What is the biggest fee in a gold or silver IRA?

For most accounts, annual storage fees and custodian fees are the largest recurring costs. For percentage-based models, storage fees grow with account value and can become the dominant expense for large accounts.

Are precious metals IRA fees tax-deductible?

IRA administrative fees paid from personal funds (not from the IRA itself) may be deductible as an investment expense in some situations. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the miscellaneous itemized deduction through 2025, and the deductibility for subsequent years depends on current tax law. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Can I pay IRA fees from outside the account?

Some custodians allow you to pay annual fees from a personal bank account rather than from IRA funds. Paying from outside the IRA preserves more of your metals for growth. Ask your custodian about this option during account setup.

Do all custodians charge the same fees?

No. Fee structures vary significantly across custodians. Some charge flat fees, others use percentage-based models, and some bundle fees in ways that make direct comparison difficult. Always request a complete fee schedule before opening an account.

Are there hidden fees in precious metals IRAs?

Legitimate custodians disclose all fees. However, some less scrupulous operations may obscure costs by bundling them into inflated product premiums charged by a captive dealer. Always compare the total cost of ownership—custodian fees plus dealer premiums—not just one component. Our IRA mistakes guide covers this in detail.

How do storage fees for gold compare to silver?

Silver is bulkier than gold for the same dollar value, so percentage-based storage fees cost the same, but flat-fee storage may cost more for silver because it takes up more physical space. Some depositories charge per-unit storage for silver that exceeds a certain number of ounces.

What fees do I pay when I take a distribution?

Cash distributions may incur a liquidation or selling fee plus a wire transfer fee. In-kind (physical delivery) distributions involve shipping and insurance costs. Our distributions guide covers all distribution-related fees and options.

Is it cheaper to hold gold in a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA?

The custodian and storage fees are typically the same regardless of account type. The cost difference lies in tax treatment: Traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible but distributions are taxed as income; Roth contributions are after-tax but qualified distributions are tax-free. The better choice depends on your current vs. expected future tax bracket.

Gold and Silver IRA Fees: A Complete Breakdown of What to Expect

Gold and silver IRA fees are one of the most frequently asked-about topics among investors considering a precious metals retirement account. Unlike a standard brokerage IRA where fees may be minimal or even zero, a self-directed precious metals IRA involves multiple service providers—each with its own fee structure. Understanding every cost component before you open an account is critical to making an informed decision and avoiding unpleasant surprises. This guide breaks down every fee you can expect, explains how they compare to traditional IRAs and provides strategies to minimize your total costs when investing in gold and silver for retirement.

Why Precious Metals IRAs Have More Fees

A traditional brokerage IRA holds electronic assets—stocks, bonds, mutual funds—that require no physical handling or storage. A precious metals IRA holds tangible bars and coins that must be purchased from a dealer, shipped via insured carrier, received and inventoried at a secure depository, stored under regulatory compliance, insured against loss, and eventually liquidated or physically distributed. Each of these steps involves real-world logistics and costs that do not exist in the digital brokerage world.

The key is not to avoid fees altogether—that is not realistic—but to understand them clearly so you can compare custodians and depositories on an apples-to-apples basis.

Fee Category 1: Account Setup Fee

Most custodians charge a one-time fee to establish your precious metals IRA. This covers the administrative work of opening the account, setting up your profile, and initiating the funding process.

Typical range: $0 to $150.
What to watch for: Some custodians waive the setup fee as a promotional incentive or for accounts above a certain size. Confirm whether the waiver is conditional on maintaining the account for a minimum period.

Fee Category 2: Annual Custodian/Administration Fee

The annual custodian fee covers ongoing account administration, IRS reporting, statement generation and customer service. This is the custodian's primary recurring revenue from your account.

Typical range: $75 to $300 per year.
Structure variations: Some custodians charge a flat annual fee regardless of account size. Others use a tiered or sliding-scale model where the fee increases with the account balance. A flat fee is generally more favorable for larger accounts, while a percentage-based fee may be cheaper for smaller accounts.
What to watch for: Custodians that advertise very low annual fees may compensate with higher transaction fees or by requiring you to use a preferred dealer with inflated product premiums.

Fee Category 3: Storage Fees

Storage fees are paid to the depository that physically holds your metals. They are often collected by the custodian on the depository's behalf and may appear as a single line item on your annual statement.

Segregated vs. Commingled Storage

Commingled (allocated) storage – Your metals are stored alongside other clients' metals of the same type. You own a specific quantity, but your items are not individually separated. Fees are lower.
Segregated storage – Your specific coins and bars are stored separately in individually labeled containers. You receive the exact items you deposited upon withdrawal. Fees are higher because of the additional space and handling required.

Typical ranges:

Commingled: $100 to $150 per year (flat) or 0.3% to 0.5% of stored value.
Segregated: $150 to $300 per year (flat) or 0.5% to 1% of stored value.

For larger accounts, a flat-fee storage model saves money compared to a percentage-based model. Ask your custodian which depositories they work with and request the full storage fee schedule for each. Our IRA storage rules guide explains the regulatory requirements behind depository storage.

Fee Category 4: Transaction Fees

Transaction fees apply when you buy or sell metals within your IRA. They compensate the custodian for processing the trade, coordinating with the dealer and updating account records.

Typical range: $0 to $50 per transaction, or a small percentage of the transaction value.
What to watch for: Frequent traders will pay more in transaction fees. If you plan to make regular purchases through dollar-cost averaging, choose a custodian with low or flat transaction fees. Some custodians bundle transaction fees into higher annual fees, making occasional trades effectively free.

