Understand Gold IRA Rules and Regulations

• Gold IRAs are retirement accounts where gold is a permissible investment.
• Gold is attractive to some investors because gold prices often move independently of stock and bond markets, providing more stability to a portfolio.
• However, there are gold IRA rules that investors should be aware of.
• Gold IRA rules exist to protect the gold investor and ensure the gold in the account is in compliance with the laws applicable to gold.

The gold IRA rules that are applicable to gold investors differ from those that pertain to other investment vehicles. Gold investors receive certain concessions not offered to investors in other types of retirement accounts. Gold IRA rules exist to protect the gold investor and ensure the gold in the account is in compliance with the laws applicable to gold.

The IRA Gold Rules

Gold and other precious metals investments cannot be held inside of a Roth IRA. Gold IRAs have a specific set of rules and restrictions regarding gold investments.
Gold must be physically held. It can't be stored electronically or in paper form.
The gold must be owned by the IRA.
Gold cannot be exchanged for cash.
Gold cannot be owned by another IRA.

Buying Gold Directly or Through an ETF

Gold may be purchased directly through a brokerage account, or through an exchange-traded fund (ETF). Purchasing gold through an ETF is often preferable. The primary reasons are that ETFs typically have lower costs than buying gold directly, and that physical gold can be stored in a Gold IRA just like ETFs. The rules and regulations for storing gold in a Gold IRA are the same for all types of gold:
Gold must be purchased in allocated form - that is, bars must be pre-allocated to specific accounts.

Gold must be stored with a trustee or custodian (like a custodian bank).

Gold must be traded in U.S. dollars.

Gold Coins and Bars

Gold coins are coins that are struck from gold, while gold bars consist of gold bullion in bar form.
Gold bars and coins are considered eligible assets for IRAs, as long as they are of a certain purity and weight. Typically, a gold bar or coin must meet the .995 fineness standard. The fineness refers to the amount of pure gold that is used to make the coin or bar.
Gold bullion coins are minted by government and national mints, typically in denominations of 1 ounce and 1 kilo. These coins usually have legal tender status and are redeemable in their country of issue.
Gold bullion bars come in many different weights and sizes. They are typically produced by private mints and approved exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Gold bullion bars and coins are typically classified as collectibles.
Gold Bullion
Gold bullion refers to gold bullion in bar form, not coins. Gold bullion bars come in various weights, but typically they are .995 fine, making them suitable for IRA investments.
Gold bullion bars come in various shapes and sizes, and are made either by a private mint or an approved ETF.
Gold bullion coins, on the other hand, must meet the .995 fineness standard.

Gold Bullion

A gold bullion IRA is a special type of IRA that can hold physical gold bullion. A gold bullion IRA can have gold certificates, but must hold physical gold in an approved depository.
Gold coins
A gold coin IRA contains gold bullion coins that have been legal tender (and have numismatic value) and that are issued by the government.
Gold bars
Gold bars must be 100 troy ounces and must not have serial numbers.
Gold rounds
A gold round is a 1-ounce gold coin that has legal tender status.

Collectibles

Collectibles such as rare coins, stamps, fine art, and other collectibles, along with real estate and wine, are approved to be purchased and owned inside gold IRAs.
There are a few rules associated with buying collectibles. The IRS has a list of approved collectibles. These include:
Coins, both modern and rare

Stamps

First and second paper currency

Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion

Other precious metals

The IRS allows for direct ownership of collectibles in gold IRAs, and it does not give the IRS any reporting or taxing authority over purchases and sales of collectibles in gold IRAs.