Updated November 9, 2026 · Independent: we sell no metals and take no dealer or custodian money.

Gold IRA fees explained: what you actually pay

Short answer: A gold IRA has four layers of cost: (1) the markup over metal value when you buy, (2) setup and transfer fees, (3) yearly custodian and storage fees, and (4) the buyback spread when you sell. Ads usually talk about #2 and #3. The biggest cost is almost always #1, the markup, which often isn't listed as a "fee" at all.

1. The markup (the one nobody lists as a fee)

The dealer's price over the metal's actual value. On ordinary 1 oz gold bullion coins it's typically about 2–7% in 2026 (see the full table). On "proof," "premium" or "exclusive" coins it can be many times that, and regulators have documented average markups of 71% and higher in fraud cases.

2. Setup and transfer fees

One-time charges to open the self-directed IRA and move money in from your existing 401(k), TSP or IRA. Some companies waive these to win your business; ask what the waiver costs you elsewhere (often a higher markup).

3. Yearly custodian and storage fees

A gold IRA needs a custodian (to keep the account legal) and a depository (to hold the metal). Fees are usually flat dollars per year, sometimes a percentage of value. Flat fees hit small accounts hardest: the same yearly fee is a much bigger percentage of $20,000 than of $200,000. Ask what happens when any "first years free" waiver ends.

4. The buyback spread

When you sell, the dealer pays you less than the market price. For common bullion the gap is usually small. For proof and "exclusive" coins, dealers commonly buy back near metal value, so most of the extra you paid disappears the day you buy.

Worked example: $100,000 rollover

	Bullion coins at 4.5% markup	"Premium" coins at 72.5% markup
Metal value you actually own	$95,700	$58,000
Lost to markup on day one	$4,300	$42,000
Fees over 10 years (example: $50 setup + $275/yr)	$2,800	$2,800
Metal price rise needed just to break even	about 8–10%	about 77%

Example fees are illustrative, not any company's actual prices. Break-even assumes you sell back near metal value. Run your own numbers in the Gold Pitch Check.

What the IRS allows in a gold IRA

Gold generally must be at least .995 fine. The American Gold Eagle is the exception Congress wrote into the law (it's .9167 fine).
Silver must be .999 fine; platinum and palladium .9995.
Krugerrands and pre-1933 U.S. gold coins don't qualify. They're treated as collectibles.
The metal must be held by a qualified trustee or depository. "Home storage" gold IRAs can make the whole amount a taxable distribution.

Rules from Internal Revenue Code section 408(m). Your custodian decides which specific products it accepts; ask before you buy.

Cheaper ways people hold gold in an IRA

Some people hold gold through a gold-backed fund inside an ordinary IRA instead. Expense ratios are typically a fraction of a percent per year, with no markup on coins and no storage bills. A fund isn't the same as owning physical coins; which fits you is your call, ideally with a fee-only advisor. We only compare costs.

Got a gold IRA quote or fee schedule? Check it free →

Sources

Internal Revenue Code §408(m) (collectibles in IRAs; bullion and American Eagle exceptions).
CFTC customer advisory on gold and silver IRA schemes: https://www.cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect/AdvisoriesAndArticles/CustomerAdvisory_COVID19PreciousMetals.htm
CFTC "Lies Versus Facts: The Truth Behind Gold and Silver IRA Scams": https://www.cftc.gov/sites/default/files/2024/03/MetalsIRALies_0.pdf
CFTC press release 8812-23: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8812-23

General education, not investment, tax or legal advice.