Fee Comparison Guide · Real Custodian Schedules · June 2026
To preserve gold fees, you cannot usually eliminate them — you can only avoid overpaying across three cost drivers: (1) custodian and IRA administration fees, (2) depository storage and insurance fees, and (3) the dealer’s premium or buy/sell spread over spot. There is also a bigger issue that can dwarf fees entirely: buying an ineligible product. The IRS can treat that as a taxable distribution — a tax cost that can far exceed any annual fee.
Think of Gold IRA costs in three layers. A provider with a low annual account fee may still cost more once you add storage and dealer pricing.
| Cost bucket | Common line items | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| Custodian / IRA admin fees | Setup, annual account fee, investment fee, sale fee, wire fee, termination fee | IRA custodian |
| Depository storage / insurance | Flat annual fee or tiered by value; segregated vs. non-segregated | Storage facility |
| Dealer premium / spread | Premium over spot at purchase; spread between buy and sell pricing | Dealer at transaction |
Under IRS collectibles guidance and IRS Publication 590-B, if an IRA or individually directed qualified plan account acquires a collectible, it is generally treated as a distribution in the year acquired. That can mean ordinary income tax plus a 10% additional taxfor those under 59½. That tax impact can far outweigh the difference between two custodians’ annual fees.
“Don’t get cute” checklist — before buying, get written confirmation of:
Current, date-stamped fee schedules are the best way to avoid overpaying. Madison Trust’s fee schedule is explicitly labeled effective January 1, 2026.
| Fee item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Precious Metals Storage Fee | $100 minimum | Covers first $100,000 at Delaware Depository; $1 per $1,000 above that |
| Sale of Asset Fee | $100 | Charged when Madison Trust sells an asset |
| Investment Fee | $30 | Charged each time Madison Trust places an investment |
Using Madison Trust’s published line items only, a Gold IRA holding up to $100,000 would face at least $100 annual storage minimum, plus a $30 investment fee each time the custodian places an investment, and a $100 sale of asset fee if the custodian sells an asset. Other Madison Trust fees may also apply — confirm the full schedule before deciding.
STRATA’s published fee page (accessed 2026-06-13) shows an Annual Account Fee of $150 for the basic tier. It also states that Annual Precious Metals Storage Fees apply separately when holding precious metals. That means the annual account fee is not the whole story — you also need the storage schedule.
If you are comparing two custodians and one shows $150/yr, check whether that includes or excludes storage. STRATA states storage fees apply separately; exact tier amounts should be taken from their current precious-metals tier table before making a comparison.
This is the hidden cost that many investors miss entirely.
A dealer can advertise “low fees” and still make most of its profit through pricing. That is why you should always ask for both buy and sell terms — not just a marketing pitch. On a $100,000 Gold IRA, even a 5% premium vs. a 2% premium represents $3,000 in real cost difference — far exceeding any annual custodian fee variation.
Compare the full stack side by side using the same inputs:
| Item | Ask for this exact number |
|---|---|
| Account setup or opening fee | One-time dollar amount |
| Annual custodian/admin fee | Dollar amount per year |
| Annual storage fee | Dollar amount + storage type (segregated or not) |
| Dealer premium over spot | Percentage or dollar amount at current spot |
| Sale of asset / investment fee | Per-transaction dollar amount |
| Buyback price relative to spot | Percentage or formula |
| Wire or transfer fees | Per-wire dollar amount |
| Termination or transfer-out fee | Dollar amount |
Preserving gold fees means keeping your total Gold IRA cost as low as possible without breaking IRS rules or getting trapped by hidden pricing. The three main cost drivers are: (1) custodian and IRA administration fees, (2) depository storage and insurance fees, and (3) the dealer's premium or buy/sell spread over spot price. A low annual account fee alone can look attractive but may not be cheapest overall if storage minimums are high or dealer markup is wide.
Madison Trust's fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists a $100 minimum precious-metals storage fee (covering the first $100,000 of metal at Delaware Depository, then $1 per $1,000 above that), a $30 investment fee each time Madison Trust places an investment, and a $100 sale of asset fee. These are published benchmark figures — not Preserve Gold's specific fees.
Under IRC §408(m) and IRS guidance on collectibles, if an IRA acquires a collectible it is treated as a distribution in the year acquired — taxable as ordinary income, plus potentially a 10% additional tax for those under 59½. That tax cost can far exceed any annual custodian or storage fee. Always get written confirmation that the specific product is IRA-eligible before funding.
The dealer premium is the amount above the current market reference price (spot) that you pay when buying metals. The spread is the difference between what you pay and what you can later sell for. These costs can be larger than the annual admin and storage fees, especially on smaller accounts or when buying certain coins. They are not always listed as 'fees' but they are a real and often larger cost. Ask for both buy and sell prices in writing before purchasing.
Compare the full stack using the same assumptions across providers: (1) one-time setup fee, (2) annual custodian/admin fee, (3) annual storage fee (segregated vs. non-segregated), (4) dealer premium over spot, (5) exit spread or buyback discount, and (6) any transaction, wire, or closure fees. A provider with a slightly higher annual fee may still cost less if dealer premiums are lower or buyback terms are clearer.