Storage & Custody · 2026
IRS Approved Gold Depositories: The 2026 Verified List, Rules, and Storage Checklist
We may earn compensation when readers contact certain Gold IRA companies through our links. Compensation does not change which depositories appear here, how we describe them, or the IRS rules we explain. All depository and regulatory facts are sourced from primary sources cited inline. How we make money.
Here’s the truth about “IRS approved gold depositories” that almost no sales rep will tell you: the IRS doesn’t publish a list of approved depositories. What it publishes — at irs.gov — is a list of approved nonbank trustees and custodiansunder Treasury Regulation 1.408-2(e). Under Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m), your Gold IRA’s metals must be in the “physical possession” of a bank or IRS-approved nonbank trustee. The depository is where the trustee stores the metal — it’s a storage vendor, not an IRS-approved entity in its own right.
Quick reference — most-used Gold IRA storage facilities
| Depository | IRA Storage Location(s) | Insurance (publicly disclosed) | Commonly Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Depository (DDSC) | Wilmington, DE; Boulder City, NV | Lloyd's of London, $1B all-risk | Augusta, Goldco, Birch Gold, others |
| Brink's Global Services USA | LA, NYC, Salt Lake City (varies by custodian) | All-risk insured (verify per account) | Goldco, Birch Gold, AHG, others |
| Texas Bullion Depository | Leander, TX | All-risk insured + state oversight | Equity Trust–affiliated providers |
| IDS of Delaware / IDS of Texas | New Castle, DE; Dallas, TX | All-risk insured | Noble Gold, Birch Gold, others |
| CNT Depository | Bridgewater, MA | Lloyd's of London | Select custodians |
Not sure where to start?
Take our 60-second matching tool to see which next step fits your situation. We’ll match you with the right type of retirement professional — including verified Gold IRA companies that use the depositories on this page.
Get my matching results →Legal framework first
What “IRS Approved Gold Depositories” Actually Means (and Why the Phrase Is Misleading)
“IRS approved gold depositories” is industry shorthand, not a clean legal category.The IRS publishes a list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians at irs.gov. Some self-directed IRA custodians are on that list. Others are state-chartered trust companies that qualify under the broader “bank” definition in IRC 408(n). The depository is the storage facility your trustee or custodian uses — it’s a vendor under that custody arrangement.
Most Gold IRA buyers don’t realize three separate companies are involved in their account. The sales rep calls the whole package “IRS approved,” but each entity does something different:
| The Three Parties | What They Do | What They Don’t Do |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer (Augusta, Goldco, Birch, Noble, etc.) | Sells you the bullion, helps set up the account, coordinates between custodian and depository | Does not legally administer your IRA. Does not receive IRS approval as a trustee. |
| Custodian / Trustee (Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, Kingdom Trust, GoldStar Trust, Lone Star Tangible Assets, banks, etc.) | Holds the account legally, files IRS paperwork (Form 5498, Form 1099-R), processes transactions | Does not physically hold the metal. Must be a bank, federally insured credit union, state-supervised trust company, or IRS-approved nonbank trustee. |
| Depository (Delaware, Brink's, TxBD, IDS, CNT) | Stores the physical metal in a vault, audits inventory, ships on instruction | Doesn't decide whether the investment is right for you. Operates under the custodian's authority. |
When a sales rep says “we’re IRS approved”
What they almost always mean is: the custodian we use qualifies as a trustee under IRC 408, and the depository they use meets the physical possession requirement. Both of those should be true. Both should be in writing. Neither is automatic.
The actual IRS rule, in plain English
Under IRC Section 408(m), most precious metals — including most gold coins and bars — are treated as “collectibles.” Collectibles inside an IRA are deemed distributed the moment the IRA acquires them, which means immediate taxes and possible penalties. There’s a carve-out: bullion that meets the minimum fineness required for regulated futures contract delivery, and certain coins enumerated by statute, may be held inside an IRA if they are “in the physical possession of a trustee.”
That “physical possession” requirement is the legal hook. It’s why home storage doesn’t work. It’s why the IRS approves trustees rather than depositories — the trustee is the legally responsible party that has to hold the metal, either directly or through a contracted depository arrangement. You can read the IRS’s plain-English explanation on its page titled Investments in collectibles in individually directed qualified plan accounts at irs.gov.
