Gold IRA Fees (2026): What You’ll Really Pay, Company by Company
Gold IRA fees are simpler than they look: a one-time setup fee, a yearly storage fee, a yearly custodian or management fee, and the dealer’s markup on the metal itself. Here’s what each costs, what four major companies actually charge, and how to keep the total down.
The short answer
- Setup: about $50, one time.
- Every year: about $225 to $275 for storage and account management, based on the fees Birch Gold and Goldco publish.
- The biggest cost is usually the dealer’s markup over the spot price, which isn’t in any fee table. Ask for it on every product.
- Flat fees favor larger accounts: $225 a year is 0.45% of $50,000 but under 0.1% of $250,000.
Every Gold IRA fee, explained
Fees come from three places: the custodian that administers the IRA, the depository that stores the metal, and the dealer that sells it.
Account setup fee
Charged by the custodian to open the self-directed IRA. Birch Gold and Goldco both list $50.
Custodian or management fee
Covers account administration and IRS reporting. Birch Gold lists $125; Goldco lists $125 on its cost page and about $80 in its FAQ. Augusta charges no management fee of its own.
Storage and insurance
Paid to the IRS-approved depository. Goldco lists $100 for non-segregated and $150 for segregated storage; Birch Gold lists $110.
Wire or transfer fee
Some companies charge to wire funds. Birch Gold lists $30. Ask about it, plus any fee your old 401(k) or IRA charges to transfer out.
Dealer spread (markup)
The difference between the price you pay and the metal’s spot price. It isn’t a line on your statement, but it’s often the largest cost. More below.
Buyback or liquidation fee
Some companies charge nothing to sell back. American Hartford Gold and Goldco both say they charge no liquidation fees. Ask how the buyback price is set.
Gold IRA fees by company
Here’s what four established Gold IRA companies say about their fees, taken from their own websites.
| Company | Setup | Yearly fees | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals | $50 | $235 ($125 custodian + $110 storage), paid by Augusta for up to 10 years; no management fee | $50,000 |
| Birch Gold Group | $50 + $30 wire | $235 ($110 storage + $125 management) | About $5,000 |
| Goldco | $50 | $225 non-segregated or $275 segregated | $25,000 |
| American Hartford Gold | May apply | Varies by account size; storage may be free depending on your situation | $10,000 |
Sources: Augusta FAQ, Birch Gold Gold IRA page, Goldco cost page, American Hartford Gold FAQ. Checked September 2026. Fees change, so get a written schedule before you fund any account. Full side-by-side details are in our best Gold IRA companies comparison. Company guides: Augusta fees and minimum, Birch Gold Group and Goldco.
What Gold IRA fees cost on your balance
Most yearly Gold IRA fees are flat dollar amounts, not a percentage. That means the larger your account, the smaller the fees are as a share of it. Enter your amount to see the math.
Flat-fee calculator
Based on the flat fees Birch Gold and Goldco publish. Doesn’t include the dealer spread, and assumes fees stay the same. Your company’s written quote is what counts.
| Amount moved | $225 a year is | $275 a year is |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 0.90% a year | 1.10% a year |
| $50,000 | 0.45% a year | 0.55% a year |
| $100,000 | 0.23% a year | 0.28% a year |
| $250,000 | 0.09% a year | 0.11% a year |
The hidden Gold IRA cost: the dealer spread
The spread is the gap between what you pay for a coin or bar and the metal’s spot price. It isn’t billed as a fee, so it never shows up on a fee schedule, but on a large purchase it can be worth more than years of storage fees.
At the extreme, the CFTC warns that scam dealers have charged spreads of 30 to 300 percent or more, and describes one case where a $300,000 rollover generated about $150,000 in commissions and fees. Legitimate dealers charge far less, but spreads still vary a lot by product. Collectible and “semi-numismatic” coins, a term the CFTC calls made up, generally carry much higher markups than standard bullion.
How to check it: before you approve an order, ask for the spot price at that moment and the price you’ll pay for each product, in writing. Divide the difference by the spot value to see the markup, and ask what the company would pay you if you sold it back the same day. More warning signs are in our Gold IRA scam red flags guide.
Source: CFTC and FINRA, 10 Things to Ask Before Buying Physical Gold, Silver, or Other Metals; CFTC, Precious Metal Frauds.
Gold IRA fee waivers and promotions
Several companies offset fees on larger accounts. Compare the total cost after the promotion, not the promotion itself.
Augusta Precious Metals
No management fee on the IRA, and Augusta covers shipping and insurance on qualifying orders until the metal reaches the depository.
Birch Gold Group
Pays the first year’s fees on new accounts over $50,000.
