. It is the only state-administered, state-audited precious metals depository in the United States. IRA storage through operator Lone Star Tangible Assets has been available since LSTA received IRS nonbank trustee approval in 2023.
- Eligible funding sources include: 401(k) from a former employer, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), 457(b), TSP, and most pension lump-sum refunds of member contributions. Annual new contributions are capped at $7,500 for 2026 ($8,600 for age 50 or older).
- Annual cost: setup fee + custodian fee + storage fee + dealer markup. Run the numbers before deciding. On small accounts, fixed fees represent a high annual drag.
- Harry’s Coins is a Texas editorial authority. We have no store or office in Williamson County or anywhere in Texas.
On this page
- What a gold IRA means for Williamson County residents
- Texas advantages for Williamson County gold IRA holders
- The Texas Bullion Depository is in Leander, Williamson County
- Which metals qualify for a gold IRA
- How to open a gold IRA from Williamson County
- Check your rollover eligibility
- Fees to budget for
- Where the metal is actually stored
- Worked example: a Round Rock resident’s rollover
- When a gold IRA is not the right move
- Frequently asked questions
What a gold IRA means for Williamson County residents
A gold IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that holds physical precious metals. The IRS classifies this structure as a self-directed IRA, or SDIRA. It operates under the same contribution limits, distribution rules, and tax treatment as any other IRA, with one difference: the assets inside are physical metal, not paper securities.
The custodian of an SDIRA must be an IRS-approved nonbank trustee or a bank acting as trustee under IRS guidelines. That custodian holds the account, executes the metal purchase with a dealer you choose, and arranges delivery to an approved depository. Physical metal never comes to your home without triggering a taxable distribution.
Williamson County location does not restrict which gold IRA you can open. A Georgetown resident uses the same national pool of custodians, dealers, and depositories as any other U.S. resident. What Texas residency changes is the state tax treatment of any distribution you eventually take.
Texas advantages for Williamson County gold IRA holders
Texas does not impose a state personal income tax. Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution, strengthened by Proposition 4 in 2019, requires a two-thirds legislative supermajority and a statewide referendum before any personal income tax could ever take effect. That protection is unusually durable compared with most states.
For a Williamson County resident, the result is a shorter tax stack at distribution time. A required minimum distribution, an early withdrawal, or a Roth conversion from a gold IRA is reported on federal Form 1099-R and taxed on federal Form 1040. No Texas state return covers personal IRA income. No Texas state withholding is requested on the distribution.
The difference compounds over a long retirement. A California retiree taking $60,000 in annual distributions may owe up to $7,980 in state tax on top of federal tax (13.3 percent state rate). A Round Rock retiree taking the same distribution owes $0 to Texas. Over 20 years, that gap amounts to a significant difference in after-tax income available for heirs and for the next generation.
The Texas Bullion Depository is in Leander, Williamson County
Williamson County holds a distinction no other U.S. county shares: the Texas Bullion Depository is located in Leander, in the western part of the county. It is the only state-administered, state-audited precious metals depository in the United States.
The depository was established by House Bill 483, signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 12, 2015. It began operations in 2017 under operator Lone Star Tangible Assets LP. LSTA is a 40,000-plus square-foot purpose-built facility on a roughly 10-acre campus in Leander. It stores gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
LSTA received IRS approval as a nonbank trustee in 2023. That approval opened the depository to IRA storage. Equity Trust Company is currently the first custodian to coordinate IRA assets with the depository. Consumers wanting to store IRA investments at the depository should work with their gold dealer and Equity Trust to coordinate delivery and storage.
Storage fees for IRA assets at the Texas Bullion Depository are negotiated between the custodian, the gold dealer, and the depository. The fee schedule shown on the depository website for standard (non-IRA) storage may not apply to IRA accounts. Verify current IRA fee terms directly at texasbulliondepository.gov/ira-storage before signing.
