Turned 73 in 2026? Your first Required Minimum Distribution is due by April 1, 2027. Gold IRA RMDs have specific rules most guides don't cover.
Under the SECURE Act 2.0, if you turn 73 in 2026, you must take your first Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) by April 1, 2027. Every subsequent year's RMD is due by December 31. If you delay your first RMD to April 2027, you'll need to take two distributions in 2027 (the delayed first RMD plus the regular 2027 RMD) — both taxable in 2027, which could push you into a higher bracket.
Start planning now. Gold IRA distributions are more complex than stock portfolio distributions because you're dealing with physical assets, not shares that can be liquidated instantly.
The RMD formula is the same for all Traditional IRAs, including Gold IRAs:
For age 73, the Uniform Lifetime Table factor is 26.5. If your Gold IRA was worth $200,000 on December 31, 2025, your 2026 RMD is approximately $7,547 ($200,000 ÷ 26.5).
The account balance used is the fair market value of all assets in the IRA as of December 31 of the prior year. Your custodian reports this value annually on IRS Form 5498, and it reflects the spot price of your gold holdings on that date.
This is where Gold IRAs differ from standard IRAs. You have two options:
Your custodian sells enough gold from your account to cover the RMD amount, and distributes the cash to you. This is the simplest option — you receive a check or bank transfer. The gold is sold at current market price through your dealer's buyback program. Allow 5-10 business days for the sale and distribution.
You can take your RMD as actual physical gold — the custodian ships coins or bars to your home or a location you specify. The distribution amount is valued at the fair market value of the gold on the date of distribution. This is legal and your custodian is required to accommodate it, but it adds complexity: you need to determine which coins to distribute, insure the shipment, and store the gold yourself after receiving it.
Important: Once you take an in-kind distribution, the gold is no longer in a tax-advantaged account. Any future sale triggers the 28% collectibles capital gains rate on appreciation above your basis (the fair market value on the distribution date).
Traditional Gold IRA distributions — including RMDs — are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate. This is the same as any Traditional IRA. The 28% collectibles rate does not apply to distributions from Traditional IRAs — it only applies to gold sold outside of an IRA.
However, if you take an in-kind distribution and later sell the physical gold for more than its value on the distribution date, that gain is taxed at the 28% collectibles rate.
Roth IRAs (including Roth Gold IRAs) are exempt from RMDs during the original owner's lifetime under SECURE Act 2.0. If your gold is in a Roth IRA, you don't need to take distributions at any age. This is one of the strongest arguments for Roth Gold IRAs — your gold can sit in the vault indefinitely, growing tax-free.
Under SECURE Act 2.0, most non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit a Gold IRA after 2019 must fully distribute the account within 10 years — no stretch RMDs. Spouses can roll an inherited Gold IRA into their own IRA and follow standard RMD rules. The 10-year rule means inherited gold must be either distributed in-kind or liquidated within the decade.
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