60-second verification
Where the Actual IRS List Lives
The IRS list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians is published at irs.gov/retirement-plans/approved-nonbank-trustees-and-custodians. The IRS updates it regularly. The April 1, 2026 version we verified directly from the IRS PDF includes notable entries for the precious metals world such as Lone Star Tangible Assets, LP (the Texas Bullion Depository’s operator) and StoneX Financial Inc.
Common self-directed IRA custodians like Equity Trust Company, STRATA Trust, Kingdom Trust, and GoldStar Trust do not appear by name on the nonbank trustee PDF. That’s not a red flag — they qualify under the broader “bank” definition in IRC 408(n) as state-chartered trust companies. What you should verify on your account paperwork is which category your custodian falls into and that the category is correct.
Side-by-side — verified May 2026
The 2026 Verified Gold IRA Depository Comparison
The depositories most commonly used by IRA custodians for retail Gold IRA storage in 2026 are Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services USA, the Texas Bullion Depository, International Depository Services of Delaware and Texas, and CNT Depository. HSBC Bank USA and JPMorgan Chase Bank are COMEX-approved but rarely used for retail IRA storage.
Every fact below is sourced from the depository’s official site, the operating custodian’s documentation, or the IRS list. Items we couldn’t independently verify from a primary source are flagged so you know what to ask your custodian directly.
| Depository | Founded | IRA Storage Locations | Operated By | Exchange Approvals | LBMA Status | Insurance | Segregated | Govt Oversight | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware Depository (DDSC) | 1999 | Wilmington, DE; Boulder City, NV | Delaware state-chartered limited-purpose trust company (privately held) | COMEX/CME (all 4 metals), ICE | — | Lloyd's of London, $1B all-risk | Yes | Delaware state trust regulation | High (90/100) |
| Texas Bullion Depository | 2018 (opened); permanent 2019 | Leander, TX | Agency of the State of Texas; operated by Lone Star Tangible Assets LP under Texas Comptroller | Not COMEX-approved | — | All-risk insured, state oversight | Yes | Only state-administered & state-audited precious metals depository in the U.S. On-site Texas State Police. | Highest (95/100) — operator on IRS nonbank trustee list |
| Brink's Global Services USA | 1859 (parent) | Varies by custodian (LA, NYC, Salt Lake City) | Brink's, Incorporated (NYSE: BCO) | Verify per custodian | Parent-level affiliations | All-risk (verify limit per custodian) | Yes | Publicly traded parent, SEC-reporting | High (80/100) |
| IDS of Delaware | 2010 | New Castle, DE | Dillon Gage (Dallas-based precious metals wholesaler) | COMEX/CME (all 4 metals), ICE | LBMA Associate | All-risk insured | Yes — verify cost terms | Private | High (84/100) |
| IDS of Texas | ~2014 | Dallas, TX | Dillon Gage | Verify | Verify per custodian | All-risk insured | Yes — verify cost terms | Private | High (82/100) |
| CNT Depository, Inc. | 1973 (parent) | Bridgewater, MA | CNT, Inc. (privately held; CME-licensed weighmaster) | COMEX (silver, Pt, Pd); ICE (gold, silver) | — | Lloyd's of London | Yes (allocated) | Private | Moderate-High (78/100) |
| HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | HSBC since 1865 | New York, NY (primary) | HSBC Holdings plc | COMEX-approved | LBMA market-making | Bank custody insurance | Yes (institutional) | OCC-regulated U.S. national bank | Institutional — rare for retail IRAs |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | 1799 | New York; London; Singapore | JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) | COMEX-approved (2011) | LBMA market-making | Bank custody insurance | Yes (institutional) | OCC-regulated U.S. national bank | Institutional — rare for retail IRAs |
Industry default
Delaware Depository: The Industry Default
Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC), founded in 1999, is the most widely used Gold IRA depository in the United States. Its IRA Services page states that it is qualified to store IRA assets. Two IRA-eligible vaults — Wilmington, DE and Boulder City, NV — both COMEX/CME-approved for all four precious metals, and the company publicly states $1 billion in all-risk Lloyd’s of London coverage.
