Augusta Precious Metals Roth IRA (2026): How a Roth Gold IRA Works
An Augusta Precious Metals Roth IRA is a self-directed Roth IRA, held at Equity Trust, that owns physical gold or silver bought through Augusta. The tax rules are the ordinary Roth rules: no deduction going in, no tax on qualified withdrawals coming out, and no required minimum distributions during your lifetime. That last point matters more for metal than for stocks, because nobody can force you to sell coins at a bad price to meet an RMD. This guide covers the 2026 limits, the five-year rule, rollovers, conversions and what Augusta charges.
Augusta Precious Metals Roth IRA vs a traditional gold IRA
The metal, the custodian and the depository are the same in both. Only the tax treatment changes.
| Rule | Roth gold IRA | Traditional gold IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Tax on contributions | Made with after-tax money; no deduction | May be deductible |
| Tax on qualified withdrawals | None | Taxed as income |
| RMDs during your lifetime | None | Start at 73 |
| Taking coins out in kind | Tax-free if the distribution is qualified | Counts as taxable income |
| 2026 contribution limit | $7,500 ($8,600 if 50+), shared across all IRAs | Same shared limit |
| Income limit to contribute | Phases out at $153,000 to $168,000 single; $242,000 to $252,000 joint | None to contribute |
Sources: IRS, Roth IRAs; IRS, IR-2025-111 (2026 limits); IRS, year-end RMD reminder. A qualified Roth distribution generally requires age 59½ and the five-year rule below.
Three ways to fund a Roth gold IRA
Augusta's $50,000 minimum is far above the yearly contribution limit, so in practice almost nobody opens a Roth gold IRA with new contributions alone. Most accounts are funded in one of these ways.
- Transfer an existing Roth IRA. The simplest route. Your current custodian sends the money to Equity Trust, custodian to custodian, with no tax and no yearly limit on transfers. Augusta says Roth money can be moved this way without extra taxes or penalties when it is done correctly.
- Roll over a Roth 401(k), Roth 403(b) or governmental Roth 457(b). Usually after you leave the employer. Ask the plan for a direct rollover to Equity Trust. One catch: years in the Roth 401(k) do not count toward the Roth IRA five-year clock, so if this is your first Roth IRA, a new clock starts.
- Convert traditional IRA money. You can convert, but the converted amount is normally taxable income that year, and since 2018 a conversion cannot be undone. More on the math below.
Whichever route you use, Roth money must go into a separate account designated as a Roth IRA. If you also have traditional money to move, that becomes a second gold IRA. Ask Augusta whether its fee offer applies to each account.
Sources: Augusta FAQ; IRS, Roth IRAs; IRS Publication 590-A; Kitces, the two Roth five-year rules (citing Treas. Reg. 1.408A-10). See also our Augusta rollover guide.
2026 Roth IRA contribution limits
| Limit | 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution limit | $7,500 | Shared by all your traditional and Roth IRAs |
| Catch-up, age 50+ | $1,100 | Total $8,600 |
| Roth phase-out, single or head of household | $153,000 to $168,000 | Above the top, no direct Roth contribution |
| Roth phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 | Same rule |
Once the account is open, you can add yearly contributions to it, up to these limits. Each new purchase of metal is a separate order, so ask Augusta whether it has a minimum for additional purchases.
Source: IRS, IR-2025-111, Nov. 13, 2025.
The Roth five-year rule, in plain English
Earnings come out of a Roth IRA tax-free only when the withdrawal is qualified: you are 59½ or older (or another exception applies, such as disability or death) and five tax years have passed since your first Roth IRA contribution.
- The clock starts on January 1 of the year you first put money into any Roth IRA, and it covers all your Roth IRAs. Moving an old Roth IRA to Augusta does not restart it.
- A Roth 401(k) clock does not carry over. If you roll a Roth 401(k) into your first Roth IRA, a new five-year period begins.
- Your contributions come out first. The IRS ordering rule treats withdrawals as contributions first, then earnings, so your own contributions can generally come out without tax.
- Each conversion has its own five-year period for the 10% early-withdrawal penalty if you are under 59½.
For most people buying a gold IRA in their 50s or 60s, the practical point is simple: if you have had a Roth IRA open for five years or more, moving it to Augusta does not change your status.
Sources: IRS, Ten differences between a Roth IRA and a designated Roth account; Kitces, the two Roth five-year rules.
Should you convert to a Roth gold IRA?
Converting traditional IRA money to a Roth means paying income tax now so that later withdrawals are tax-free. The IRS says the converted amount is normally included in your income for the year you convert, and that conversions made after 2017 cannot be recharacterized, so the decision is final.
Hypothetical example: you convert $50,000 from a traditional IRA. If that whole amount were taxed at a 22% rate, the tax bill would be $11,000 for that year. Paying it from savings outside the IRA keeps the full $50,000 working inside the Roth. Your real rate depends on your other income and your state; this is only an illustration.
Why people consider it for metal in particular: no lifetime RMDs means no forced sales, and qualified withdrawals, including coins taken out in kind, are tax-free.
This is a tax decision first and a gold decision second. Run the numbers with a tax professional before you ask any dealer to convert anything.
Source: IRS Publication 590-A. Example calculation is ours.
What a Roth gold IRA costs at Augusta
The fees are the same as for a traditional gold IRA: a $50 setup fee, then $125 a year to the custodian and $110 a year for storage, and Augusta says it may pay those yearly fees for up to 10 years on qualifying accounts. Augusta charges no management fee of its own. The minimum is $50,000, and rolled-over or transferred Roth money counts toward it.
The bigger cost is the spread on the metal. Ask for the price per coin and the spot price on the same quote. Our Augusta fees and minimum guide has the full breakdown, and our Augusta buyback guide explains how you get money out later.
Source: Augusta FAQ. Checked October 2026.
Augusta Roth IRA: frequently asked questions
Does Augusta Precious Metals offer a Roth IRA?
Yes. Augusta says metals in a self-directed IRA can grow tax-free in the case of a Roth IRA, and that Roth money can be moved into a gold IRA by rollover or transfer without extra taxes or penalties when it is done correctly. The account is held by a custodian, Equity Trust, with Augusta as the dealer.
Can I put my Roth and traditional money in the same gold IRA?
No. The IRS says an account must be designated as a Roth IRA when it is set up, so Roth money goes into a separate Roth gold IRA. Mixing the two can create tax problems.
How much can I contribute to a Roth gold IRA in 2026?
The 2026 IRA limit is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you are 50 or older. That limit is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs, and Roth contributions phase out between $153,000 and $168,000 of income for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Does a Roth gold IRA have required minimum distributions?
No. Roth IRA owners do not have to take RMDs during their lifetime, so you are never forced to sell metal to meet one. Beneficiaries do have distribution rules after the owner dies.
Can I roll a Roth 401(k) into an Augusta Roth gold IRA?
Yes, a Roth 401(k) can be rolled into a Roth IRA. Note that years in the Roth 401(k) do not count toward the Roth IRA five-year clock, so if this is your first Roth IRA, a new five-year period starts.
Is converting a traditional IRA to a Roth gold IRA taxable?
Yes. The IRS says amounts converted from a traditional IRA are normally included in your income for the year of the conversion, and conversions made after 2017 cannot be undone. Talk to a tax professional before converting.
Start with the kit, then the tax question
If you have $50,000 or more in a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k), Augusta's free kit explains the account, fees and storage before any sales call. If you are thinking of converting, talk to a tax professional first.
Get the Free Gold IRA Info KitFor balances of $50,000 or more.
Or read our full Augusta Precious Metals review