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A '''gold IRA''' or '''precious metals IRA''' is an [[Individual Retirement Account]] in which [[Gold as an investment|gold]] or other approved precious metals are stored, as opposed to [[paper currency]] or paper-based assets. It functions in the same way as a regular IRA, only instead of holding paper assets, it holds physical bullion coins or bars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA|url=http://www.americanbullion.com/gold-ira/|publisher=American Bullion|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> Companies selling precious metals IRAs often work with a private IRA services entity to act as a custodian for their clients, which may have its own fees and account restrictions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA custodian|url=https://www.augustagoldira.com/gold-ira-investing/gold-ira-investing-guide/|website=www.augustagoldira.com|publisher=www.augustagoldira.com|accessdate=13 June 2014}}</ref> Precious metals IRAs are usually [[self-directed IRA]]s, a type of IRA allowing more diverse investments to be held in the account and giving the holder more control over those investments. Although most gold IRAs are [[self-directed IRA]]s, many other types of retirement accounts are eligible to be converted into a gold IRA, including [[Roth IRA]]s, [[Thrift Savings Plan]] (TSP), and [[401(k)]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA General Information|url=http://www.advantagegold.com/general-information/|publisher=Advantage Gold|accessdate=20 August 2014}}</ref>
A '''gold IRA''' or '''precious metals IRA''' is an [[Individual Retirement Account]] in which physical [[Gold as an investment|gold]] or other approved precious metals<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA Rules|url=http://www.innovativewealth.com/wealth-management/self-directed-ira/gold-ira-rules-essential-rules-for-investing-in-precious-metals-with-your-self-directed-ira-or-401k/|publisher=Innovative Advisory Group|accessdate=5 April 2015}}</ref> are held in custody for the benefit of the IRA account owner. It functions the same as a regular IRA, only instead of holding paper assets, it holds physical bullion coins or bars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA|url=http://www.americanbullion.com/gold-ira/|publisher=American Bullion|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> Precious metals IRAs are usually [[self-directed IRA]]s, a type of IRA where the custodian allows more diverse investments to be held in the account. Gold [[self-directed IRA]]s can include other types of retirement accounts such as, [[Roth IRA]]s, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, HSA, [[Thrift Savings Plan]] (TSP), and [[401(k)]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA General Information|url=http://www.advantagegold.com/general-information/|publisher=Advantage Gold|accessdate=20 August 2014}}</ref>


The four precious metals allowed to be held in an individual retirement account are gold, silver, platinum and palladium, provided they are in the form of IRS-approved coin or bar products. Since gold is the most commonly purchased of the four, the overarching term “gold IRA” is used most often in the industry to mean a retirement account containing any combination of precious metals. Depending on the portfolio contents and which metal is being marketed, the terms “precious metals IRA”, “silver IRA”, “platinum IRA”, or “palladium IRA” may also be used.
The four precious metals allowed to be held in an individual retirement account are gold, silver, platinum and palladium, provided they are in the form of IRS-approved coin or bar products. Since gold is the most commonly purchased of the four, the overarching term “gold IRA” is used most often as industry slang to mean a retirement account containing any combination of precious metals. Other terms such as, “precious metals IRA”, “silver IRA”, “platinum IRA”, or “palladium IRA” are also frequently used.


Investors often use precious metals as a long-term [[Inflation hedge|hedge against inflation]], making them an attractive addition to a retirement portfolio. In order to create one, the former retirement plan must undergo either a transfer or "rollover" process, which is IRS-approved and tax-free<ref>{{cite web|title=Publication 590 (2013)|url=http://www.irs.gov/publications/p590/ch01.html#en_US_2013_publink1000230568|publisher=IRS|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> if the individual qualifies and all rules and regulations are complied with. The tax free gold IRA may be stored in an IRS-approved depository, and investors may have their metals shipped directly to them or liquidated for cash,<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA Infographic|url=http://www.americanbullion.com/gold-ira-infographic/|publisher=American Bullion|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref> depending on the depository and the company that sold the plan.
Investors often use precious metals as a long-term [[Inflation hedge|hedge against inflation]], to diversify their portfolio. Internal Revenue Code requirements state that the approved precious metals must be stored in a specific manner.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA Rules|url=http://www.innovativewealth.com/wealth-management/self-directed-ira/gold-ira-rules-essential-rules-for-investing-in-precious-metals-with-your-self-directed-ira-or-401k/|publisher=Innovative Advisory Group|accessdate=5 April 2015}}</ref> Some Trustees have in-house facilities to custody the physical precious metals, others use a third party metals depository as a storage facility. <ref>{{cite web|title=Gold IRA Infographic|url=http://www.americanbullion.com/gold-ira-infographic/|publisher=American Bullion|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 23:20, 7 May 2015