One honest limitation worth knowing
Delaware Depository’s published $1 billion all-risk Lloyd’s of London policy carries standard market exclusions like most commercial bullion insurance. Ask your custodian for the current insurance certificate or summary before funding so you can see the exact terms and coverage limits that apply to your account. If the answer is anything other than “here it is,” that itself is information.
Best fit for:Most readers. If you’re rolling over a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Gold IRA and your dealer says “Delaware Depository,” you’re working with the most commonly cited Gold IRA storage facility in the United States. Augusta Precious Metals’ published materials and Goldco’s storage disclosures both reference Delaware Depository. Verify your exact arrangement in writing.
Only state-administered option
Texas Bullion Depository: The Only State-Administered Option (and the One with the Cleanest IRS Link)
The Texas Bullion Depository (TxBD) is the only state-administered and state-audited precious metals depository in the United States, located in Leander, Texas. It’s an agency of the State of Texas, operated by Lone Star Tangible Assets LP under contract with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. As of June 12, 2025, TxBD officially holds Gold IRA assets through its partnership with Equity Trust Company — and its operator (LSTA) appears directly on the IRS approved nonbank trustee list with an approval date of November 30, 2023.
The single most useful fact on this page for IRS-list verification:
Lone Star Tangible Assets, LP
203 Heritage Grove Road, Leander, TX 78641
Approval date:
You can verify this in under a minute by going to irs.gov/retirement-plans/approved-nonbank-trustees-and-custodians and downloading the current PDF. That’s the kind of clean primary-source verification most depositories can’t offer directly.
What makes TxBD structurally different
One honest limitation
TxBD is not COMEX/CME-approved, which means it can’t act as a delivery point for futures settlement. For a retirement saver who’s just storing gold and silver for the long term, this doesn’t affect you. For the average Gold IRA holder, COMEX delivery isn’t relevant — what matters is secure, insured, IRS-compliant custody, and TxBD delivers all three with state oversight on top.
Best fit for: Readers who specifically want state government oversight, the cleanest possible IRS-list traceability, or who simply trust a state agency model more than a private vault model. If you specifically want Texas Bullion storage, the path runs through Equity Trust Company and a Gold IRA company that works with Equity Trust.
LBMA Associate status
International Depository Services (IDS): The Segregated-Storage Specialist
International Depository Services Group, owned by Dallas-based precious metals wholesaler Dillon Gage, operates two IRA-eligible U.S. facilities — IDS of Delaware in New Castle, DE, and IDS of Texas in Dallas, TX. IDS of Delaware is publicly described as approved for all four precious metals by COMEX/CME and ICE, and is a London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Associate.
Best fit for: Readers whose Gold IRA company routes to IDS (Noble Gold Investments and Birch Gold Group both publish IDS as a storage option), readers who value LBMA Associate status, and readers who want a depository with strong segregated-storage focus.
Publicly traded parent · NYSE: BCO
Brink’s Global Services USA: The Publicly Traded Name
Brink’s Global Services USA is an affiliate of Brink’s, Incorporated (NYSE: BCO), the publicly traded global secure logistics company founded in 1859. Brink’s publicly describes precious metals vaulting, private client storage, bonded warehouses, all-risk protection, and inventory management. Equity Trust Company identifies Brink’s as one of the depository options it works with for precious metals IRAs.
The parent company files quarterly with the SEC — financial transparency most private depositories don’t match. What you should verify:
Best fit for:Readers who value a publicly traded depository parent (NYSE: BCO files financial statements you can read on the SEC’s EDGAR system), or who are already working with a Gold IRA company that uses Brink’s as its primary or alternative depository.
COMEX/ICE-licensed
CNT Depository: The COMEX/ICE-Licensed Storage Facility
CNT Depository, Inc., located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, is part of CNT, Inc., a precious metals trading and minting company founded in 1973. CNT’s official site states that CNT Depository is a CME-licensed storage facility and weighmaster for COMEX silver, platinum, and palladium futures contracts, and an ICE-licensed storage facility for ICE gold and silver futures contracts. CNT publicly states a Class III UL-rated vault, segregated and allocated storage, Lloyd’s of London insurance, and a combination of monthly internal and annual external audits.