For Williamson County residents, storing IRA metal in Leander means keeping it within the county. The depository offers Class 3 vault security (bullet-resistant doors, biometric access, 24/7 surveillance), state Comptroller oversight, segregated storage only (your exact metal comes back to you at distribution), and Lloyd’s of London insurance. This is a storage preference, not a financial requirement. The depository does not change the federal tax treatment of your IRA.
Which metals qualify for a gold IRA
IRC Section 408(m) sets the eligibility floor. Congress prohibited collectibles inside an IRA but carved out an exception for bullion and certain coins meeting minimum fineness thresholds. The account can hold gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, provided each meets the required standard for its metal type.
| Metal | Minimum fineness | IRA-eligible examples | Common exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | .995 (99.5%) | American Gold Buffalo (.9999), Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (.9999), gold bars from NYMEX/COMEX-approved refiners | South African Krugerrand (.9167, no statutory exception), most numismatic coins |
| Gold (statutory exception) | .9167 (22-karat) | American Gold Eagle (bullion and proof), named in IRC 408(m)(3)(A) regardless of fineness | No other 22-karat gold coin shares this exception |
| Silver | .999 (99.9%) | American Silver Eagle (statutory exception), Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, silver bars from approved refiners | Pre-1965 U.S. junk silver coins (no fineness guarantee) |
| Platinum | .9995 (99.95%) | American Platinum Eagle, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, platinum bars from approved refiners | Platinum coins below .9995 fineness |
| Palladium | .9995 (99.95%) | American Palladium Eagle, Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf, palladium bars from approved refiners | Palladium coins below .9995 fineness |
Source: IRC Section 408(m)(3). Bars must come from a NYMEX/COMEX-approved, LBMA-approved, or national-mint-accredited refiner. Proof coins are eligible only in their original mint packaging with a certificate of authenticity. Checked July 2026.
The American Gold Eagle is worth understanding. Its gold content is .9167 (22-karat), which falls below the .995 floor. Congress named it explicitly in the statute in 1997, making it IRA-eligible by law regardless of its fineness. The South African Krugerrand is also 22-karat but does not share that statutory exemption. It is not IRA-eligible.
Numismatic or graded coins bought primarily for collector premium are not IRA-eligible. High-markup proof sets occupy a risk zone worth discussing with your custodian. The IRS position is that the value of IRA metal should derive from metal content, not rarity or collector demand.
How to open a gold IRA from Williamson County
The process follows the same five-step sequence for any U.S. resident. Williamson County context is noted where it applies.
- Confirm your funding source. Identify the account you plan to use: 401(k) from a former employer, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), 457(b), TSP, or a pension lump-sum refund of your own contributions. An active employer plan generally cannot be rolled until you separate from employment, unless the plan allows in-service withdrawals at age 59 1/2 or older. Verify your specific plan rules before proceeding.
- Choose an IRS-approved self-directed IRA custodian. Custodians specializing in precious metals include Equity Trust Company, STRATA Trust Company, GoldStar Trust, and Madison Trust. Compare annual fees, account minimums, and depository relationships. Equity Trust is currently the first custodian coordinating with the Texas Bullion Depository in Leander for IRA storage.
- Open the SDIRA and initiate the rollover or transfer. Complete the custodian’s account application. For a direct rollover from a 401(k), the plan sends funds directly to the new custodian (Code G on Form 1099-R, no federal tax, no penalty). For a trustee-to-trustee IRA transfer, the sending custodian moves funds directly. Both methods avoid the 60-day clock and 20 percent mandatory withholding that apply to indirect rollovers.
- Select IRS-approved precious metals with a dealer. The custodian executes the purchase based on your instructions. Confirm the metal meets the fineness standards in the table above. Common bullion typically carries a 1 to 5 percent markup over spot price. Premium proof sets carry markups much higher. Get written confirmation of the exact product, fineness, and price before funds move.
