Summary
To buy and sell physical gold and silver in your IRA, you must open a self-directed IRA with a provider that supports precious metals, fund the account through contributions or rollovers, and purchase IRS-approved bullion that is stored in an approved depository. A Gold and Silver IRA is a self-directed retirement account that allows investors to own physical precious metals while benefiting from tax advantages such as tax-deferred or tax-free growth. Modern platforms have simplified the process, enabling investors to buy, sell, and manage metals online with lower fees, and 24/7 access. iTrustCapital offers an online platform for managing the IRA and viewing pricing before an order. Physical metals are stored at the Royal Canadian Mint.
What Is a Gold and Silver IRA?
A Gold and Silver IRA is a self-directed Individual Retirement Account that allows investors to buy, sell, and hold physical precious metals within a tax-advantaged structure. Unlike traditional IRAs that hold stocks and bonds, a precious metals IRA gives you direct ownership of actual gold and silver bullion.
Key terms to understand:
- Self-directed IRA: A retirement account where the investor controls investment decisions rather than relying on a financial advisor
- Spot price: The current market price per ounce of gold or silver, which changes throughout the trading day based on global supply and demand
These accounts typically come in three types:
- Traditional IRAs are funded with pre-tax dollars, with taxes deferred until withdrawal
- Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars, offering tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement
- SEP IRAs are designed for self-employed individuals and small business owners
How Do You Buy Physical Gold in an IRA?
Buying gold and silver in an IRA can be simple. Platforms such as iTrustCapital makes it easy to get started; you can follow this simple three-step process:
- Sign Up – Open an account online through the desktop or mobile app. There are no sign-up fees.
- Fund Your Account – Fund via cash contribution (ACH or bank wire), rollover from an old employer plan (401(k), 403(b), TSP), or transfer from an existing IRA.
- Buy & Sell 24/7 – Once funded, buy and sell physical gold and silver directly through your dashboard at the push of a button.
When an order is placed:
- You purchase a defined amount of physical gold or silver
- The amount can be fractional or whole (quarter ounce, half ounce, or full ounce)
- Ownership of the metal is recorded in your account
What Are the Fees for Buying Gold in an IRA?
Fees from gold IRA providers can vary. Traditional providers may charge monthly, annual, setup, storage, commission, and transaction fees. iTrustCapital shows pricing before an order and does not charge a storage fee while metals remain in your account. See the Pricing page for current gold and silver transaction fees. The table below compares fee categories.
|
Fee Type |
iTrustCapital |
Traditional Gold IRA Companies |
|
Monthly/Annual Fees |
$0 |
Often $75-$300+ annually |
|
Setup Fees |
$0 |
$50-$300 |
|
Storage Fees |
$0 |
$100-$300+ annually |
|
Commission |
$0 |
Commission-based sales |
|
Gold Transaction Fee |
See Pricing page |
Heavy markups on coins (20-50%+) |
|
Silver Transaction Fee |
See Pricing page |
Variable markups |
Where Is IRA Gold Stored?
Most Gold IRA companies store physical metals in insured, third-party depositories, not at home. These facilities are typically IRS-approved and designed specifically for secure, long-term storage of precious metals held within retirement accounts. Investors do not take personal possession of the metals while they remain inside the IRA, as doing so could trigger taxes and penalties.
- Gold must be at least 99.5% pure; silver must be at least 99.9% pure
- Precious metals must be held by a qualified trustee or custodian (such as a bank or IRS-approved nonbank trustee), not the account holder
- Metals are typically stored in secure, third-party depositories that work with IRA custodians
- Personal possession (including home storage) is not permitted and may trigger taxes, penalties, or disqualification of the IRA
iTrustCapital follows a different structure than many traditional Gold IRA providers. Gold and silver are sourced by Kitco and stored as large bullion bars at the Royal Canadian Mint and tracked through DirectReserve™, which digitizes transactions and ownership. Clients own their ounces 1:1 as allocated portions of larger bars, without a separate individual vault.
iTrustCapital vs. Traditional Gold IRA Companies
|
Feature |
iTrustCapital |
Traditional Providers |
|
How metals are purchased |
Online platform, self-directed |
Phone-based, broker-assisted |
|
Access to pricing |
Real-time, displayed before order |
Often requires phone call |
|
Buying/selling hours |
24/7 access |
Limited to business hours |
|
Type of metals |
Spot gold and silver |
Often marked-up "collectible" coins |
|
Fractional purchases |
Yes |
Often limited to full coins/bars |
|
Sales structure |
No commissioned salespeople |
Commission-based models |
|
Selling process |
Push of a button |
Often requires calling with delays |
|
Customer support |
100% U.S.-based, no sales incentive |
Commission-based representatives |
Tax Benefits of a Gold and Silver IRA
Gold and Silver IRAs offer the same tax advantages as traditional retirement accounts:
- Traditional IRA: Tax-deferred growth; contributions may be tax-deductible; taxes paid upon withdrawal in retirement
- Roth IRA: Tax-free growth; contributions made with after-tax dollars; qualified withdrawals are completely tax-free
- SEP IRA: Pre-tax contributions for self-employed individuals; taxes applied upon withdrawal
Getting Started the Right Way with iTrustCapital
Now that you understand how gold and silver IRAs work and what to watch out for, the question becomes where to open your account.
iTrustCapital offers a tax advantaged crypto IRA* where you can easily buy and sell physical gold and silver.
