Can I Store My Gold IRA at Home

Disclaimer: We are reader supported. We may be compensated from the links in this post, if you use product or services based on our recommendations. Please read our Advertising Disclosure.

 

The short answer to ” Can I store My gold IRA at Home” is a resounding NO!!!

The rest of the answer is in the body of the article below.

Here is a link to another article on the subject. Gold IRA Tax Rules

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a tax-advantaged investment account that is designed to help you save for retirement. There are several types of IRAs, including Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs. 

Gold has long been considered a valuable asset, with its value increasing over time. One way to invest in gold is through a precious metal IRA, also known as a gold IRA.

In this article, we will discuss gold IRAs, how to get them set up, and why home storage needs to be avoided at all costs.

What is a Precious Metals/Gold IRA?

A precious metal IRA, also known as a gold IRA, is a type of retirement account that allows investors to hold physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium as an investment. These assets are held in storage by a custodian, which can be a bank or other financial institution.

Investors can choose to hold a variety of precious metals in their IRA, including gold coins, gold bars, and gold bullion. The value of the precious metals in the IRA is based on their market value at the time of purchase.

One key difference between a traditional IRA and a precious metal IRA is that the latter allows for a wider range of investment options. While traditional IRAs are typically limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, precious metal IRAs allow investors to diversify their portfolio with tangible assets.

Get Your FREE Gold IRA Guide Here!

Why Invest in Gold?

There are several reasons why a Gold IRA may be the right choice for you. 

  • Gold has a long history of being a stable and reliable investment, and it can potentially provide a hedge against inflation and market volatility. 
  • Gold is a tangible asset that you can hold in your hand, which can be appealing to some investors who prefer to have physical ownership of their investments. 
  • Investing in a Gold IRA can add diversification to your retirement portfolio, which can help to reduce your overall risk.

Can You Setup a Home Storage Gold IRA?

You may be wondering if it is possible to store precious metals in your own home. While this may seem like a good idea, it is actually not recommended for one reason:

It’s not allowed. 

Technically, there is one way to get around this, but it is extremely complicated, and chances are, you won’t qualify. But assuming you meet all the requirements and want to risk heavy fines from the IRS, below are some benefits to home storage…

Benefits of Home Storage Gold IRA's

Why would you want to store your gold at home?

  • Flexibility: With a home storage gold IRA, investors have the option to store their precious metals at home or at a third-party storage facility. This allows investors to have greater control over their assets and the ability to access them more easily.
  • Cost Savings: Home storage gold IRAs typically have lower fees compared to traditional gold IRAs, which often charge storage and maintenance fees. By storing the precious metals at home, investors can save on these costs and potentially increase their overall return on investment.
  • Privacy: Some investors may prefer the added privacy and security of storing their precious metals at home. A home storage gold IRA allows investors to keep their assets out of the public eye and in a location, they feel is more secure.

On the surface, storing your gold at home may appear to be a feasible choice; however, there are many rigid IRS regulations that must be strictly adhered to if this type of account is chosen.

How to store you gold at home

There are a few different options to roll your 401(k) investment into a Gold IRA. If you leave or lose your job, you will have to determine what to do with your existing 401(k) funds. Many people choose to cash them out, which is not a wise decision based on the early withdrawal penalties and income taxes.

Alternatively, other options include maintaining separate 401(k) accounts from your old and new employer and paying double the maintenance fees or attempting to roll your old account into your new one. The preferred option may be simply to roll your existing funds into a Gold IRA.

Gold Safe

When rolling your 401(k) to a Gold IRA you can either choose an indirect rollover, which includes cashing out your existing funds and then depositing them into a Gold IRA. The funds need to hit the new Gold IRA account within 60 days to avoid taxes and penalties. The alternative would be a direct rollover, which is when the 401(k) custodian directly sends the funds to your new Gold IRA, bypassing any withdrawal issues.

It’s worth noting that if your 401(k) is through a government agency, additional steps will be required in the transfer process.

A few other requirements to qualify for home storage gold IRAs are:

In the unlikely chance that you meet all these requirements, it is still recommended to work with a financial professional and a reputable custodian when setting up this type of IRA to ensure compliance with IRS guidelines.

Augusta Precious Metals

Why You should not store your gold at home

  • Most “home storage delivery” options are outright scams. Since most people do not qualify for the IRS workarounds required to legally store precious metals at home, the only way to do so is through a third-party custodian. This can get expensive, leading many uninformed investors to seek out deceptive home storage options, not realizing that they do not qualify and that the promoters are likely taking advantage of them.
  • Huge Penalties. Assuming that the “home storage gold delivery” business you gave money to didn’t turn out to be a scam, you can face stiff penalties for violating the IRS rules. In addition to owing back taxes, you could be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty or even a 50% excise tax.
  • Lack of Security. Your home could be an easy target for burglars and other criminals, as it’s not as secure as a professional storage facility. Additionally, insurance and liability coverage may be limited or nonexistent when you store your gold at home. 
  • It’s Not Legal. Despite there being loopholes, in reality, most people will not be able to legally store their gold IRA assets at home. Don’t try it.
Goldco

How to Set Up a Traditional Gold IRA

Instead of risking it all with a home storage IRA, it’s in your best interest to set up a traditional gold IRA. Setting up a traditional gold IRA is a relatively simple process.