CNT is less common in retail Gold IRA marketing than Delaware or Brink’s, but it shows up on Equity Trust and other custodian-approved depository lists.
Best fit for:Readers whose Gold IRA company specifically routes to CNT (verify in your account paperwork). Not a depository to seek out independently — but if your custodian offers it, it’s a legitimate option with strong publicly disclosed audit and exchange credentials.
Institutional names — rarely retail
What About HSBC, JPMorgan, and StoneX?
You’ll see institutional names like HSBC Bank USA, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and JP Morgan Securities LLC come up in some Gold IRA discussions. Here’s what’s actually going on:
HSBC Bank USA and JPMorgan Chase Bank
OCC-regulated U.S. national banks. Under IRC 408(a)(2), banks are automatically qualified to act as IRA custodians without needing separate nonbank trustee approval. Both are COMEX-approved precious metals custodians at the institutional level.
JP Morgan Securities LLC and StoneX Financial Inc.
Both appear directly on the IRS approved nonbank trustee list. But these are also primarily institutional — set up for pension funds, hedge funds, and sovereign wealth — not individual rollovers.
The practical reality:these institutional names rarely show up as the actual storage depository for a retail Gold IRA. If a Gold IRA company quotes you “JPMorgan” or “HSBC” storage, ask for the specific account agreement showing how your IRA’s metals will be held there. It’s not impossible. It’s just unusual.
Do this before you wire money
How to Verify Your Gold IRA Depository: The 10-Point Checklist
Verify your Gold IRA’s storage arrangement in three steps: (1) confirm the custodian or trustee on your account agreement qualifies under IRC 408; (2) confirm the depository is named in writing with a physical address; (3) get written confirmation of storage type, fee schedule, insurance, and liquidation process before you fund. If any of those steps surfaces a gap, don’t fund.
Spend ten minutes here and you’ll save yourself the McNulty-style headaches later.
Name of your IRA custodian or trustee.
Legal category of that custodian — bank, federally insured credit union, state-chartered trust company, or IRS-approved nonbank trustee. If it's an IRS-approved nonbank trustee, confirm it on the IRS list.
Name and physical street address of the depository. Not just the brand — the actual address.
Storage type: segregated, allocated, or commingled.
Annual custodian / administrative fee — flat or asset-based.
Annual depository / storage fee — flat or asset-based. Both segregated and non-segregated pricing.
Dealer markup and buy/sell spread on the metals themselves. Often the biggest cost.
Insurance carrier, coverage type, and stated exclusions.
Audit and control documentation — SOC 1 / SOC 2, COMEX/CME approval, state oversight, audit cadence.
Liquidation, transfer, and in-kind distribution procedures.
The exact email to send your Gold IRA company before funding
Copy and paste this into an email to your sales rep or account opener:
Email template:
Hi [Name],
Before I fund the account, please send me the following in writing:
- The name and street address of the IRA custodian or trustee that will administer my account, along with confirmation of its legal status (bank, insured credit union, state-chartered trust company, or IRS-approved nonbank trustee).
- The name and street address of the depository where my metals will be physically stored.
- A written description of the storage type — segregated, allocated, or commingled — and confirmation of what I receive on distribution.
- A full fee schedule showing custodian admin fees, depository storage fees (both segregated and non-segregated pricing), dealer markup on the metals, any setup or termination fees, and shipping/handling on distribution.
- The insurance carrier covering my metals, the coverage type, and any stated exclusions.
- The audit cadence and control framework (SOC 1, SOC 2, COMEX/CME approval, state-audited, etc.).
- The written liquidation, transfer, and in-kind distribution procedure.
I’d like all of this in writing before I move funds. Thanks.
Any Gold IRA company worth working with should provide all of this in writing before you fund. Any company that pushes back, says “we’ll discuss after you fund,” or sends generic marketing materials instead of actual contractual terms is telling you something important about how they operate.
Red flags that should stop the rollover
"You can store IRA gold at home through an LLC structure." — No. See McNulty below.
