Financial-content notice: Educational information only. Precious metals involve risk, and IRA/tax rules can be consequential. Consider qualified financial, tax and legal advice for your circumstances.
Gold IRA basics
How self-directed IRA custody relates to physical precious metals and why the account structure matters.
A “Gold IRA” is commonly used to describe a self-directed individual retirement account that can hold qualifying physical precious metals under applicable IRA rules. It is not a separate promise of tax benefits or investment performance.
The moving parts
- Account: the IRA's tax structure and contribution/distribution rules.
- Custodian: the institution administering the self-directed IRA.
- Dealer: the company from which eligible metals may be purchased.
- Depository: the storage arrangement for IRA-owned physical metals.
- Investor decision: whether the costs, risks and role of metals fit the broader plan.
What Gold IRA Authority does
We explain the process, compare providers and point readers toward primary sources. We do not provide individualized investment, tax or legal advice.
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Primary sources
- Augusta Precious Metals official website — use for current company-specific claims.
- IRS: Rollovers of retirement plan and IRA distributions — primary rollover guidance.
- IRS Publication 590-A — IRA contribution and rollover reference.