Goldco
Advertises up to 10% in bonus silver on qualifying orders: 5% on $50,000 to $99,999 and 10% on $100,000 or more.
Read our full Goldco review: fees, minimum, buyback terms and complaint record.
American Hartford Gold
Says storage may be free depending on your situation, and that you’ll be told every cost before you buy.
7 ways to lower your Gold IRA fees
- Get every fee in writing first. Setup, custodian, storage, wire, and any transfer-out fee, before you fund anything.
- Ask for the price over spot on each product. The spread usually outweighs the yearly fees, so compare it across companies.
- Choose standard bullion over collectible coins. Bullion generally carries a lower markup and is easier to sell.
- Consider non-segregated storage. At Goldco, it’s $100 a year instead of $150. Your metal is still insured at an IRS-approved depository.
- Consolidate into one account. Flat fees are charged per account, so two small Gold IRAs cost more than one larger one.
- Use a direct rollover. A check made out to you triggers 20% withholding from an employer plan. See our Gold IRA rollover guide.
- Ask about waivers at your balance. First-year fee waivers and covered shipping are common on larger accounts.
One cost to plan for: starting at age 73, you generally must take required minimum distributions from a traditional Gold IRA, which can mean selling metal or taking it in kind. Roth IRAs have no RMDs while the owner is alive. See the IRS RMD FAQs.
Lowest ongoing management cost for larger accounts
Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta doesn’t charge a management fee on the IRA itself, covers shipping and insurance on qualifying orders, and quotes the custodian and depository fees for your account before you fund anything. Its free education session comes before any purchase, and it’s been A+ with the BBB since 2015.
Get Augusta’s Free Gold IRA GuideFor accounts of $50,000 or more. Ask for the full fee schedule in writing, as you should with any company.
Moving less? See our picks by amount.
Gold IRA fees: frequently asked questions
How much does a Gold IRA cost per year?
Based on the fees Birch Gold and Goldco publish, most Gold IRAs cost about $225 to $275 a year for storage and account management, plus a one-time setup fee of about $50. The dealer’s markup on the metal is a separate cost and is often the largest one.
What fees does a Gold IRA charge?
The usual fees are a one-time account setup fee, a yearly custodian or management fee, a yearly storage and insurance fee, sometimes a wire or transfer fee, and the dealer spread, which is the markup over the spot price. Some companies also charge to sell metal back, while others say they charge no liquidation fees.
Are Gold IRA fees higher than a regular IRA?
Usually yes. A regular IRA at a brokerage often has no yearly account fee, while a Gold IRA pays for physical storage and a specialized custodian. Because most Gold IRA fees are flat, they matter less as a percentage on larger accounts.
Which Gold IRA company has the lowest fees?
It depends on your balance. Birch Gold and Goldco publish yearly fees of about $225 to $235 with non-segregated storage. Augusta Precious Metals charges no management fee of its own, lists $235 a year in custodian and storage fees, and says it pays them for up to 10 years on every account. Also compare the price over spot, which can outweigh the yearly fees.
Is segregated storage worth the extra cost?
Segregated storage keeps your exact bars and coins separate under your name. At Goldco it costs $150 a year versus $100 for non-segregated storage. Both are held at insured, IRS-approved depositories, so the choice mostly comes down to whether the exact items matter to you.
What is the spread on a Gold IRA?
The spread is the difference between what you pay for a coin or bar and the metal’s spot price. It is not listed as a fee, but it is often the biggest cost. The CFTC warns that scam dealers have charged spreads of 30 to 300 percent or more, so ask for the price over spot in writing on every product.
Are Gold IRA fees tax deductible?
Rules on deducting IRA fees are limited and depend on how the fees are paid and your tax situation. Ask a tax professional before assuming any Gold IRA fee is deductible.
Can Gold IRA fees be waived?
Sometimes. Birch Gold pays the first year’s fees on new accounts over $50,000, Augusta covers shipping and insurance on qualifying orders, and American Hartford Gold says storage may be free depending on your situation. Waivers usually depend on account size.
Do I pay fees when I sell my Gold IRA metals?
It depends on the company. American Hartford Gold and Goldco both say they charge no liquidation fees. Whatever the fee, the price you are offered relative to spot matters more, so ask how the buyback price is calculated before you buy.
Do Gold IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Yes, traditional Gold IRAs do. The IRS says you generally must start taking required minimum distributions at age 73, which can mean selling metal or taking it in kind. Roth IRAs have no RMDs while the owner is alive.
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Written by Michael Lehman for Plain Talk Retirement, based on each company’s published terms, CFTC and FINRA guidance, and IRS rules, checked September 2026. Spot a figure that has changed? Let us know.
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