"You can be your own custodian." — No.
"We'll explain the fees after you open the account." — Walk away.
"All storage is the same — it's all IRS approved." — Lazy answer. The differences matter.
Heavy pressure to buy "rare," "proof," or numismatic coins. The SEC's case against Red Rock Secured (LR-25996, 2024) alleged investors were told markups would be 1%–5% while actual markups were far higher; investors lost over $50 million.
"You need to act today before the IRS changes the rules." — No salesperson-created deadline changes the need to verify.
"The depository is IRS approved — you don't need to verify it." — You absolutely do.
"We don't disclose the depository before funding." — Stop unless the custodian agreement names the depository, address, storage type, and custody arrangement in writing.
Companies with serious enforcement history. The CFTC announced in 2024 that Regal Assets defendants misappropriated more than $21 million from over 120 customers (CFTC Release 9001-24). The SEC's Red Rock Secured action alleged $50+ million in retirement-account losses.
Ready to compare Gold IRA companies — now that you know what to verify?
Our top-rated Gold IRA companies provide the custodian, depository, storage type, and fee schedule in writing before funding — that’s a core part of how we evaluate them.
Compare verified Gold IRA companies →Tax Court precedent you need to know
The McNulty Case: What Actually Happens If You Skip the Depository
McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021)
The U.S. Tax Court ruled that personal possession of IRA-owned American Eagle coins — even through a “checkbook LLC” structure — created taxable IRA distributions equal to the coins’ purchase cost. Mrs. McNulty was assessed $374,000 in taxable distributions for 2015 and $37,380 for 2016, plus accuracy-related penalties. The case is the clearest precedent that home storage of IRA-owned metals is not allowed, regardless of how the marketing is framed.
Andrew and Donna McNulty opened a self-directed IRA and used it to form an LLC. The LLC purchased American Eagle gold and silver coins. Donna McNulty, as the LLC’s manager, took physical possession of the coins and stored them in a safe at her home. She believed — based on advice from the Gold IRA company that set up the arrangement — that the LLC structure made personal possession permissible.
The IRS disagreed. So did the Tax Court. The court held that under IRC Section 408(m), once an IRA owner has personal physical possession of IRA-owned bullion, the metals are deemed distributed at fair market value. The McNultys owed ordinary income tax on the full assessed amounts, plus the 10% early withdrawal penalty for the under-59½ years, plus accuracy-related penalties.
One honest admission about Gold IRAs
A Gold IRA is not the right structure if your main goal is to personally hold gold coins in your own safe.If you want direct control — the physical bullion in your possession — buying gold and silver outside an IRA is cleaner. You pay ordinary income tax now on whatever account you’d be drawing from to buy it, but you avoid the IRA’s custody requirements entirely. A Gold IRA is the right structure if your goal is tax-advantaged retirement ownership of physical bullion. For retirement savers who want IRA tax treatment and physical bullion exposure, third-party custody is the price of admission. We’d rather you know that now than after you’ve moved $200,000.
Storage types explained
Segregated vs. Commingled Storage: What’s the Real Difference?
Segregated storage means your specific bars and coins are stored in a separately tagged compartment under your name, and you receive the exact same items back. Commingled (non-segregated) storagemeans your metal is stored alongside other accounts’ metal of the same type, tracked by ledger, and you receive equivalent same-kind metal back on distribution. Both types are typically covered under the depository’s insurance program. Segregated usually costs more.
| Storage Type | What It Means | Pros | Cons | Typical Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Segregated | Your specific bars/coins stored separately, returned exactly as deposited | Better traceability; in-kind distributions return your original items | Higher cost at most depositories | $150–$300 |
| Allocated | Specific metal is legally allocated to your account on the depository's books | Strong ownership accounting; metal is yours, not the depository's | Definitions vary by provider | Varies |
| Commingled / Non-segregated | Your metal pooled with other accounts' metal of the same type and quality | Lower cost; same insurance coverage at major depositories | You receive equivalent metal, not your specific items | $100–$150 |
The choice comes down to two questions: Do you care about getting the exact same bars and coins back? And is the cost difference meaningful for your account size? A $150 annual difference is 0.6% on a $25,000 account, 0.3% on $50,000, and 0.06% on $250,000. If exact-item traceability matters more than that fee drag, segregated may be worth it.
