Every IRS-Approved Gold IRA Depository: 12-Row Infrastructure Comparison

What qualifies a depository for IRA precious metals storage

The IRS framework for precious metals IRAs sits in two code sections. IRC §408(m) defines which metals are IRA-eligible (fineness standards: gold 99.5%, silver 99.9%, platinum and palladium 99.95%, with American Eagle coins as a statutory exception). IRC §408(n) requires that the trustee holding those assets be either a US bank or a non-bank entity approved by the IRS to act as trustee.

The practical implication: a depository facility is not “IRS-approved” on its own. The approval chain runs through the custodian. Your self-directed IRA custodian holds the account; the custodian contracts with a depository to physically store the metals on behalf of the IRA trust. A depository that does not have an existing custodian relationship cannot accept your IRA-owned metals, regardless of how secure its vault is.

Three hard rules flow from this structure:

US-only storage. IRC §408(n) requires the trustee to be a US entity. Any metals stored outside the US are treated as a distribution from the IRA in the year they leave domestic custody. Delaware Depository, for example, offers vaults in Switzerland and Canada, but those locations are not IRA-eligible. Only their US facilities qualify.

No home storage. IRS guidance and multiple Tax Court rulings confirm that physical possession of IRA-owned metals, including storage in a home safe or a local safe deposit box in the account holder’s own name, constitutes a taxable distribution. The McNulty v. Commissioner ruling (T.C. Memo. 2021-84) is the most cited recent precedent. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.

Metals must meet fineness requirements. The depository accepts what the custodian approves based on IRS Publication 590-A fineness standards. If a dealer delivers non-conforming metal (wrong purity, wrong product type), the custodian is required to reject it. The depository does not make that eligibility determination independently.

Segregated vs. commingled storage: the practical difference

Every depository on this list offers one or both of two storage arrangements:

Segregated (allocated) storage means your specific bars and coins are inspected, tagged with your account number, and stored in a dedicated container. You get back the exact physical pieces deposited. This is the gold-standard arrangement for IRA accounts, and it typically costs more because the depository has to maintain individual custody records per account.

Commingled (unallocated or pooled) storage means fungible products of the same type (e.g., one-ounce American Eagle gold coins) are stored together in bulk. You own a specific quantity and type, but not a specific serial-numbered piece. All well-run depositories using commingled storage maintain fully allocated records, meaning your quantity is always on the books and no metals are lent or pledged. The cost is lower than segregated because handling and tracking overhead is reduced.

Neither arrangement is inherently riskier as long as the depository maintains fully allocated records and carries insurance covering the full replacement value. The Delaware Depository explicitly states that all commingled storage is “fully allocated and off-balance sheet” with no pledging of client assets. Verify this commitment explicitly with any depository you consider.

12-depository infrastructure comparison (verified 2026)

Data below was compiled from each depository’s public website and from publicly stated partner relationships on gold IRA company home pages. “Not publicly disclosed” means the specification was not available on the entity’s public web presence at time of research (2026). Depositories routinely share full technical specs with custodians under NDA; contact the facility directly or ask your custodian for current documentation.

Data methodology: Each cell reflects what was verified on the depository’s own public website or on a gold IRA company’s publicly accessible home page in 2026. “Not publicly disclosed” is not a quality judgment; many of the best-run depositories share full specifications only with contracted custodians under NDA. Specifications change; verify current terms directly with the facility or your IRA custodian.

Delaware Depository: the most documented option

DDSC publishes more infrastructure detail than any other depository on this list. Their $1 billion all-risk policy covers loss, physical damage, mysterious disappearance, employee dishonesty, theft, fire, and flood. The exclusions worth knowing: acts of war, terrorism, cyberattacks, radioactive contamination, and biological or chemical weapons are not covered. The contingent vault coverage adds $100 million on top.

The SSAE18 SOC1 Type I certification is a third-party audit of their internal controls over financial reporting. It covers the same standards used in financial services custody audits. Combined with the annual CPA audit and their CME exchange-approved status, DDSC has the most verifiable compliance trail of any depository commonly used by gold IRA companies.

Their Delaware state incorporation provides a practical tax advantage: Delaware levies no sales tax on precious metals storage, no corporate net worth tax, and no inventory or personal property tax on bullion. This is one reason many gold IRA custodians route accounts through Delaware-based facilities by default.

The Boulder City, Nevada facility opened in 2022 and falls under the same insurance policy and audit certification as the Wilmington primary. Both locations offer segregated and commingled storage options. All storage, whether segregated or commingled, is described as fully allocated and off-balance-sheet. DDSC states explicitly that client metals are never lent, pledged, or hypothecated.

International Depository Services (IDS): the Texas differentiator

IDS Group operates facilities in Delaware and Texas. The Texas location carries a specific marketing claim from Noble Gold Investments: it is described on their public website as “the first and only private secure gold depository facility in the south” with the ability for clients to visit and see their metals in person. That in-person access feature is not offered by most depositories on this list, and it is a genuine differentiator for investors who want physical verification of their holdings.

Noble Gold markets this facility under their “Texas Depository” branding. Birch Gold Group also lists International Depository Services as one of five storage partners available to their clients. The IDS Group website was inaccessible during research (2026), so technical specifications beyond what Noble and Birch publish on their own sites are not independently confirmable at this time.

What can be confirmed from Noble Gold’s public page: the facility supports segregated storage (clients can visit and see their specific metals). Whether commingled storage is also available, and the insurance amount, are not stated publicly.

If IDS Texas is a priority for you, asking your IRA custodian directly is the fastest way to get current specifications, since custodians hold the active service agreements.