1) Choose a custodian

The first step in setting up a home storage gold IRA is to choose a custodian. A custodian is a financial institution that holds and manages the assets in the IRA. It is important to research and compare custodians to find one that is reputable and meets your needs.

Birch Gold Group

2) Open an account

Once you have chosen a custodian, you will need to open an account with them. This typically involves filling out an application and providing personal and financial information.

3) Fund the account

After the account is opened, you will need to fund it in order to make purchases. This can be done through a rollover from an existing IRA or by making a contribution.

4) Choose your investments

Once the account is funded, you can start choosing your investments. This involves purchasing precious metals, such as gold coins or bars, through the custodian.

Gold IRA

5) Store the investments

After you have purchased your precious metals, you will need to decide where to store them. You will need to store the metals at a third-party storage facility.

American Hartford Gold

Conclusion

Don’t try to store your gold at home. It’s an impossible task for most people and can lead to hefty penalties. Instead, set up a traditional gold IRA with the help of a qualified custodian. It is important to do thorough research and consider all your options before deciding on a gold IRA to ensure it meets your investment goals and needs.

If you’re looking to go ahead with the rollover process from a 401(k) to a Gold IRA, it’s recommended to work with one of the following companies:

Choosing the right company can be difficult, but with some due diligence and research, you can find the perfect fit for you and your investment opportunities. 

Get Your FREE Gold IRA Guide Here!

Our Gold IRA Company Recommendation​

We recommend Augusta Precious Metals as the top Gold IRA company to work with. 

Augusta Precious Metals has a highly trusted name in the gold investment industry, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, as well as a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance, and loads of reviews from satisfied customers.

They can help you move an existing registered plan into an IRA, as well as set up a new one. Augusta Precious Metals team members are always there to answer your questions and concerns, and to help you pick the right precious metals that will suit your needs. With your personal financial goals in mind, the Augusta Precious Metals team ensures a smooth and clear transfer process with no additional IRS fees.

Augusta Precious Metals offers a wide variety of precious metals so that you can diversify your portfolio with a selection of gold and silver bars and coins. As you work your way towards retirement, continue to add to your IRA each year to grow your wealth.

We are confident that you’ll choose Augusta Precious Metals as your top pick as well. Visit the Augusta Precious Metals website today and fill out their application form to begin the process in setting up your IRA. You’ll be happy you did!

For more on this subject see Gold IRA Tax Rules

Augusta Precious Metals

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A Gold IRA is an example of a Self-Directed IRA. Self-Directed IRA’s were designed to give individuals more freedom in the selection of investments that they could hold in their retirement account. A Gold IRA is unique to precious metals, where the investor/individual has the ability to hold gold, silver, and other precious metals such a platinum and palladium in their account rather than being limited to traditional stocks and bonds.

By holding precious metal investments in a Gold IRA, this gives the ability for individuals to make their portfolio more diverse and prepare themselves for future financial success. Having a diversified portfolio makes for a better chance to survive a stock market crash and still have some of your funds held in other categories, such as gold.

There are various options when it comes to investing in gold. One option is to purchase gold coins or bars from a local retail shop or gold investment company. You may then hold the metals until you are satisfied with their growth, ready for retirement, or need them for another expense. 

Another option to invest in gold is by setting up a Gold IRA. These are a form of a Self-Directed IRA, only your funds can be held in gold rather than stocks and bonds. This is a good way to invest in precious metals without worrying as much about taxes.

Depending on your age, current financial position, and personal preferences, the answer to this question will vary per person. If you are coming up on retirement, you’ll want to take fewer investment risks and may not want a large portion of your money in gold. If you’re still young and have more time to take greater investment risks, you may want a larger percentage of your portfolio invested into gold. 

The value of a gold coin increases as the value of spot gold increases. The number that is printed on each gold coin (known as the face-value) is not an accurate reflection of its true valuation. In fact, its value is likely much higher than the face-value based on the current price of gold today.

Like many investments, it is optimal to buy at a low value. Generally speaking, when the stock market is over-performing, the value of gold is at a much lower amount. Gold also follows some trends such as a decrease in certain months of the year, including January, March, and April.

It is always a good idea to seek out a financial advisor to help discuss the best options for your current situation. This way you can shift your investments based on what makes the most sense for your financial goals, and the current economy.