Fee Category 5: Wire Transfer Fees

When your custodian sends funds to a dealer to purchase metals or sends cash distributions to you, they may charge a wire transfer fee.

Typical range: $25 to $50 per outgoing wire.
Minimizing this cost: Consolidate purchases to reduce the number of wires. Some custodians offer ACH transfers at lower cost or no charge.

Fee Category 6: Account Closing or Transfer Fee

If you decide to close your precious metals IRA or transfer it to a different custodian, a termination or transfer fee may apply.

Typical range: $0 to $250.
What to watch for: High closing fees can effectively lock you in with a custodian. Before opening an account, understand the exit costs so you are not trapped if the custodian's service deteriorates or better options emerge.

Fee Category 7: Miscellaneous Fees

Depending on the custodian, you may encounter additional charges such as:

Shipping and insurance for in-kind distributions – $30 to $100+ depending on value and weight.
Returned check or failed payment fees.
Expedited processing fees for rush transactions.
Account inactivity fees in rare cases.

Total Annual Cost Estimate

For a typical precious metals IRA with $50,000 in gold and silver using segregated storage, approximate annual costs might look like this:

Fee Type	Estimated Cost
Annual custodian fee	$100 – $200
Annual storage fee (segregated)	$150 – $300
Transaction fees (2 trades/year)	$0 – $100
Wire transfer fees (2/year)	$50 – $100
Total estimated annual cost	$300 – $700

As account size grows, percentage-based fees increase proportionally while flat fees remain constant. This is why understanding whether your custodian and depository use flat or percentage-based models is so important for long-term cost planning.

How Precious Metals IRA Fees Compare to Traditional IRAs

Traditional brokerage IRAs have seen a race to zero in recent years, with many providers charging no account fees and offering commission-free stock and ETF trades. By comparison, precious metals IRA fees are notably higher. However, the comparison is not entirely apples-to-apples:

Physical metals provide no counterparty risk—no corporate bankruptcy can erase your gold bar. That security has a cost.
Physical metals require real-world logistics that electronic assets do not.
Many investors who add a precious metals IRA maintain their existing brokerage IRA as well, treating the metals as a complementary allocation rather than a full replacement.

The question is not whether a precious metals IRA costs more than a brokerage IRA—it does. The question is whether the diversification, inflation protection and tangible-asset benefits justify the additional cost for your specific financial plan.

Strategies to Minimize Precious Metals IRA Fees

Choose flat-fee custodians for larger accounts. If you plan to hold $50,000 or more, a flat annual fee is almost always cheaper than a percentage-based model.
Consolidate purchases. Making fewer, larger transactions reduces per-trade and wire fees.
Compare custodians rigorously. Use our custodian comparison guide to evaluate total costs, not just individual fee categories.
Negotiate. Some custodians will waive or reduce fees for larger accounts or long-term commitments.
Consider commingled storage if the cost savings outweigh your preference for segregated storage.
Avoid unnecessary trading. A buy-and-hold strategy minimizes transaction fees and aligns with precious metals' strengths as a long-term store of value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest fee in a gold or silver IRA?: For most accounts, annual storage fees and custodian fees are the largest recurring costs. For percentage-based models, storage fees grow with account value and can become the dominant expense for large accounts.
Are precious metals IRA fees tax-deductible?: IRA administrative fees paid from personal funds (not from the IRA itself) may be deductible as an investment expense in some situations. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the miscellaneous itemized deduction through 2025, and the deductibility for subsequent years depends on current tax law. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Can I pay IRA fees from outside the account?: Some custodians allow you to pay annual fees from a personal bank account rather than from IRA funds. Paying from outside the IRA preserves more of your metals for growth. Ask your custodian about this option during account setup.
Do all custodians charge the same fees?: No. Fee structures vary significantly across custodians. Some charge flat fees, others use percentage-based models, and some bundle fees in ways that make direct comparison difficult. Always request a complete fee schedule before opening an account.
Are there hidden fees in precious metals IRAs?: Legitimate custodians disclose all fees. However, some less scrupulous operations may obscure costs by bundling them into inflated product premiums charged by a captive dealer. Always compare the total cost of ownership—custodian fees plus dealer premiums—not just one component. Our IRA mistakes guide covers this in detail.
How do storage fees for gold compare to silver?: Silver is bulkier than gold for the same dollar value, so percentage-based storage fees cost the same, but flat-fee storage may cost more for silver because it takes up more physical space. Some depositories charge per-unit storage for silver that exceeds a certain number of ounces.
What fees do I pay when I take a distribution?: Cash distributions may incur a liquidation or selling fee plus a wire transfer fee. In-kind (physical delivery) distributions involve shipping and insurance costs. Our distributions guide covers all distribution-related fees and options.
Is it cheaper to hold gold in a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA?: The custodian and storage fees are typically the same regardless of account type. The cost difference lies in tax treatment: Traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible but distributions are taxed as income; Roth contributions are after-tax but qualified distributions are tax-free. The better choice depends on your current vs. expected future tax bracket.

Invest Wisely With Full Fee Transparency

Understanding the complete fee landscape empowers you to choose the most cost-effective custodian and storage arrangement for your precious metals IRA. Do not let fees deter you from an allocation that could protect your retirement portfolio—just ensure you are paying fair, transparent prices for quality service. Explore MintBuilder's gold products and silver products for competitively priced, IRA-eligible metals, and pair your purchase with a custodian selected using our custodian guide. For a complete overview of setting up your account, start with our comprehensive gold IRA guide or review our 401(k) rollover guide.