- Arrange delivery to an IRS-approved depository. The dealer ships the metal directly to the depository under your SDIRA. The metal never passes through your hands. For Williamson County residents, options include national depositories (Delaware Depository, Brinks, CNT, IDS) and the Texas Bullion Depository in Leander, within the county.
Check your rollover eligibility
The most common funding path for a gold IRA is a rollover or transfer from an existing qualified account. The calculator below helps you check whether your account type is eligible and estimate what a properly executed direct rollover would look like. Texas has no state income tax, so the federal estimate is your total tax estimate on a direct rollover done correctly.
Can you roll your account into a gold IRA? Eligibility checker
Most retirement money can move into a gold IRA once it is an eligible rollover distribution. Pick your account and situation for a general answer. Always confirm the specifics with your plan administrator or custodian.
General guidance only, not tax or financial advice. Eligibility depends on your specific plan document and IRS rules; confirm with your plan administrator and a tax advisor. A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer avoids the 60-day rule and 20% withholding.
Picking a company that explains every fee up front is the first step. Get the free gold IRA company checklist.
Fees to budget for
Gold IRA costs stack in layers. Each layer is paid to a different party: the custodian, the depository, and the dealer. None of these appear on a brokerage statement the way mutual fund expense ratios do. Reviewing each line item before opening an account is the most important financial step in the process.
| Fee type | Who charges it | What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account setup fee | Custodian | Opening the SDIRA and processing the initial rollover or transfer paperwork | $0 to $300 (one-time) |
| Annual custodian fee | Custodian | Account administration, record-keeping, IRS reporting (Form 5498, Form 1099-R) | $75 to $300 per year |
| Storage fee | Depository | Vault storage, insurance, and audits. Segregated storage costs more than commingled. | $100 to $300 per year or 0.1% to 0.3% of account value |
| Dealer markup | Precious metals dealer | The spread between spot price and what you pay. Varies by product type and dealer. | 1% to 5% over spot for common bullion; far higher for proof or premium coins |
| Transaction fee | Custodian or dealer | Charged per buy or sell transaction inside the account | $0 to $40 per transaction |
| Wire transfer fee | Custodian | Moving funds in or out by bank wire | $0 to $40 per wire |
Fee ranges compiled from published schedules at Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, GoldStar Trust, and Madison Trust, checked July 2026. Your actual fees depend on the custodian and depository you select. Always request the full fee schedule in writing before opening an account.
The chart below shows how a $400 combined annual fee (midpoint of published custodian and storage ranges) translates into a percentage drag at different account sizes. The burden is sharpest on smaller accounts.
Chart data: $30,000 account (1.33% drag), $60,000 (0.67%), $100,000 (0.40%), $250,000 (0.16%), $500,000 (0.08%). Based on $400/year fixed fee.
Where the metal is actually stored
IRS rules require that precious metals held in an IRA be in the physical possession of a bank or an IRS-approved nonbank trustee. Taking home delivery of IRA gold constitutes a taxable distribution, as confirmed by the U.S. Tax Court in McNulty v. Commissioner (2021). In that case, the taxpayer who took home delivery owed income tax and penalties on the full account value.
For Williamson County residents, the primary depositories used for gold IRAs are:
- Texas Bullion Depository (Leander, TX): State-run and state-audited, in western Williamson County. Operated by Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, IRS nonbank trustee since 2023. Segregated storage only. Equity Trust Company is currently the first IRA custodian coordinating with the depository. Class 3 vault, Lloyd’s of London insurance, Texas Comptroller oversight.
- Delaware Depository (Wilmington, DE): One of the most widely used SDIRA depositories. Works with most major self-directed IRA custodians. Segregated and commingled options.
- Brinks Global Services (multiple U.S. locations): Global logistics and security firm. Works with multiple custodians for segregated precious metals storage.
- CNT Depository (Bridgewater, MA): Used by several gold IRA dealers and custodians. IRS-approved for IRA metal storage.
