How it works
A Gold IRA lets you hold physical gold inside a retirement account that follows the same IRS rules as any other IRA — same contribution limits, same tax treatment, same required minimum distributions. The only thing that changes is what you own and where it sits.
01 — What it is
A retirement account that holds metal, not paper.
The structure was created by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, which expanded Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m) to let IRAs hold specific forms of physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Before that, IRAs could hold paper assets only.
Tax treatment follows the same rules as any other IRA. Traditional contributions are pre-tax and taxed on distribution; Roth contributions are post-tax and not taxed on qualified distribution. Required minimum distributions begin at age 73.
A Gold IRA has three roles, and they are deliberately separate — no single party holds your money, your metal, and the paperwork at once.
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02 — How you fund it
You roll over from an account you already have.
The funds move directly from your existing account to your new IRA’s custodian. You never receive the money. There is no tax event. There is no penalty.
Two cases differ slightly: an inherited IRA follows the SECURE Act’s distribution rules, and a transfer from another Gold IRA company can move metal in kind rather than converting to cash and back.
03 — What you can hold
Standard IRS-eligible bullion. Four metals.
The IRS sets eligibility under Section 408(m), including minimum purity for each metal. That standard bullion is exactly what Grace sells.
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No numismatic, proof, or rare coins. Most aren’t even IRA-eligible, and selling them aggressively to IRA customers has been the subject of federal regulatory investigation.
04 — Timeline
One to three weeks, end to end.
Your existing custodian. The limiting factor is almost always how quickly the prior custodian releases the funds — we have no control over that, and we say so up front.
Grace Precious Metals is a precious metals dealer. Gold IRAs require an IRS-approved custodian and an IRS-approved depository. Grace is not a financial, tax, or legal expert. Gold and precious metals investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult qualified professionals before making investment decisions.