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Gold IRA vs Physical Gold
Compare owning physical gold inside an IRA with buying and holding gold outside a retirement account.
The underlying asset may be similar, but the account structure changes taxes, custody, access and costs.
| Issue | Gold IRA | Physical gold outside IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Custody | IRA rules and custodian apply | Owner chooses custody |
| Tax/account rules | IRA rules apply | Ordinary tax rules apply |
| Access | Distributions governed by IRA rules | Owner has direct control |
| Fees | Can include account and storage fees | Storage/insurance choices vary |
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