Hold physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium inside a retirement account — vaulted at an IRS-approved depository.
A precious metals IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds real bullion instead of paper. The metal is bought inside the account, titled to the account, and stored at an approved depository — not at home, and not with us.
For the depository, we point clients to the International Depository Services (IDS) Group — the same COMEX/CME- and LBMA-accredited network we recommend for ordinary bullion storage. Standard Bullion supplies the metal; your custodian and IDS handle the account and the vault.
Who does what
Three separate parties. No one of them is the other.
-
Your IRA custodian
Opens and administers the account, holds title, files with the IRS, and instructs the purchase. -
IDS
Stores and insures the metal in an IRS-approved vault, reporting to your custodian. -
Standard Bullion
Sells the bullion at a live, transparent price and ships it to the vault. That's our whole role.
How a metals IRA comes together
Four steps, in this order. The custodian comes first — nothing else can happen until it exists.
Open a self-directed IRA
Choose an IRS-approved self-directed IRA custodian that handles physical metals. They are the account's trustee — this step is not optional and cannot be skipped.
Fund it
Roll over or transfer from an existing 401(k), 403(b), TSP or IRA, or contribute within the annual limits. Done as a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, a rollover is generally not a taxable event — your custodian will walk you through it.
Choose the metal
Pick IRA-eligible bullion from our catalogue at a live price. Your custodian places the order and pays from the IRA — the metal never passes through your hands, which is what keeps it inside the account.
We ship it to the vault
Fully insured, straight to your IDS depository. IDS vaults it and reports the holding to your custodian, who keeps the account's records straight.
What qualifies
The IRS sets minimum fineness for metal held in a retirement account, and the bullion must be produced by an approved refiner, assayer or national mint.
Collectibles, most numismatic and graded coins, and anything below the fineness floor are not eligible. The American Gold Eagle is the well-known exception: at 91.67% it sits below the gold threshold but is specifically permitted by statute.
Confirm eligibility with your custodian before buying — they carry the compliance responsibility for the account, and requirements can be stricter than the IRS floor.
| Metal | Min. fineness | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 99.5% | American Eagles, American Buffalos, Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, approved bars |
| Silver | 99.9% | American Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, approved rounds and bars |
| Platinum | 99.95% | American Platinum Eagles, approved bars |
| Palladium | 99.95% | Canadian Palladium Maple Leafs, approved bars |
Fineness minimums as published by IDS for IRA/RSP storage.
Where the metal actually sits
IRA metal has to be held by an approved depository — you cannot store it at home, and taking possession is a distribution.
IDS of Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
One of eight COMEX/CME-approved and one of nine Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) approved depositories. LBMA Associate and NCBA member.
IDS of Texas
Dallas, Texas
LBMA Associate and NCBA member, in a state with no tax on precious metals purchases.
IDS of Canada
Mississauga, Ontario
LBMA Associate and IIROC-approved, serving Canadian RSP accounts.
Their IRA desk works with trustees and administrators rather than individual investors, so bring your custodian into the conversation. IDS can be reached on 888-322-6150, 8:30am–5pm Eastern, Monday to Friday.
Common questions
Can Standard Bullion set up the IRA for me?
No. We sell bullion. Opening and administering a self-directed IRA is the custodian's job, and it has to be — the account's tax treatment depends on a qualified trustee holding it. We'll happily supply the metal once your account is open and funded.
Can I keep IRA metal at home?
No. IRA metal must sit with an approved depository. Taking personal possession is treated as a distribution, with the tax and possible penalty that follows. Be sceptical of anyone marketing a "home storage IRA".
Is a rollover taxable?
A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is generally not a taxable event. Indirect rollovers carry deadlines and limits that are easy to trip over. Your custodian handles the mechanics — and this is a question for them or your tax adviser, not for a bullion dealer.
What does it cost?
Three separate costs: your custodian's setup and annual administration fees, the depository's annual storage fee, and the price of the metal itself. Only the last of those is ours, and you can see it live on every product page.
Can I sell the metal later?
Yes. Your custodian instructs the sale and the proceeds return to the IRA. We quote live buy-back prices, and because the metal is already vaulted and authenticated the process is straightforward.
Do I have to use IDS?
No. Any IRS-approved depository your custodian works with is fine, and we'll ship there. IDS is who we recommend and who we already ship to for non-IRA storage clients.
Already have a self-directed IRA?
Then you're ready for the part we do. Browse IRA-eligible bullion at live prices, and have your custodian place the order — we'll ship it insured to your depository.
Browse bullion → Ask us a questionStandard Bullion LLC is a precious metals dealer. We are not a bank, trustee, IRA custodian, broker-dealer, or tax or investment adviser, and nothing on this page is tax, legal or investment advice. Rules for retirement accounts change and depend on your circumstances — speak to your custodian and a qualified tax professional before acting.