Why Do You Need a Gold IRA Custodian

As we get old, we need to limit the work we do because the body stops being as strong as it used to be. This is why people have to retire at a particular time. But a retired person still needs to take care of themselves and pay some bills which is why retirement saving is very important.

Almost everyone knows this and almost everyone has an IRA account. However, not everyone is fully aware of gold IRAs. Gold IRAs also called precious metals IRAs allow a person to add precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium to their Individual Retirement Accounts.

But as you consider this option, you may have heard that you need a custodian. Hence the question “what is a gold ira custodian for?” must have popped up in your mind. If this is the case, then you are in the right place.

In this article, we will be discussing what a gold IRA custodian is and why you need one.

The Role of the Custodian

The term custodian refers to any financial institution which oversees or monitors the assets in the accounts of its clients. This institution typically takes care of financial issues including withdrawals, transactions, and IRS reporting.

To own an IRA, you need a custodian that will monitor the assets in the account. When it comes to precious metals IRAs, the custodian role may slightly differ from that of a conventional account. The reason for this is that this type of account often involves the physical metal. Therefore, a depository where the metal will be stored is often required.

The financial institution will then handle the reporting and paperwork of the assets kept in the depository. Hence, the role of a gold IRA custodian ranges from handling transactions, IRS reporting, and withdrawals. They also are in charge of handling paperwork and tax reporting of the physical precious metal.

A major reason these custodians exist is to ensure that the IRS’s several regulations and rules about accounts that are tax-advantaged are strictly adhered to and respected.

Why Do You Need One?

As we have already stated, IRAs often require a custodian. So, you can’t have an account without having one. The following are some of the important reasons they are required:

They Handle Transactions

Paperwork is very vital when it comes to transactions. The financial institutions involved with this kind of accounts are often very specialized in this aspect. Hence, they are very used to the transactions and paperwork related to the process, this enables them to work swiftly for you.

They Handle the Administrative Needs

Administrative tasks can involve everything from withdrawing the assets (upon your request), distributing the assets, and IRS reporting. Aside from them being used to the paperwork that is required in this case, they often have safeguards that ensure the safety of the transaction details.

They Have and Manage the Proper Relationship with Depositories Where the Metals Are Stored

They ensure the documentation needed in the depository is appropriately filled and that the metals are properly stored.

Which Institutions Can Act as a Custodian?

As we have said, the custodian is often a financial institution such as a bank, trust, as well as other similar institutions. However, before they can act in this capacity, they have to be approved by the IRS. You can visit here https://www.irs.gov/about-irs to learn more about the IRS and what they do.

How Are They Regulated?

Custodians are licensed and approved by IRS. Therefore, they have to adhere to the strict policies and regulations of the IRS. They must fulfill the security laws and capital requirements of the law at both the state and federal governments.

A major factor in determining whether or not a custodian is legitimate and reliable is if they are IRS-approved. You can always rest assured if the custodian is IRS-approved since they are held by the IRS high standards.

Fees to Expect

The fee you would be expected to pay will vary from one custodian to the other. However, generally, you are bound to encounter some fees.

First of all, you will have to pay a one-time fee at the time you open the account. This fee will be used to set up the account, transfer funds, and take care of other transactions. The one-time fee can be between 30 dollars to 50 dollars.

The second fee you would encounter is the management fee. This is often paid annually and it takes care of several costs that are taken care of during a year, from paperwork to annual reporting and so on. As we have said, these fees vary per institution; however, the negotiated rate for this fee is often about 80 dollars per year.

However, this may rise to 100 dollars at the end of the year. This often covers your physical precious metals insurance fees.

Tax Considerations

Having valuable metals in your IRA may be different from having mutual funds, bonds, and stocks in traditional IRAs. Yet, they share certain similarities. With traditional options, you can buy then sell your assets within the account, and then you may pay your taxes during withdrawal or distribution or up.

The same can be said about gold IRAs. You buy the precious metal, hold it in the depository, and then make transactions via a specialist.

In which case, the metals are also like every other class of asset that is held in an individual retirement account. That is, when it comes to tax purposes for your gold IRA assets, you are considered not to have possession of the asset while it is still in the account. You can read this to learn more about how physical gold in several forms is taxed.

Having gold in your individual retirement account is unlike holding the asset outside the account where capital gain tax and other complications will be required.

Conclusion

We believe you now know why custodians are required for gold IRAs and how vital their roles are.