A gold IRA or precious metals IRA is an Individual Retirement Account in which physical gold or other approved precious metals[1] are held in custody for the benefit of the IRA account owner. It functions the same as a regular IRA, only instead of holding paper assets, it holds physical bullion coins or bars.[2] Precious metals IRAs are usually self-directed IRAs, a type of IRA where the custodian allows more diverse investments to be held in the account. Gold self-directed IRAs can include other types of retirement accounts such as, Roth IRAs, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, HSA, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and 401(k)s.[3]

The four precious metals allowed to be held in an individual retirement account are gold, silver, platinum and palladium, provided they are in the form of IRS-approved coin or bar products. Since gold is the most commonly purchased of the four, the overarching term “gold IRA” is used most often as industry slang to mean a retirement account containing any combination of precious metals. Other terms such as, “precious metals IRA”, “silver IRA”, “platinum IRA”, or “palladium IRA” are also frequently used.

Investors often use precious metals as a long-term hedge against inflation, to diversify their portfolio. Internal Revenue Code requirements state that the approved precious metals must be stored in a specific manner.[4] Some Trustees have in-house facilities to custody the physical precious metals, others use a third party metals depository as a storage facility. [5]

History

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 broadened the permissible types of investments allowed in IRAs, stating: "Your IRA can invest in one, one-half, one-quarter, or one-tenth ounce U.S. gold coins, or one-ounce silver coins minted by the Treasury Department. Beginning in 1998, your IRA can invest in certain platinum coins and certain gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion."[6]

IRA-accepted precious metals

The IRS approves select precious metals and forms of bullion for IRAs.[7][8][9][10] There are more advantages to holding gold coins as opposed to bars in a gold IRA in terms of liquidation.[11] Gold bars are more difficult to sell due to their higher price and easier ability to be counterfeited, as well as being more difficult to deliver due to their heaviness and the amount of security required during transport. There are currently a variety of precious metals that meet the minimum purity requirements that are acceptable for inclusion into a gold IRA account. While some argue inclusion of certain coins in a precious metals IRA, it's important to note that Gold IRA companies have been investigated.[12] Gold IRA companies have been investigated] by the government for misleading customers and aggressively selling numismatic coins over gold bullion. Numismatic coins pay the gold company higher commissions, but bullion bars more directly reflect the spot price of the precious metal.

Gold

Silver

Platinum

Palladium

Receiving distributions

The laws for taking distributions from a gold IRA are the same as those for a regular IRA. The account holder may liquidate their IRA metals for cash or take physical possession of them. Both actions are akin to taking an IRA distribution and will be taxed accordingly.[13]

Storage

To comply with IRS requirements, all IRAs, including precious metals IRAs, must be in the possession of a trustee or custodian. Therefore, legally speaking, precious metals in an IRA are in the custody of the trustee or custodian, not the IRA owner. IRS Publication 590 specifies that for all IRAs, “The trustee or custodian must be a bank, a federally insured credit union, a savings and loan association, or an entity approved by the IRS to act as trustee or custodian.”[14] Many trustees/custodians use civilian (private) depositories, which may be approved by various commodities exchanges, for storing IRA metals. Security features may include timed locks and automatic re-locking features, 24/7 monitoring, and motion, sound, and vibration detectors. They typically have large insurance policies, with some amounting to as much as $1 billion.[15] There are two types of Gold IRA Storage permitted in depositories: non-segregated, where your assets are mixed with the assets of others; and segregated, where your assets are held separately from other people’s assets.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Gold IRA Rules". Innovative Advisory Group. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Gold IRA". American Bullion. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Gold IRA General Information". Advantage Gold. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Gold IRA Rules". Innovative Advisory Group. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Gold IRA Infographic". American Bullion. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Publication 590" (PDF). UncleFed's Tax Board. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Precious Metals in your IRA". Kitco. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  8. ^ "26 U.S. Code § 408 - Individual retirement accounts". Cornell University Law School. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  9. ^ "IRA Allowable Precious Metals". Gold IRA Guide. Gold IRA Guide. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Acceptable Precious Metals" (PDF). IRA Services TrustCompany. IRA Services TrustCompany. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ^ "The Pros & Cons of Buying Gold Bars vs. Ingots vs. Coins". munKNEE.com. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Gold IRA companies have been investigated".
  13. ^ "Gold IRA General Information". Advantage Gold. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  14. ^ "26 U.S. Code § 408 - Individual retirement accounts". Cornell University Law School. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  15. ^ "Delaware Depository Services". Delaware Depository. Delaware Depository. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Gold IRA Storage". RC Bullion. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
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