Published Fee Schedule · Verified · June 2026
Birch Gold Group publicly lists $50 for account setup, $30 for a wire transfer, and $235 per year in annual fees ($110 storage/insurance + $125 management). That annual fee is stated as flat regardless of account size. If your account uses International Depository Services (IDS), a separate tiered depository fee also applies, ranging from 0.65% to 0.30% by account value. Always request an itemized invoice for your exact account structure.
Birch publicly lists a simple schedule for many precious-metals IRA customers. Birch also states that for the cited schedule, the annual fee is flat — not a percentage of assets.
| Fee type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Account setup fee | $50 |
| Wire transfer fee | $30 |
| Fee type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Storage/insurance | $110 |
| Management fees | $125 |
| Total annual fee | $235 |
If your account uses Birch’s International Depository Services (IDS) option, Birch publishes a separate tiered depository fee based on account value. These rates range from 0.65% down to 0.30%.
| Account value | IDS fee rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $250,000 | 0.65% |
| $250,000.01 – $500,000 | 0.40% |
| $500,000.01 – $2,500,000 | 0.35% |
| $2,500,000.01 – $5,000,000 | 0.30% |
On a $200,000 IDS account, the 0.65% fee equals $1,300/yr— more than five times the flat $235 standard annual fee. That is why “Birch Gold Group fees” is not always one number.
Birch’s published fees are real, but they may not capture every cost tied to your account. Think about it in five buckets:
That is the difference between a headline fee and a true ownership cost.
With a precious-metals IRA, the IRS rules can matter just as much as the fee schedule. Under IRS collectibles guidance and Publication 590-B, if the account holds ineligible collectibles, the amount invested can be treated as a distribution in the year invested — triggering ordinary income tax and potentially a 10% additional tax for those under 59½.
The IRS also says the custodian or trustee must possess the coins. If the owner or beneficiary takes possession, the coins are treated as distributed. Before comparing Birch Gold Group fees to another provider, confirm the exact metals are IRA-eligible, the custodian maintains possession, and the arrangement matches IRS custody rules.
As one example from another custodian, Equity Trust lists $110 annual fee for non-segregated storage and $160 for segregated storage. This is only an industry comparison point — it does not reflect Birch’s pricing or its chosen custodian/depository. Request the storage type and associated pricing for your Birch account in writing.
A Gold IRA fee comparison is only useful if you compare the same storage setup. If Birch or its custodian uses a different storage method for your account, your real cost can differ from the published headline number.
Use this checklist before funding to build a complete picture:
| Cost item | Birch published (standard) | Your account (request) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | $50 | _____ |
| Wire fee | $30 | _____ |
| Annual management | $125 | _____ |
| Annual storage/insurance | $110 | _____ |
| IDS depository (if applicable) | 0.30%–0.65% of value | _____ |
| Metal premium over spot | Varies | _____ |
| Buyback spread at exit | Varies | _____ |
Birch Gold Group publicly lists a $50 account setup fee, $30 wire transfer fee, $110 annual storage/insurance, and $125 annual management fee — totaling $235 per year. Birch states this annual fee is flat regardless of account size for the standard schedule. For accounts using IDS (International Depository Services), a separate tiered depository fee applies: 0.65% up to $250,000, 0.40% for $250,000–$500,000, 0.35% for $500,000–$2.5M, and 0.30% for $2.5M–$5M.
Birch states that for transfers over $50,000, it will pay the first year's fees. This can reduce first-year cost, but you should confirm in writing which specific fees are included and whether any additional depository or storage charges still apply under your exact account structure.
Under IRC §408(m), IRAs generally cannot hold collectibles. If an IRA acquires a collectible, the amount invested is treated as a distribution in the year acquired, which is taxable as ordinary income and may carry a 10% additional tax for those under 59½. Certain gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion are excepted when they meet IRS fineness rules and are held by an IRS-approved custodian. The custodian must possess the coins — personal possession triggers a deemed distribution.
The standard Birch schedule ($235/yr) is flat regardless of account size. The IDS tiered depository fee is a separate component that applies when the account uses International Depository Services, ranging from 0.65% (under $250K) to 0.30% ($2.5M–$5M) of account value. Request an itemized invoice showing which annual line items apply to your IDS arrangement, since the flat and tiered components may overlap or replace each other depending on your custody structure.
Storage type (segregated vs. non-segregated) can change annual costs. As an illustrative example from another custodian, Equity Trust lists $110/yr for non-segregated storage and $160/yr for segregated storage. Birch's pricing depends on which custodian and depository they use for your account. Always request the storage type and associated pricing in writing before funding.