- International Depository Services / IDS: Delaware and Texas locations. The Texas facility may be available for Williamson County residents seeking in-state storage outside the state-run option.
Choosing the Texas Bullion Depository is a personal preference, not a financial requirement. The depository does not change the federal tax treatment of your IRA. It does offer reduced counterparty risk from a government-run entity and state Comptroller oversight. IRA fee schedules at the depository are set between the custodian, dealer, and depository. Verify current terms at texasbulliondepository.gov before signing.
Worked example: a Round Rock resident’s rollover
When a gold IRA is not the right move
Cases where the gold IRA math works against you:
Small account balance. On a $15,000 account, $200 in custodian fees and $150 in storage fees represent a 2.3 percent annual drag before any dealer markup. That level of cost erodes the account value regardless of metal performance.
Short time horizon. If you expect to need the funds within five years, dealer markup on the buy side plus markup or distribution costs on the sell side compresses the window for any net benefit. Gold IRAs work best as long-hold positions inside a broader retirement plan.
Premium coins with heavy markups. Some dealers push proof coin sets with markups of 30 to 100 percent over spot. The Texas no-income-tax advantage provides no offset against that kind of entry cost. Common bullion products with markups near spot are the financially safer starting point.
Early withdrawal before age 59 and a half. The federal 10 percent additional tax on most early distributions applies regardless of Texas residency. On a $50,000 early withdrawal, the federal penalty alone is $5,000 before ordinary income tax. Texas saves you nothing on the federal side.
Accounts still inside an active employer plan. Most active 401(k) plans do not permit in-service rollovers until age 59 and a half or separation from the employer. Verify your plan rules before starting.
TRS pension for Texas teachers. Teachers in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas hold a defined-benefit plan. An ongoing TRS monthly annuity cannot be rolled into a gold IRA. Only a lump-sum refund of your own member contributions after separation may be rollover-eligible. Confirm with TRS at trs.texas.gov and a licensed advisor before proceeding.
Already in a zero-income-tax retirement state. If you live in Florida, Nevada, or another no-income-tax state, Texas offers no additional state-tax advantage for your gold IRA distributions.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas tax gold IRA distributions for Williamson County residents?
No. Texas does not impose a state personal income tax. A gold IRA distribution taken by a Williamson County resident, whether a required minimum distribution, an in-kind distribution of metal, or a Roth conversion, is taxed by the federal government only. There is no Texas state income tax return for personal IRA income and no Texas withholding on Form 1099-R. Source: Texas Constitution, Article 8, Section 24; Texas Comptroller, checked July 2026.
The Texas Bullion Depository is in Leander, inside Williamson County. Does that give me any special access?
Not formally. Storage at the Texas Bullion Depository is available to any U.S. resident with an eligible SDIRA, not just Williamson County residents. The practical advantage for county residents is proximity: Leander is accessible from Round Rock in roughly 20 minutes and from Georgetown in roughly 25 minutes.
IRA access requires working through Equity Trust Company, currently the first custodian coordinating with the depository. More custodian relationships are expected over time. Verify current options at texasbulliondepository.gov before signing.
Can I roll over my 401(k) into a gold IRA from Williamson County?
Yes, if the 401(k) is from a former employer or your current plan allows in-service rollovers. A properly executed direct rollover moves funds from the 401(k) directly to the SDIRA custodian. Federal tax owed: $0. Texas state tax owed: $0. No penalty applies if the rollover is direct. Rollovers from an active plan are subject to that plan’s rules. Most plans require separation from the employer before a rollover is permitted.
What about TRS balances for teachers at Round Rock ISD, Georgetown ISD, or other Williamson County school districts?
TRS is a defined-benefit pension plan. An ongoing monthly TRS annuity cannot be rolled into a gold IRA. If you separated from a Texas public education position before becoming vested and received a lump-sum refund of your own member contributions, that refund may be rollover-eligible into an IRA. Confirm your specific situation with TRS directly at trs.texas.gov and consult a licensed tax advisor before taking any action.