The full fee stack
How Much Does Gold IRA Depository Storage Cost in 2026?
Gold IRA depository storage and insurance fees typically run $100 to $300 per year depending on storage type and depository. Combined with custodian administration fees ($75–$100/year) and any one-time setup costs ($50–$200), expect total recurring annual fees of roughly $175–$400 on a standard Gold IRA. Because IRA-specific pricing is often negotiated between custodian, dealer, and depository, your actual fees should be confirmed on a current fee schedule before funding.
| Fee Category | Who Charges | Typical Range (verify current schedule) |
|---|---|---|
| Account setup | Custodian or Gold IRA company | $0–$200 (one-time) |
| Annual IRA admin fee | Custodian | $75–$100 |
| Annual depository storage (commingled) | Depository or bundled through custodian | $100–$150 |
| Annual depository storage (segregated) | Depository or bundled through custodian | $150–$300 |
| Dealer markup over spot | Gold IRA company / dealer | 3%–8%, sometimes higher |
| Buyback spread (when you sell) | Dealer | 1%–5% below spot |
| Shipping and handling | Dealer / depository | $50–$200 per shipment |
| Termination / transfer fee | Custodian | $50–$250 (one-time) |
| Typical first-year all-in (admin + storage) | $175–$400 |
Why “free storage” promotions aren’t actually free
A handful of Gold IRA companies advertise covered storage and admin fees for the first several years on qualifying accounts. These promotions can be real economic savings, but the cost is typically offset somewhere else — dealer markup, account minimums, or other pricing terms. Knowing that lets you compare honestly: a company with a higher metal markup and “free storage” may net out the same as a company with lower markup and standard storage fees. Compare the full transaction cost, not just the storage line item.
Verified May 2026
Which Gold IRA Companies Use Which Depositories?
Most major Gold IRA companies publish their storage partnerships on their own websites. These reflect publicly disclosed partnerships as of . Custodian and depository relationships shift; what’s on a provider’s website today may not be in your account agreement next quarter. Use this table as a starting point for your verification email — not a substitute for it.
| Gold IRA Company | Storage Partners Currently Published | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals | Equity Trust Company (custodian); Delaware Depository (storage) | Verify on Augusta's current storage page before funding |
| Goldco | Equity Trust, STRATA Trust, Kingdom Trust (custodians); Delaware Depository, Brink's (storage) | Verify on Goldco's current storage page before funding |
| Birch Gold Group | Equity Trust, STRATA (custodians); Delaware Depository, Brink's, IDS (storage) | Verify on Birch Gold's current storage page before funding |
| Noble Gold Investments | Equity Trust (custodian); IDS of Texas (storage) | Verify on Noble Gold's current storage page before funding |
| American Hartford Gold | Equity Trust (custodian); Brink's, Delaware Depository (storage) | Verify on AHG's current storage page before funding |
| Lear Capital | Delaware Depository | Verify on Lear Capital's current storage page before funding |
| Advantage Gold | Equity Trust, STRATA (custodians); Brink's, Delaware Depository (storage) | Verify on Advantage Gold's current storage page before funding |
| Preserve Gold | Verify on provider's current storage page | Confirm before funding |
Match depository to your priorities
Best Depository for Different Reader Profiles
The best Gold IRA depository depends on what you prioritize. For most retirement savers, Delaware Depository is the default. For state oversight and the cleanest IRS-list link, the Texas Bullion Depository. For LBMA Associate status and segregated-storage focus, IDS Delaware or IDS Texas. For a publicly traded parent, Brink’s (NYSE: BCO).
| If you want… | Choose… | Aligned Gold IRA Company |
|---|---|---|
| The industry default with the longest track record | Delaware Depository | Augusta (publishes Delaware), Goldco, Birch Gold |
| State government oversight + cleanest IRS-list link | Texas Bullion Depository | Equity Trust–affiliated providers |
| LBMA Associate status + segregated focus | IDS Delaware or IDS Texas | Noble Gold (IDS TX), Birch Gold (IDS options) |
| A publicly traded depository parent | Brink's (NYSE: BCO) | Birch, Goldco, AHG, Advantage |
| COMEX/CME futures-grade vault | Delaware Depository or IDS Delaware | Most major providers |
| Delaware no-sales-tax jurisdiction | Delaware Depository or IDS Delaware | Augusta, Goldco, Birch |
Methodology
What We Actually Verified for This Page
Because Gold IRA depository information is high-stakes and easy to fudge, we want you to know exactly where our facts come from.
