IRA-Approved Depositories: What 'Approved' Means and How to Verify

Search for a "Gold IRA depository" and you will see the word "approved" everywhere. This page explains what that word does and does not tell you, where the real rules sit, and how to check a vault yourself. It sits under Gold IRA Storage, which covers the whole storage picture.

A depository is a secure facility that stores precious metals for customers. This page is general education. How the tax rules apply to your IRA is a question for a qualified tax professional or attorney, and where we describe our reading of a rule we say so.

What is an IRA-approved depository?

There is no single official meaning. We have seen the phrase used to mean:

1. The depository has an agreement with a particular IRA custodian, and that custodian accepts it.
2. The depository operator is itself an IRS-approved nonbank trustee .
3. The seller simply uses the phrase without saying what it means.

We searched for an IRS page listing "approved depositories" and did not find one. That is a statement about what we found, not proof that none exists, so check the IRS site yourself. What the IRS does publish is a list of approved nonbank trustees and custodians. According to that page (accessed 2026-10-06), the IRS keeps a list of entities approved "to serve as nonbank trustees or custodians" under Treasury Regulation Section 1.408-2(e). In the content we reviewed, the page did not address depositories or storage.

What does the law actually require?

The requirement is about who holds the metal, not which building. The IRS collectibles page describes the bullion exception as covering "Any gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bullion of a certain fineness if a bank or approved non-bank trustee keeps physical possession of it." The statute, 26 U.S.C. 408, also says that IRA trust assets "will not be commingled with other property except in a common trust fund or common investment fund." For more, see the collectibles rule.

Our reading, which is an interpretation and not an IRS statement: because the rule is framed around trustee possession, the question to ask is how your trustee or custodian keeps possession, including through a vault it contracts with. We found no IRS page that describes how a third-party depository fits into that rule or says which facilities are acceptable. The CFTC's advisory says metals in a self-directed IRA must be held by the IRA trustee or custodian.

Keeping the metal yourself is a different matter. See home storage Gold IRAs.

Who decides which depository holds my metal?

Delaware Depository's FAQ points IRA holders to their custodian. It says (accessed 2026-10-06) that custodians "maintain agreements with their customers" and that IRA account holders "should contact their IRA custodian administering the IRA for any questions." Our custodian vs dealer vs depository page explains the three roles. If a dealer tells you a depository is "approved," ask whether your custodian will actually accept metal there.

Where are depositories located?

Locations differ and change, so confirm any facility with your custodian. The table below lists three depositories whose own pages we opened. It is alphabetical, is not a ranking, is not a recommendation, and is not a complete list. Everything in it is what the depository itself states, as of 2026-10-06. We cover other depositories on separate pages as they are verified, such as Brink's Global Services and International Depository Services.

Terms differ by provider. See segregated vs commingled Gold IRA storage.

The Texas Bullion Depository's IRA page (accessed 2026-10-06) describes Lone Star Tangible Assets LP as "the depository contractor selected to operate the Texas Bullion Depository" and says the contractor "received IRS approval as a nonbank trustee in 2023." The FAQ page says the depository is "an agency of the State of Texas." That is the depository's claim; confirm it against the IRS list. The same page says Equity Trust Company is "the first custodian to work with the Texas Bullion Depository." This shows how the pieces can vary: a trustee approval, a custodian relationship and a building are three separate questions.

How are depositories vetted?

There is no single standard we could confirm, so vetting is largely yours and your custodian's to do. Depositories describe their own safeguards, and these are company claims we have not independently checked:

• Insurance. CNT says its facility is "insured through Lloyd's of London." The Texas page also names Lloyd's of London. Delaware Depository's FAQ states it maintains "all risk" coverage of $1 billion for bullion in its vaults plus $100 million in contingent vault coverage, and lists exclusions that include war, terrorism and cyber-attack. Policy limits, exclusions and who the insured party is can differ. See Gold IRA storage insurance.
• Audits. Delaware Depository says it is "a SSAE18 - SOC1 Type1 audited organization." CNT says "Monthly internal audits are performed along with yearly external audits." The Texas pages describe oversight by the Depository Administrator, review by a Texas-based accounting firm, and audits by the State of Texas, and the IRA page mentions regular audits by a Comptroller's office representative. These are different kinds of review, and none is a guarantee against loss.

How can I verify my depository?

1. Ask your custodian, in writing, the depository's legal name, address, and the storage type your account uses.
2. Ask who the contracting parties are: your custodian, the depository and any subcontractor.
3. If the operator says it is an IRS-approved nonbank trustee, look for it on the IRS list.
4. Ask for the insurance certificate and what it covers, and for the latest audit report the depository will share.
5. Ask how you can confirm your holdings, and how often statements arrive.
6. Check the seller and custodian too. See how to verify a dealer.

Common mistakes

• Treating "approved" as an official government stamp.
• Assuming the dealer, custodian and depository are one company.
• Not asking in writing which vault, and which storage type, holds your metal.
• Relying on a sales claim about insurance or audits without seeing documents.

This page is general education, not tax, legal or investment advice.