Precious Metals IRA Guide: How to Add Gold to Your Retirement Account
9 min read • GoldBuller Research
A Gold IRA lets you hold physical precious metals inside a tax-advantaged retirement account, combining the wealth-preserving properties of gold with the same tax benefits as a traditional or Roth IRA.
The Three-Party Structure
- SDIRA Custodian: IRS-regulated institution that holds the account (e.g., Equity Trust, STRATA Trust).
- Precious Metals Dealer: The company that sources your bullion (like GoldBuller).
- Approved Depository: The IRS-mandated vault where metals are physically stored.
IRS-Approved Gold Products
- American Gold Eagles (all sizes) — .9167 fine, specifically exempted by statute ✓
- American Gold Buffalos — .9999 fine ✓
- Canadian Gold Maple Leafs — .9999 fine ✓
- PAMP Suisse and Valcambi Bars — .9999 fine ✓
Funding via Rollover
- Direct transfer: Custodian-to-custodian. Safest — no tax withholding, no deadline.
- 60-day rollover: You receive a check and must deposit within 60 days to avoid taxes + 10% penalty.