IRA Eligible Metal Checker
Compare a bullion product's fineness with the minimum the tax law points to. This is a quick educational check, not a ruling on any coin or bar.
| Fineness you entered | 0.9999 |
|---|---|
| Minimum in the gold futures contract rules we read | 0.995 — 995 fineness (COMEX gold futures, Rule 113101) |
| Comparison | 0.9999 ≥ 0.995 |
This is not an eligibility ruling. It compares one number with one threshold. Bullion must also be held in the physical possession of a bank or an approved non-bank trustee, and your custodian decides what it will accept.
How this calculator works
Under Internal Revenue Code section 408(m), an IRA that acquires a collectible is treated as making a distribution equal to the cost of the collectible. The IRS explains that certain gold, silver or platinum coins and state-issued coins are not treated as collectibles. Gold, silver, platinum or palladium bullion of a certain fineness is also excluded, but only if a bank or approved non-bank trustee keeps physical possession of it.
The statute does not list a number. Section 408(m)(3)(B) refers to the minimum fineness that a regulated futures contract market requires for metal delivered under a futures contract. This tool uses the minimums stated in the CME Group rulebook: gold 995 fineness, silver 999 fineness, and 99.95% pure for platinum and palladium. Those rules can change, and the CME rules also have other requirements, such as approved brands, that this tool does not test.
This is not an eligibility ruling. Your custodian and its depository decide which products they accept, and some coins qualify under separate coin rules. Ask the custodian in writing before you buy.
Sources and access dates
- Investments in collectibles in individually directed qualified plan accounts (Internal Revenue Service). Used for: the coin and bullion exceptions and the trustee-possession condition. Accessed October 17, 2026.
- 26 U.S.C. 408(m), Treatment of collectibles as distributions (U.S. Government Publishing Office (U.S. Code)). Used for: the collectibles rule and the futures-contract fineness reference in (m)(3)(B). Accessed October 17, 2026.
- COMEX Chapter 113, Gold Futures (Rule 113101) (CME Group). Used for: gold minimum of 995 fineness. Accessed October 17, 2026.
- COMEX Chapter 112, Silver Futures (Rule 112101) (CME Group). Used for: silver minimum of 999 fineness. Accessed October 17, 2026.
- NYMEX Chapter 105, Platinum Futures (Rule 105101.A) (CME Group). Used for: platinum minimum of 99.95% pure. Accessed October 17, 2026.
- NYMEX Chapter 106, Palladium Futures (Rule 106101.A) (CME Group). Used for: palladium minimum of 99.95% pure. Accessed October 17, 2026.
Educational estimate, not tax or legal advice. This tool applies the rules and figures above to the numbers you type in. It does not know your full tax situation, and rules and amounts can change. Talk to a qualified tax professional or your IRA custodian before acting.
Results are estimates for comparison only, not advice. See our financial disclaimer.