Storing Your Gold IRA Metal at the Texas Bullion Depository
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
- The Texas Bullion Depository is an agency of the State of Texas, operational since 2017 on a 10-acre campus in Leander, just north of Austin.
- The 40,000-plus square foot facility is operated by Lone Star Tangible Assets LP under contract with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
- Lone Star Tangible Assets LP received IRS nonbank trustee approval in 2023, opening the depository to IRA storage of physical metals.
- Equity Trust Company is the first self-directed IRA custodian publicly working with the depository for IRA assets; more custodians may follow.
- IRA storage is segregated (your specific metal, never commingled) and insured through Lloyd's of London for theft, fire, flood, and natural disasters.
- Published storage rates apply to non-IRA accounts only; IRA storage fees are negotiated between the dealer, custodian, and depository contractor.
- Holding IRA metal in Texas does not change federal tax rules; the federal stack on distributions still applies. Texas residency removes only the state layer.
On this page
- Why the Texas Bullion Depository exists
- The legal hook: an IRS-approved nonbank trustee
- How IRA storage at the depository works
- What metals can be stored for an IRA
- Security, insurance, and segregated storage
- What you pay: published rates and the IRA pricing rule
- Estimate fee drag on your gold IRA
- Worked example: a San Antonio retiree at $200,000
- Texas Bullion Depository vs private IRA depositories
- When storing IRA metal in Texas is the wrong call
- Frequently asked questions
Why the Texas Bullion Depository exists
The Texas Bullion Depository was created by House Bill 483, signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 12, 2015. The bill made Texas the first state to charter its own precious-metals vault. The depository opened in 2017 on a 10-acre campus in Leander, about 30 miles north of Austin.
The depository is an agency of the State of Texas. It operates under the oversight of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, with regular audits by a representative of the Comptroller's office. The facility itself spans more than 40,000 square feet and was purpose-built for precious-metals storage.
The depository is operated under contract by Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, the vendor selected after a competitive solicitation. That public-private structure is unusual. The State of Texas owns the legal framework and supervises the audits; LSTA runs the daily operations.
Two facts matter for retirement savers. First, this is the only state-administered precious-metals depository in the United States. Second, the original 2015 statute was largely directed at non-IRA storage. IRA holding became a real option only after LSTA received IRS approval in 2023.
The legal hook: an IRS-approved nonbank trustee
An IRA must be held by a bank, an insurance company, or an IRS-approved nonbank trustee. That requirement comes from IRC Section 408 and is implemented in Treasury Regulations Section 1.408-2(e). It is the bottleneck that determines what facility may legally hold IRA-titled metal.
Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, the depository operator, received IRS approval as a nonbank trustee in 2023. The Department of the Treasury maintains a public list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians under Rev. Proc. 2026-4. LSTA's listing on that schedule is what lets the depository hold IRA assets directly.
Equity Trust Company is the first self-directed IRA custodian to publicly coordinate with the depository for IRA assets. The depository's own page states it expects to expand its custodial relationships over time. A reader should verify the current list of participating custodians before signing paperwork.
The structural point is simple. The IRS rule says where IRA metal may legally live. The state law says how the facility is run. Both rules apply at the same time; neither one overrides the other.
How IRA storage at the depository works
For most Texas residents, the path to storing gold IRA metal in Leander runs through three parties: the IRA custodian, the gold dealer, and the depository itself. The order of steps below follows the depository's own published process and the standard IRC 408 self-directed IRA flow.
- Open a self-directed IRA with a participating custodian. Equity Trust Company is the first IRA custodian publicly working with the depository. The custodian opens an IRA account in your name and arranges the trustee-to-trustee mechanics.
- Fund the account by rollover, transfer, or contribution. Most retirees fund by direct rollover from a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or another IRA. A direct rollover is not a taxable event under federal law and triggers no 10 percent additional tax.
- Choose IRA-eligible metals with a precious-metals dealer. The metal must meet the IRC 408(m) fineness floor and be delivered as bullion or qualifying coins. Numismatic or proof coins outside the statutory exceptions do not qualify.
- Have the dealer ship the metal directly to the Texas Bullion Depository. The depository accepts shipments from the dealer with the custodian's instruction. You never take personal possession; under McNulty v. Commissioner (2021) that would be a deemed distribution.
- Confirm segregated storage and review your account statement. The depository stores IRA metal in segregated form. Your custodian will reflect the holding on the IRA statement; the depository will issue a separate confirmation of the bars or coins.
- Review fees and the custodian agreement annually. IRA storage fees are not on the depository's public schedule. Confirm in writing with the custodian what you will pay each year and what changes trigger a re-quote.
What metals can be stored for an IRA
The depository accepts a broader product list for personal accounts than for IRA accounts. Inside an IRA, the federal rule controls. IRC Section 408(m) bars collectibles but exempts bullion and coins meeting the fineness floor.
