Gold & Silver IRA at Cost: How a Self-Directed Precious-Metals IRA Works
You can hold physical gold and silver in a self-directed IRA — a custodian administers the account, an IRS-approved depository stores the metal, and only IRS-eligible bullion qualifies. At Cost Metals fills IRA orders at dealer cost, like any normal order, and works with any self-directed IRA custodian. Because rollovers are large, at-cost pricing can mean real savings — but the tax and eligibility calls belong to your custodian and a licensed advisor, not to us.
If you want part of your retirement in something real — physical metal you own, not a paper claim — a self-directed precious-metals IRA is a well-established way to do it. This page explains, in plain English, how the pieces fit together and where at cost makes the biggest difference. It is education, not advice: your custodian and a licensed tax professional make the decisions.
New to metals entirely? Start with Metals 101 and our guide to what "at cost" really means first, then come back.
What a precious-metals IRA actually is
A self-directed IRA is a retirement account that can hold alternative assets — including physical bullion — instead of only stocks and funds. The metal is real and yours; it's simply held inside the tax-advantaged wrapper of the IRA, under IRS rules. Three parties make it work.
The three pieces (custodian, depository, eligible products)
- The custodian administers the account, handles the paperwork, and reports to the IRS. You choose them. At Cost Metals works with any self-directed IRA custodian.
- The depository is the IRS-approved, insured facility where the metal is physically stored. IRA metal is not stored at home — home storage of IRA metal can disqualify the account.
- Eligible products are the specific coins and bars that meet IRS fineness standards. Not everything qualifies; confirm any specific item with your custodian.
How At Cost Metals fits — at cost
On the metal side, it's simple. At Cost Metals treats an IRA purchase as a normal transaction — the only difference is that it ships to the depository your custodian designates, with your IRA account number on the shipping paperwork. You get the same at-cost (near dealer) pricing across the eligible catalog. Your custodian handles the account mechanics; we keep the metal side honest and transparent.
Why "at cost" matters most on a rollover
Rollovers are often large — frequently tens of thousands of dollars. That's exactly where a marked-up IRA dealer costs you the most, and where at-cost pricing saves the most. The bigger the order, the bigger the gap. So do the one thing every honest metals buyer should do: price-check the exact products in real time against other IRA dealers. A real at-cost price sits at or below them. If it doesn't, you'll know.
What we will not do
We won't tell you whether to move your retirement money, how much, or which products to pick for your situation — that's the seat of your custodian and a licensed tax or financial professional. Precious metals carry market risk; prices move and you can lose money. What we will do is explain how the mechanism works and give you honest, at-cost pricing when you're ready.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — through a self-directed IRA. A custodian administers the account and an IRS-approved depository stores IRS-eligible bullion. At Cost Metals fills IRA orders like any normal order and works with any self-directed IRA custodian.
No. IRA metal must be stored at the IRS-approved depository your custodian designates — not at home. Home storage of IRA metal can disqualify the account. Confirm the rules with your custodian and a tax professional.
That's your choice. At Cost Metals works with any self-directed IRA custodian and treats the purchase as a normal transaction — the metal ships to the depository your custodian designates, with the IRA account number on the paperwork.
The IRS sets fineness standards and approves specific coins and bars — not everything qualifies. Confirm eligibility for any specific item with your custodian before buying. This is educational, not tax advice.
Rollovers are often large, so removing the per-item retail premium can mean substantial savings versus a marked-up IRA dealer. Price-check the exact products in real time to confirm. Metals still carry market risk.