Brink’s: global logistics, limited public disclosures

Brink’s is a well-known international security and logistics firm. Their precious metals storage service is described on their public site as operating “state-of-the-art” vaults and bonded warehouses with “all-risk protection coverage.” Beyond those general statements, Brink’s does not publish vault classifications, insurance amounts, segregation options, or audit certifications on their public-facing web pages. That information is available to contracted custodians through their commercial agreements.

Birch Gold Group names Brink’s Global Services as one of five approved depository partners. That public confirmation from a major gold IRA company is the most concrete publicly available evidence of their IRA-eligible status in practice.

For investors choosing between depositories, the key follow-up questions to ask Brink’s or your custodian: what US facility specifically will store your account, what is the insurance coverage for that specific location, and what audit certifications apply.

How to evaluate a depository before funding your account

The company you choose to open your gold IRA with often restricts which depositories are available. Augusta Precious Metals, Birch Gold Group, and Noble Gold Investments each work with approved custodians who have contracted storage relationships. Your company’s available depository list determines your options. This is worth confirming before you choose a provider. For a side-by-side look at what each company offers, see our gold IRA company directory.

Storage fees and the real annual cost

Storage fees at gold IRA depositories follow two pricing models. The flat-fee model charges a fixed annual amount regardless of account size; this benefits larger accounts. The percentage model (typically 0.5% to 1% of metal value annually) scales with the value of your holdings; this benefits smaller accounts but becomes expensive as values grow.

Delaware Depository’s published rate on direct storage accounts (not IRA) is listed on their site; for IRA accounts, the custodian bundles storage into their fee schedule. The Depository at Stone (via JM Bullion) publishes 0.5% annually for bullion, 0.9% for numismatic, with a $50 per-transaction handling fee. Those are direct-account rates; IRA-wrapped storage fees may differ.

Neither Brink’s nor IDS publishes pricing publicly. AMGL, Loomis, and International Vault Services show no public pricing.

On a $100,000 account, a 0.75% annual storage fee equals $750 per year. On a $250,000 account, the same rate equals $1,875. Over 10 years, those fees total $7,500 and $18,750 respectively, not counting changes in metal value. Storage fees are a real cost of a gold IRA that many first-time investors underestimate. Consult your tax advisor and a licensed financial advisor when evaluating total cost of ownership for your specific situation.

Common questions about IRS-approved gold IRA depositories

Which depository does Augusta Precious Metals use?

Augusta Precious Metals does not publicly specify their storage partners on their corporate website. Their public site states they work with IRS-approved depositories; specific facility names are disclosed during the account setup process. For verified information about Augusta’s specific storage arrangements, contact Augusta directly or read our full Augusta Precious Metals review for additional context. We do not publish storage partner names for Augusta because that information is not confirmed on their public-facing pages.

Does the IRS publish a list of approved depositories?

No. The IRS does not maintain or publish a publicly searchable list of approved precious metals depositories. The IRS approves custodians and trustees under IRC §408(n). Those custodians then contract with storage facilities that meet their requirements. The closest to an official registry is the IRS list of approved non-bank trustees, which you can find on irs.gov/retirement-plans/approved-nonbank-trustees-and-custodians. That list covers custodians, not depositories.

Can I store gold IRA metals in a safe deposit box at my bank?

No. A safe deposit box at a bank, even a well-established one, does not meet the IRC §408(n) requirement for IRA trustee custody. The safe deposit box is leased space; it is not held in custody by the bank as trustee for the IRA. The IRS treats any arrangement where the IRA account holder has physical control of or access to the metals as a taxable distribution. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.

What happens to my metals if a depository goes out of business?

Fully allocated storage means your metals are held off-balance-sheet and are not counted as depository assets. If a depository fails, the custodian and the SIPC-equivalent regulatory process for the IRA structure should protect your allocated holdings from being treated as creditor assets. However, the legal protections vary by depository structure and custodian. For well-established depositories like DDSC (regulated by Delaware’s banking commissioner), this protection is explicit. For lesser-known facilities, verify their off-balance-sheet commitments in writing before funding. This is a question for your tax advisor and financial advisor.

Is segregated storage worth the extra cost?

Segregated storage returns your specific, serial-numbered pieces on distribution. Commingled storage returns an equal quantity of the same product type. For most gold IRA investors, commingled storage from a reputable depository that maintains fully allocated records is functionally equivalent to segregated. The risk scenario where segregated storage matters is a depository failure where commingled records are disputed. That scenario is highly unlikely at established, audited facilities, but it is not impossible. Whether the premium for segregated storage is worth the added protection depends on your account size and risk tolerance. This is not investment advice; consult a licensed advisor.

Can I choose my own depository for a gold IRA?

In most cases, no. Self-directed IRA custodians maintain approved depository lists. Your gold IRA company works with specific custodians, and those custodians have contractual relationships with specific storage facilities. You can choose among the facilities your custodian supports, but you cannot unilaterally direct your IRA assets to an unaffiliated depository. If a specific depository matters to you (for example, you want in-person inspection access at IDS Texas, or you specifically want Lloyd’s-backed insurance at DDSC), ask about depository options before choosing your IRA company and custodian.

Are international vault locations (Switzerland, Canada, Singapore) IRA-eligible?

No. IRC §408(n) requires that the IRA trustee be a US-based entity. Metals held at international locations are treated as a distribution from the IRA in the tax year they leave US custody. Delaware Depository offers Zurich and Toronto facilities; JM Bullion’s storage partner (TDS) offers Singapore, Toronto, and Zurich. Those international options are legitimate for non-IRA precious metals holdings but are not IRA-compatible. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.

Sources and verification notes