Verified directly against primary sources:
- The IRS rule under IRC Section 408(m) and Treasury Regulation 1.408-2(e) —
- The IRS approved nonbank trustee list (April 1, 2026 version) — downloaded directly from irs.gov —
- Lone Star Tangible Assets LP's listing on that IRS list — address 203 Heritage Grove Road, Leander, TX 78641; approval date 11/30/2023 —
- Texas Bullion Depository's state-agency structure and June 12, 2025 IRA partnership launch — verified on comptroller.texas.gov and texasbulliondepository.gov —
- Delaware Depository's state-chartered limited-purpose trust company status, $1B Lloyd's coverage, and SSAE18 SOC1 Type 1 audit — verified on delawaredepository.com —
- IDS of Delaware's COMEX/CME approval for all four metals and LBMA Associate status — verified on internationaldepositoryservices.com —
- CNT Depository's CME/ICE storage facility licensing — verified on cnt.us —
- McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (2021) — case facts and assessed amounts verified through KPMG's published case summary —
- CFTC Release 9001-24 (Regal Assets) —
- SEC Litigation Release 25996 (Red Rock Secured) —
- DOJ press release — First State Depository / Argent Asset Group 65-year sentence —
Items we flagged as requiring custodian or provider-specific verification:
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions About IRS Approved Gold Depositories
Does the IRS publish a list of approved gold depositories?▾
No. The IRS publishes a list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians at irs.gov under Treasury Regulation 1.408-2(e), updated regularly. The depositories themselves don't appear on a separate IRS list — what matters is that IRA metals are in the physical possession of a bank or an IRS-approved nonbank trustee, per IRC Section 408(m). The major Gold IRA depositories operate under this requirement through their custodian relationships.
Can I store my Gold IRA at home?▾
No. Storing IRA-owned precious metals at home — even through a 'checkbook LLC' structure — has been treated as a taxable distribution. The 2021 Tax Court case McNulty v. Commissioner confirmed this; Mrs. McNulty's personal possession of American Eagle coins held by her IRA was assessed as taxable distributions of $374,000 (2015) and $37,380 (2016), plus accuracy-related penalties.
Can I store Gold IRA metals in a bank safe deposit box?▾
Personal possession of IRA-owned metals through a safe deposit box you control runs into the same problem as home storage. The IRA-owned metals must remain in the physical possession of a qualifying trustee or custodian, not under your direct personal control. This is an arrangement to work out with a CPA or tax attorney before you set it up, not a structure to improvise on your own.
What happens if my Gold IRA company changes depositories?▾
Your custodian should provide written notice before any change. Ask your Gold IRA company before funding whether the depository can change without your consent, what notice you receive, and what your transfer options are if you don't want to follow the new depository. This is a contract-level question your custodian agreement should answer.
Is Delaware Depository IRS approved?▾
Delaware Depository Service Company's own IRA Services page states that it is qualified to store IRA assets, and it operates as a Delaware state-chartered limited-purpose trust company. The custodian that holds your IRA (Equity Trust Company, for example) is the legally responsible party under IRS rules; Delaware Depository holds the physical metal under that custody arrangement. Verify the arrangement in your account paperwork before funding.
Is the Texas Bullion Depository IRS approved?▾
The Texas Bullion Depository's operator — Lone Star Tangible Assets, LP — appears directly on the IRS approved nonbank trustee list, with an approval date of November 30, 2023, under Treasury Regulation 1.408-2(e). This gives TxBD one of the cleanest direct connections to the IRS list of any depository in the country. IRA storage at TxBD launched June 12, 2025, through a partnership with Equity Trust Company.