Can I hold silver, platinum, or palladium in my gold IRA?
Yes. The account can hold any IRS-approved precious metal: gold at .995 or finer (American Gold Eagle excepted at .9167 by statute), silver at .999 or finer, platinum at .9995 or finer, and palladium at .9995 or finer. The informal term “gold IRA” covers all four metals. A more precise label is a “self-directed IRA holding precious metals.”
Where would my gold IRA metal be stored if I live in Williamson County?
At an IRS-approved depository, never at home. Options include the Texas Bullion Depository in Leander (in Williamson County), the Delaware Depository, Brinks Global Services, CNT Depository, and IDS (which has a Texas facility). The Texas Bullion Depository is state-run and state-audited. Its IRA storage is accessed through Equity Trust Company as custodian. Storing metal at home without proper custodial structure constitutes a taxable distribution under U.S. Tax Court precedent (McNulty v. Commissioner, 2021).
When do required minimum distributions begin for a gold IRA?
RMDs begin at age 73 for those born between 1951 and 1959. They begin at age 75 for those born in 1960 or later, effective in 2033 under SECURE 2.0. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMD for the original owner.
Two options satisfy an RMD from a gold IRA: sell metal inside the account and distribute cash, or take an in-kind distribution of physical metal at its fair market value on the distribution date. For Williamson County residents, the RMD is taxed federally only. Source: SECURE 2.0 Act, IRS Publication 590-B, checked July 2026.
Is the American Gold Eagle IRA-eligible even though it is 22-karat?
Yes. The American Gold Eagle is 22-karat (.9167 gold content), below the standard .995 floor. Congress named it explicitly in IRC Section 408(m)(3)(A), making it IRA-eligible by statute. Both bullion and proof versions qualify. Proof Eagles must be in their original U.S. Mint packaging with a certificate of authenticity. No other 22-karat gold coin shares this statutory exception. The South African Krugerrand, also 22-karat, is not IRA-eligible.
Ready to compare your options?
If you have at least $50,000 in a rollover-eligible account and want a structured starting point, Augusta Precious Metals publishes a free gold IRA checklist covering the steps from rollover eligibility through depository selection. We earn a commission if you open an account, at no cost to you.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). Collectibles prohibition and bullion/coin exceptions. Office of the Law Revision Counsel. uscode.house.gov. Checked July 2026.
- 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 Service. Retirement Topics: IRA Contribution Limits. Standard limit $7,500 and catch-up $1,100 for age 50 or older (2026 tax year). irs.gov/retirement-plans. Checked July 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 558, Additional Tax on Early Distributions from Retirement Plans. irs.gov/taxtopics/tc558. Checked July 2026.
- McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021). Home-storage gold IRA ruling. U.S. Tax Court. ustaxcourt.gov. Checked July 2026.
- Texas Constitution, Article 8, Section 24 (as amended by Proposition 4, November 2019). State personal income tax prohibition. statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Checked July 2026.
- Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas Taxes overview. No state personal income tax confirmed. comptroller.texas.gov/taxes. Checked July 2026.
- Texas Bullion Depository. IRA Storage Services. LSTA IRS nonbank trustee approval confirmed 2023. Equity Trust named as first IRA custodian partner. texasbulliondepository.gov/ira-storage. Checked July 2026.
- Texas Legislature. House Bill 483, 84th Regular Session (2015). Texas Bullion Depository Act signed by Governor Abbott on June 12, 2015. capitol.texas.gov. Checked July 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Approved Nonbank Trustees and Custodians. irs.gov/retirement-plans. Checked July 2026.
- Teacher Retirement System of Texas. TRS Active Member Handbook. Refund of contributions after separation. trs.texas.gov. Checked July 2026.
- SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (Division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023). RMD age changes. congress.gov. Checked July 2026.