The federal fineness floor is gold .995, silver .999, platinum .9995, and palladium .9995. The statute also names the American Gold Eagle and the American Silver Eagle as IRA-eligible by exception, even though the Gold Eagle is .9167 fine. Proof Eagles must be in original mint packaging with the certificate of authenticity.
Bars must come from a refiner accredited by the LBMA, NYMEX, COMEX, or by a national mint. Coins below the federal fineness floor (such as the South African Krugerrand at .9167) and pre-1965 United States junk silver are not IRA-eligible. The depository can hold them in a personal account but not inside an IRA.
Security, insurance, and segregated storage
The depository's IRA storage page describes a Class 3 vault, which is the highest commercial security rating. Vault features include bullet-resistant doors, biometric access controls, and 24/7 monitored surveillance. The campus has perimeter security and rigorous audit procedures.
Security staff includes commissioned police officers and former military personnel with SWAT experience. The Texas Comptroller's office reports that the facility is protected by on-site Texas State Police under the Comptroller's authority. That layer of state-employed protection is unusual among precious-metals depositories.
Insurance is provided through Lloyd's of London. The published coverage includes theft, fire, flood, and natural disasters, with daily market-value updates so coverage tracks the value of the metal. Confirm the specific policy and limits with the depository before relying on a coverage figure.
IRA assets are held in segregated storage rather than commingled. Segregated means the specific bars or coins your IRA owns are stored separately and returned to you on withdrawal. The depository's IRA storage page is explicit on this point.
What you pay: published rates and the IRA pricing rule
The depository's public fee schedule covers non-IRA accounts. Under the schedule effective April 1, 2026, segregated storage uses a flat-rate model based on average daily account value. A $25 quarterly minimum applies to the smallest tier.
IRA storage at the depository follows a different pricing rule. Per the depository's own IRA storage page, IRA fees are negotiated between the gold dealer, the IRA custodian, and the depository contractor. The public flat-rate schedule does not necessarily apply.
The practical effect is that the all-in cost of an IRA at the depository depends on three quotes: the custodian's annual fee, any dealer-side fee, and the depository's negotiated storage charge. Some of those numbers are folded into a bundled rate. Get each number in writing before signing.
| Fee category | What it covers | How it is set for an IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Storage fee | Annual safekeeping of the IRA metal in segregated storage | Negotiated by dealer, custodian, and depository; not on the public flat-rate schedule |
| Custodian fee | IRA recordkeeping, reporting (Form 5498, 1099-R), trustee role | Set by the IRA custodian (such as Equity Trust); typically annual |
| Account setup | One-time charge to establish a depository account | $0 on the published non-IRA schedule; confirm IRA-side terms with custodian |
| Shipping and handling (domestic) | Delivery to the depository or to the account holder | $17.95 plus 0.0018 multiplied by spot value, per the published non-IRA schedule |
| Personal pickup | Appointment to collect a withdrawal at the depository | $35.00 per transaction, by appointment only |
| Customer room use | Scheduled private viewing of your account holdings | $35.00 per 30 minutes |
Built from the Texas Bullion Depository Schedule of Fees (effective April 1, 2026) and the Texas Bullion Depository IRA Storage Services page, texasbulliondepository.gov, checked June 2026. IRA-specific pricing not published; confirm in writing with your IRA custodian.
Estimate fee drag on your gold IRA
The total fee load on a gold IRA is the sum of the custodian's annual fee, the storage fee, and any dealer markup. The calculator below converts your balance and an estimated annual fee into a percentage drag, so you can compare quotes apples to apples.
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.
Worked example: a San Antonio retiree at $200,000
Texas Bullion Depository vs private IRA depositories
Most gold IRA custodians default to a private depository such as Delaware Depository, Brinks Global Services, IDS of Delaware or Texas, or CNT. The Texas Bullion Depository is a different model. The comparison below is at a feature level, not a price level; IRA-specific pricing is not public for any of these venues without a quote.
| Feature | Texas Bullion Depository | Typical private IRA depository |
|---|---|---|
| Legal structure | State agency, supervised by the Texas Comptroller | For-profit private company |
| IRS approval to hold IRA metal | Through operator LSTA, nonbank trustee approval (2023) | Through a partnered IRA custodian (bank or nonbank trustee) |
| Storage type for IRA | Segregated only, per the IRA storage page | Often a choice between segregated and commingled |
| Audits | By a representative of the Texas Comptroller's office | By the firm's own auditor or a contracted auditing firm |
| Location | Leander, Texas (one site) | Multiple sites across the United States |
| Insurance | Through Lloyd's of London | Often through Lloyd's of London as well |
| On-site security | Texas State Police presence under the Comptroller | Private contracted security |
| Custodian options for an IRA | Equity Trust Company; list may expand | Most major self-directed IRA custodians |
| IRA fee disclosure | Not published; negotiated quote required | Often quoted as an annual flat dollar fee by the custodian |
Built from the Texas Bullion Depository IRA Storage Services page and published company materials for Delaware Depository, Brinks Global Services, IDS, and CNT, checked June 2026. Feature-level only; confirm current details with each provider.
