Quick answer: Beyond the 99.5% purity threshold, IRA-eligible gold generally has to be produced by a national government mint or an accredited/certified refiner or assayer — not just any bar or coin that happens to test at the right purity.

This article is grounded in the topic actually covered by the referenced video (“What Types of Gold Qualify for IRA Investments?”, Mat Sorensen) and independent research — not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice.

The purity floor

IRC §408(m)(3) requires IRA-eligible gold to be at least 99.5% pure (with a statutory carve-out for American Gold Eagle coins) and held by an approved custodian at a qualified depository — not in a personal safe or home.

The manufacturer requirement

Beyond purity, the IRS rule effectively requires the gold be minted by a national government mint (like the US Mint or Royal Canadian Mint) or produced by a refiner/assayer accredited by a recognized body (such as NYMEX/COMEX-approved refiners) — a generic bar from an unaccredited source generally doesn’t qualify even at the right purity.

Where custodians draw the eligible-products list

A Gold IRA is a self-directed IRA: you pick the custodian and depository, the custodian handles IRS paperwork and reporting, and the depository (commonly Delaware Depository, Brink’s, or International Depository Services) physically stores the metal, insured, in either segregated or commingled storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all national-mint coins automatically IRA-eligible?

Most are, if they also meet the purity threshold — but always confirm the specific product against your custodian’s approved list rather than assuming.

What about privately minted ”’rounds”’ (non-coin bullion)?

Rounds from an accredited refiner meeting the purity standard can qualify — the accreditation and purity matter more than whether it’s technically a coin or a round.

Who is Mat Sorensen, and is his content reliable on this topic?

He’s an attorney and author who writes specifically about self-directed retirement accounts — a more technical/legal source than typical dealer marketing content, though still worth cross-checking against your own custodian’s specific rules.