Is Brink's an IRS approved gold depository?▾
Brink's Global Services USA operates as a storage facility for IRA-owned metals through its arrangements with IRS-approved custodians. The parent company, Brink's Incorporated, is publicly traded (NYSE: BCO). The technical custody runs through the custodian (Equity Trust or similar), not Brink's directly — which is how every depository works under the IRS rule.
Is HSBC or JPMorgan a Gold IRA depository?▾
Both HSBC Bank USA, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. are OCC-regulated U.S. national banks and are COMEX-approved for precious metals custody. As banks, they qualify automatically as IRA custodians under IRC 408(a)(2). In practice, they're rarely used for retail Gold IRA storage — that role mostly falls to specialty depositories like Delaware Depository, Brink's, IDS, CNT, and TxBD.
How much does Gold IRA storage cost per year in 2026?▾
Storage and insurance typically run $100–$150 for commingled storage and $150–$300 for segregated storage at most major depositories. Adding the custodian's annual administration fee ($75–$100), most Gold IRA accounts pay $175–$400 in recurring annual fees in 2026. IRA-specific pricing is often negotiated between custodian, dealer, and depository, so the exact figure for your account should be confirmed on a current fee schedule before you fund.
Can I visit my gold at the depository?▾
Visit and pickup rights are custodian and depository-specific. Equity Trust's depository materials note that each depository has its own visit and pickup procedures. Confirm what's available for your specific account in your custodian's depository documentation — don't assume access based on a depository brand alone.
What's the difference between a Gold IRA custodian and a depository?▾
A custodian (or trustee) is the legally qualified entity that administers your IRA — handles paperwork, IRS reporting (Form 5498, Form 1099-R), and transactions. A depository is the storage facility the custodian uses to physically hold the metal. The custodian is the regulated party that satisfies the IRS rule; the depository is the storage vendor under the custodian's authority. You'll typically pay both — a custodian admin fee and a depository storage fee.
Is segregated storage required for a Gold IRA?▾
No. The IRS doesn't require segregated storage — what's required is that the metals stay in the physical possession of a qualifying trustee with proper records. Segregated vs. commingled is a contract preference and fee question, not a legal requirement. Segregated gives you the exact same bars and coins back on distribution; commingled returns equivalent same-kind metal. Both are typically covered under the depository's published insurance program.
Are Gold IRA depositories FDIC insured?▾
No. FDIC insurance covers bank deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs), not physical metals storage. Gold IRA depositories carry private insurance, typically through Lloyd's of London with all-risk coverage. The publicly stated aggregate coverage at Delaware Depository is $1 billion. Verify the specific underwriter, coverage type, and exclusions before funding your account.
What happens if I want to take physical possession of my gold later?▾
You can take an in-kind distribution from a Gold IRA — the depository ships your metal to you. But that distribution is a taxable event: the fair market value of the metals on the distribution date is treated as ordinary income (for a traditional IRA), and if you're under 59½, the 10% early withdrawal penalty also applies. Consult a CPA before initiating an in-kind distribution — timing affects the tax bill significantly.
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Bottom Line
The phrase “IRS approved gold depositories” is industry shorthand for a more specific legal requirement — that IRA bullion stays in the physical possession of a bank or an IRS-approved nonbank trustee, with the depository as the storage vendor under that arrangement. Delaware Depository, Brink’s Global Services USA, the Texas Bullion Depository, International Depository Services of Delaware and Texas, and CNT Depository are the storage facilities most commonly used or cited in the Gold IRA market in 2026.
The Texas Bullion Depository carries the cleanest direct connection to the IRS list — its operator, Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, appears on the IRS nonbank trustee PDF with an approval date of 11/30/2023. Delaware Depository is the most widely cited. IDS offers an LBMA Associate facility with segregated storage focus. Brink’s gives you a publicly traded parent (NYSE: BCO). CNTis solid where it’s offered.
What ends the search for most readers isn’t picking the “best” depository — it’s getting the custodian, depository, storage type, fee schedule, and insurance documentation in writing before they fund the account. Use the email script above. Run the verification on irs.gov yourself. Then move forward with the Gold IRA company that meets your standards.
What to Do Next
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