What makes iTrustCapital different:
24/7 Access: The platform offers 24/7 access to buy and sell precious metals. You're not limited to business hours or dependent on reaching a sales representative.
Desktop & Mobile App: You get access to an online platform available via desktop and mobile app. You can manage your entire gold IRA from anywhere, anytime.
Physical Gold & Silver: Clients can buy and sell physical gold & silver. There are no collectible coins and no marked-up numismatics.
Low fees: Pricing is shown before you confirm an order. There are no setup, commission, annual, or monthly fees. iTrustCapital does not charge a storage fee while the metals remain in your account. See the Pricing page for current transaction fees.
Award-winning** customer service: Customer service is excellent when you need help, but you're never pressured into transactions you don't want to make. iTrustCapital boasts over 16,000 excellent reviews from Google and Trustpilot real clients.
Multiple Account Options: Alongside an IRA at iTrustCapital, clients can also open a Premium Custody Account (taxable account) to buy and sell physical precious metals for everyday investing.
Your retirement savings deserve nothing less.
*Some taxes may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy fractional gold in an IRA?
Yes, investors can buy fractional gold in an IRA, allowing for more flexibility and precise allocation of funds rather than needing to purchase full ounces. This makes it easier to dollar-cost average into precious metals over time or diversify within a portfolio. You can buy a quarter ounce, half ounce, or any fractional amount through a tax-advantaged IRA at iTrustCapital.
Where is gold stored in an IRA?
IRA-held gold must be stored in an IRS-approved depository and cannot be kept at home without triggering taxes and penalties. iTrustCapital stores client metals at the Royal Canadian Mint, a globally recognized, government-backed vaulting facility known for its high security standards. Clients own their ounces 1:1 as allocated portions of larger bullion bars; the metals are not held in a separate individual vault.
What are the tax benefits of a gold IRA?
Gold IRAs offer the same tax advantages as traditional retirement accounts, making them attractive for long-term wealth building. With a Traditional IRA, your investments can grow tax-deferred until you take distributions in retirement. With a Roth IRA, contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but qualified withdrawals are completely tax-free. iTrustCapital allows you to access these tax benefits while investing directly in physical gold and silver within a self-directed IRA.
What is the spot price?
The spot price is the real-time market value of one ounce of gold or silver, determined by global supply and demand conditions. It fluctuates throughout the trading day and serves as the baseline for pricing precious metals transactions. With iTrustCapital, investors can view live spot pricing directly on the platform, prior to buying or selling it.
Do I actually own my gold and silver in an IRA?
Yes. When you buy gold or silver on iTrustCapital, you own your ounces 1:1. The physical metals are held as large bullion bars at the Royal Canadian Mint, and your ounces are allocated to you as a portion of those bars. They are not stored in a separate individual vault.
Can I buy gold outside of an IRA?
Yes, you can invest in gold outside of a retirement account if you want more flexibility and fewer restrictions on access. While IRAs offer tax advantages, they also come with contribution limits and withdrawal rules. iTrustCapital addresses this by offering Premium Custody Accounts, which are taxable accounts designed for everyday investing in physical gold and silver. This allows investors to access precious metals both inside and outside of retirement accounts depending on their financial goals.
How do I sell my gold and silver in an IRA?
You can place an order to sell gold or silver through your iTrustCapital dashboard, 24/7, with pricing shown before you confirm. At distribution, you can also establish a settlement account with Kitco to convert metals recorded through DirectReserve™ to metals on Kitco's platform for physical shipment. Review the applicable IRA distribution and tax rules before requesting shipment.
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DISCLAIMER
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute investment advice in any way or constitute an offer to buy or sell any cryptocurrency, digital asset or security or to participate in any investment strategy.
iTrustCapital is a fintech software platform for alternative assets. iTrustCapital is not an exchange, funding portal, custodian, trust company, licensed broker, dealer, broker-dealer, investment advisor, investment manager, or adviser in the United States or elsewhere. iTrustCapital is not affiliated with and does not endorse any particular digital asset, precious metal or investment strategy.
Investing in any digital asset or cryptocurrency (including meme coins) carries significant risks due to their speculative and highly volatile nature. Past performance is not an indication of future results. No investment is completely risk-free, and every investment carries the potential for losing some or all of the principal amount invested. Cryptocurrency is not legal tender backed by the United States government, nor is it subject to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance or protections. Digital asset (Cryptocurrency) deposits held with institutional storage providers are never FDIC insured and may lose value. Clients do not receive a choice of custody partner.
Investors assume the risk of all purchase and sale decisions. iTrustCapital makes no guarantee or representation regarding investors’ ability to profit from any transaction or the tax implications of any transaction. iTrustCapital does not provide legal, investment or tax advice. Conduct your own research and consult with a qualified legal, investment, or tax professional to assess your own risk tolerance prior to investing.
iTrustCapital makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this information and does not have any liability for any representations (expressed or implied) or omissions from the information contained herein. iTrustCapital disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this information, which is provided as is, without warranties.
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