IRA-Approved Precious Metals Checker
Which gold, silver, platinum and palladium products the IRS allows in a retirement account, and which it does not.
Owning gold in a retirement account is not the same as owning gold. The tax code sets a minimum fineness for each metal, excludes collectible and numismatic coins regardless of their metal content, and requires that products come from a national mint or an accredited refiner. Several of the most widely traded bullion coins in the world fail one of those tests.
The best-known example is the South African Krugerrand. It is among the most heavily traded gold coins ever minted, and it cannot be held in an IRA, because its 91.67% fineness falls below the 99.5% gold threshold. The American Gold Eagle has exactly the same fineness and is permitted, because Congress wrote a specific exception for it into the statute. It is the only such exception in the code.
This checker lists the products people most often ask about, with the purity of each and the reason it does or does not qualify. Browse by metal or search by name.
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IRA-Approved Metals Checker
Not every gold or silver coin can legally go into a retirement account. Check which bullion products meet IRS standards — and which famous ones do not.
Calculating…
Based on IRS purity standards under IRC §408(m)(3). Methodology & sources ↓
Methodology: the IRS sets minimum fineness for precious metals held in an IRA under IRC §408(m)(3) — 99.5% for gold, 99.9% for silver, and 99.95% for platinum and palladium. Products must be produced by a national government mint or a refiner accredited by NYMEX, COMEX, LBMA, ISO 9000 or an equivalent body. The American Gold Eagle is admitted by statute despite falling below the gold threshold. Collectible and numismatic coins are excluded regardless of purity, and all metal must be held by an approved custodian at an approved depository, not at home. This is general information, not tax advice — confirm any specific product with your custodian before purchase.
Methodology and sources
Standard applied. Internal Revenue Code section 408(m)(3), which sets minimum fineness at 99.5% for gold, 99.9% for silver, and 99.95% for platinum and palladium, and excludes collectibles from IRA holdings.
Source requirement. Beyond purity, a product must be produced by a national government mint or by a refiner accredited by NYMEX, COMEX, LBMA, ISO 9000 or an equivalent body. A bar meeting the fineness threshold from an unaccredited source does not qualify.
The statutory exception. The American Gold Eagle is admitted by name despite falling below the gold threshold. No other coin has this treatment, which is why coins of identical composition, such as the Krugerrand and the British Sovereign, are excluded.
Custody. Eligible metal must be held by an approved custodian at an approved depository. Metal stored at home does not qualify as an IRA holding, and treating it as one has been found to trigger a taxable distribution.
Maintenance. Fineness thresholds are statutory and change rarely. Individual product listings are reviewed when a mint changes a coin's specification, as the Royal Mint did with the Britannia in 2013.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Krugerrand not allowed in an IRA?
Its fineness is 91.67%, below the 99.5% minimum the tax code sets for gold. Unlike the American Gold Eagle, which has the same fineness, the Krugerrand has no statutory exception, so it is excluded despite being one of the most widely traded gold coins in the world.
Can I hold pre-1965 US silver coins in an IRA?
No. So-called junk silver is 90% silver, well below the 99.9% minimum required for silver. The same applies to Morgan and Peace dollars, which are additionally treated as collectibles in most cases.
Are proof coins eligible?
Proof versions of eligible coins can qualify, but they must be in their original mint packaging with the certificate of authenticity intact. Proof coins also typically carry a higher premium over spot than bullion versions, which is worth weighing separately.
Does a bar qualify just because it is 99.9% pure?
Not automatically. It also has to come from a refiner accredited by a recognised body such as LBMA, COMEX or NYMEX, or from a national mint. Purity alone is not sufficient under the rules.
Can I keep IRA metal at home?
No. IRA-held metal must be in the custody of an approved trustee at an approved depository. Arrangements marketed as home storage IRAs have been challenged, and taking personal possession has been treated as a taxable distribution of the entire account.
This reference is provided for general information and is not tax or investment advice. Confirm any specific product with your IRA custodian before purchase, as custodians may apply their own additional restrictions.
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