Two practical takeaways follow from that table. First, the Texas option gives a Texas resident a vault inside their own state under state oversight, which some retirees value for jurisdictional reasons. Second, the trade-off is a narrower custodian list and an IRA pricing model that is quote-based rather than catalog-based.
When storing IRA metal in Texas is the wrong call
The state-administered angle is real, but it is not a fit for every gold IRA. The patterns where the depository is the wrong choice are consistent.
Your preferred custodian is not yet on the list. Equity Trust Company is the publicly listed IRA custodian today. If your custodian is not approved to coordinate with the depository, switching custodians just to use this vault may not be worth the paperwork.
Small balance with high per-account fixed fees. A $20,000 gold IRA paying $200 in custodian fees plus $150 in storage is over 1.7 percent in annual fee drag. State oversight does not lower that number. The fee math, not the venue, is what hurts the account.
You wanted commingled storage to lower cost. The depository stores IRA assets in segregated form only. A private depository that offers commingled storage may be cheaper if your custodian accepts that format and the price gap is large.
You are not a Texas resident. The depository accepts out-of-state IRA holders, but the practical convenience of an in-state vault is part of the value. An out-of-state retiree gains the state-oversight feature but loses the local-residency angle.
You want the depository to give you a tax break. It does not. Federal IRA tax rules apply regardless of which IRS-approved facility holds the metal. Texas removes the state tax layer because Texas has no personal income tax, not because of the depository.
You want personal possession of the metal. The depository, by design, holds the metal for the IRA. Under McNulty v. Commissioner, taking IRA metal home is a deemed distribution. That risk exists at any depository, but it is worth restating before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Texas Bullion Depository IRS-approved for IRAs?
The depository itself is a state agency, not an IRS-approved nonbank trustee. The IRS approval that allows IRA storage at the facility runs through the operator, Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, which received IRS nonbank trustee approval in 2023.
Which IRA custodians can I use?
Equity Trust Company is the first self-directed IRA custodian publicly working with the depository for IRA assets, per the depository's IRA Storage Services page. The depository states the custodian list is expected to expand. Verify the current list before signing.
Is IRA storage segregated or commingled?
Segregated. The depository's IRA Storage Services page states that precious metals are stored separately and never commingled, so the same bars or coins are returned on withdrawal. This is more restrictive than some private depositories that offer commingled options.
How much does IRA storage at the Texas Bullion Depository cost?
The depository's public schedule covers non-IRA accounts and is not the IRA price. Per the depository, IRA storage fees are negotiated between the gold dealer, the IRA custodian, and the depository contractor. Get the IRA quote in writing from your custodian.
Does the depository offer a state tax advantage for my IRA?
No. Federal IRA tax rules apply regardless of which IRS-approved facility holds the metal. Texas has no state personal income tax, which removes the state layer on a Texas resident's IRA distributions, but that is a residency benefit, not a depository benefit.
Can I visit my metal at the depository?
Yes, by appointment. The published non-IRA schedule lists a Customer Room Usage Fee of $35.00 per half hour for scheduled private viewing of your account holdings. Personal or courier pickup of a withdrawal is $35.00 per transaction, by appointment only.
What metals can I hold in an IRA at the depository?
Only metals that meet the IRC Section 408(m) fineness floor (gold .995, silver .999, platinum .9995, palladium .9995), plus the statutory exceptions for the American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagle. Coins below the floor (such as the Krugerrand) cannot be held in an IRA, even in Leander.
Is the depository insured?
Per the depository's IRA Storage Services page, assets are insured through Lloyd's of London, covering theft, fire, flood, and natural disasters, with daily market-value updates so coverage tracks the value of the metal. Confirm specific policy limits with the depository before relying on a coverage figure.
Sources
- Texas Bullion Depository. IRA Storage Services. texasbulliondepository.gov/ira-storage. Checked June 2026.
- Texas Bullion Depository. Schedule of Fees (effective April 1, 2026). texasbulliondepository.gov/pricing. Checked June 2026.
- Texas Bullion Depository. Home page and About sections. texasbulliondepository.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Texas Legislature. House Bill 483, 84th Regular Session (2015), Texas Bullion Depository Act. capitol.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas Bullion Depository overview. comptroller.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590a. 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.
- Internal Revenue Code Section 408 and Treasury Regulations Section 1.408-2. Trustee requirements. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. ecfr.gov. Checked June 2026.
- United States Tax Court. McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021). Home storage of IRA metal is a deemed distribution. ustaxcourt.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Revenue Procedure 2026-4 and the IRS list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians. irs.gov. Checked June 2026.
- Equity Trust Company. Self-directed IRA precious metals storage (publicly identified custodian partner). trustetc.com. Checked June 2026.