The rules covering inherited IRAs changed materially with the SECURE Act (2019) and again with SECURE 2.0 (2022). This page is a neutral overview. Do not act on it without a tax professional; the interactions are not intuitive.
Who counts as a beneficiary, and why does it matter?
Beneficiaries fall into three groups: eligible designated beneficiaries (spouses, minor children, disabled or chronically ill individuals, and those close in age to the owner), other designated beneficiaries, and non-designated beneficiaries such as estates and most trusts. Which group applies sets the distribution schedule.
What is the 10-year framework for non-spouse beneficiaries?
Most non-spouse designated beneficiaries must fully distribute an inherited IRA by the end of the tenth year following the year of death. Depending on whether the original owner had begun taking RMDs, annual distributions during those ten years may also be required.
This remains one of the areas most subject to changing IRS guidance, so confirm the current schedule before taking a distribution.
What options does a surviving spouse have?
A surviving spouse generally has three choices: treat the IRA as their own by rolling it into their existing IRA, remain a beneficiary of an inherited IRA, or in some cases be treated as a "sole beneficiary" with distinct timing. Each path affects RMD timing, early withdrawal exceptions, and future beneficiaries.
Can a beneficiary inherit the metal itself, or only cash?
Both are possible. The physical metal is simply an IRA asset with a fair market value. Beneficiaries may take an in-kind distribution of specific coins or bars, or a cash distribution after liquidation. Timing, insurance, shipping, and depository paperwork apply to in-kind distributions.
What is the practical sequence for a beneficiary to follow?
Notify the custodian and provide the death certificate, confirm the beneficiary designation on file, consult a tax professional to identify the applicable distribution schedule, choose in-kind distribution or liquidation, and execute on the timeline your professional advises.
- Notify the custodian and provide the death certificate.
- Confirm the beneficiary designation on file.
- Consult a tax professional to identify the applicable schedule.
- Choose in-kind distribution, liquidation, or a combination.
- Execute distributions on the timeline your professional advises.
We coordinate the metal side, valuations, custodian instructions, in-kind delivery, or same-day repurchase quotes, on the schedule your tax professional sets. Underlying pricing follows the ranges published on the Pricing page.
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