This page is general education, not tax advice. RMD rules, thresholds, and penalty percentages have changed several times in recent years and continue to change. The rules described here were reviewed in September 2026. Confirm the specifics of your situation with your custodian and a tax professional.
When do RMDs begin?
Under current law, required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs generally begin at age 73 for individuals reaching that age in 2023 through 2032, and at age 75 thereafter. Roth IRAs do not require lifetime RMDs.
How can I satisfy an RMD from a metals IRA?
An RMD from a metals IRA can be satisfied by liquidation, where the custodian sells a portion of the metal and distributes cash, or by an in-kind distribution, where specific coins or bars are transferred to you and their fair market value on the distribution date is reported as ordinary income.
Liquidation. The custodian sells a portion of the metal at a stated bid, and cash equal to the RMD amount is distributed. This is administratively simple and produces cash directly.
In-kind distribution. Specific coins or bars are transferred out of the IRA and delivered to you (or held in a non-IRA account in your name). The metal continues to exist; only its tax wrapper changes. The fair market value on the distribution date is reported as ordinary income for the year.
How is IRA metal valued for RMD purposes?
Custodians report the fair market value of the account annually for RMD calculation, typically based on year-end pricing. At the moment of distribution, the fair market value of the metal distributed is what appears on your 1099-R.
Ask your custodian for the exact valuation methodology before the distribution so there are no surprises.
How should I time an RMD involving physical metal?
In-kind distributions involve physical handling, pulling specific bars, arranging insured shipment or a signed-for pickup, and updating custodian records, so the process should start well before year end, since a missed RMD triggers an excise tax on the shortfall.
How does Dormy coordinate an RMD?
We work directly with your custodian to time distributions, confirm the metal being distributed, and, when appropriate, provide a same-day repurchase quote so the transaction can be satisfied efficiently, following the pricing ranges published on the Pricing page.
For the published repurchase ranges, see the Pricing page. For the underlying eligibility rules see which metals are IRA-eligible.