On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Augusta Precious Metals vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Augusta Precious Metals legitimacy and licensing
- Augusta Precious Metals fees and minimum
- How Augusta’s gold IRA process works
- How Augusta Precious Metals Works
- Selling back: Augusta’s buyback terms
- Augusta Precious Metals reviews and complaints
- Gold IRA rules and warnings to know
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Augusta Precious Metals now publishes flat account fees ($285 the first year, $235 after, with up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees paid by Augusta), but it still does not publish the markup on its coins and bars, which is usually the bigger cost, and it requires $50,000 to start. It is a legitimate gold and silver IRA dealer, formed in 2012, with an A+ BBB rating, only one BBB complaint in three years, and no CFTC, SEC, FTC or state actions we could find. It fits savers with a large balance who want a guided, phone-based process; get every price, the spot price and the buyback bid in writing before you move retirement money.
Your options
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Augusta Precious Metals This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review Savers with $50,000 or more who have decided they want physical gold or silver in a self-directed IRA and want a dealer to handle the paperwork.
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US Gold Bureau This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative Buyers who want bullion from an established Texas dealer and like the idea of state-administered storage at the Texas Bullion Depository.
- Minimum purchase
- $50,000 for both IRA and cash purchases, with no maximum1
- IRA account fees
- $50 one-time setup, $125 a year custodian, $110 a year storage and insurance: $285 the first year and $235 after, flat regardless of balance, as listed October 20261
- Fee coverage
- Augusta says every account receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta1
- Markup on metals
- Not published; prices are quoted by the order desk and locked on a recorded call1
- Custodian
- Equity Trust; metals stored at an IRS-compliant depository you choose1
- Cancellation
- 7-day money-back guarantee on transactions, longer if your state requires it1
- In business since
- January 2012; offices in Casper, Wyoming and Beverly Hills, California1
- BBB
- A+, accredited since February 17, 2015, 1 complaint in the last 3 years4
Pros
- Publishes flat IRA fees, and says it pays up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees
- A+ BBB rating, accredited since 2015, with one complaint in three years
- Processing team handles most rollover paperwork
- 7-day money-back cancellation on transactions
- Frank written disclosure that buybacks are not guaranteed
Cons
- $50,000 minimum rules out smaller savers
- Markup on coins and bars is not published; prices come by phone
- Buy and buyback prices are set at Augusta's sole discretion
- Website terms require binding arbitration in Wyoming and waive class actions
- Gold pays no interest or dividends and can fall in value
Best for: Savers with $50,000 or more who have decided they want physical gold or silver in a self-directed IRA and want a dealer to handle the paperwork.
Skip it if: You have less than $50,000, want the lowest-cost gold exposure, or would be moving most of your retirement savings into metals.
Augusta Precious Metals vs. competitors
| Company | Published minimum | Published yearly IRA fees | BBB rating | BBB accredited | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals | $50,000 | $285 first year, $235 after | A+ | Yes, since February 17, 2015 | Visit site |
| Goldco | Not published | Not published; set by custodian | A+ | Yes, since December 9, 2011 | Visit site |
| U.S. Gold Bureau | $99 per order for direct purchases; IRA minimum not published | Not published | A+ | Yes, since October 2024 | Visit site |
| Thor Metals Group | Not published | Not published | F | No | Read review |
Gold IRA companies we reviewed
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Augusta Precious Metals This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Savers with $50,000 or more who have decided they want physical gold or silver in a self-directed IRA and want a dealer to handle the paperwork. -
US Gold Bureau This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Buyers who want bullion from an established Texas dealer and like the idea of state-administered storage at the Texas Bullion Depository. -
Preserve Gold BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Buyers who want help setting up a gold or silver IRA and value a zero-fee buyback promise from the dealer. -
Goldco This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Investors with $50,000 or more who want a large, accredited dealer and will compare a written quote against plain bullion prices.
Augusta Precious Metals pricing at a glance
Augusta Precious Metals costs, as listed October 20261
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum purchase (IRA or cash) | $50,000 |
| IRA account setup (one time) | $50 |
| Custodian fee (yearly) | $125 |
| Depository storage and insurance (yearly) | $110 |
| Total account fees | $285 the first year, $235 a year after |
| Fees paid by Augusta | Up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees |
| Markup over spot on coins and bars | Not published |
| Management or performance fees | None |
| Liquidation fee when Augusta buys back | None |
| Shipping and insurance to the depository | Covered by Augusta on qualifying purchases |
Account fees cover the self-directed IRA only, not the price of the metal. The CFTC warns that spreads on metals sold into IRAs can range from 30% to 300% or more, so ask for the price per ounce, the spot price at that moment and the current buyback bid for the same product.
Augusta Precious Metals, step by step
Call or request the guide
You get the free gold IRA guide and are assigned a personal agent, who books a one-on-one web conference with Augusta's education team.
Education session
The session covers how gold IRAs work, fees, and sales tactics to watch for. Augusta says its educators are salaried and not paid on commission.
Open the IRA and move funds
Augusta's processing team fills out the forms and works with Equity Trust and your current plan provider. Augusta says this usually takes one to two weeks.
Choose metals and lock the price
You pick coins or bars with the order desk. Prices lock on a recorded confirmation call once payment is received, and you have 7 days to cancel.
Store, then sell or take distributions
Metals ship to the depository you chose. To sell, you book a valuation call; Augusta says it wires funds in about three weeks.
Augusta Precious Metals legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Augusta Precious Metals was formed in January 2012 by founder and CEO Isaac Nuriani and lists offices at 5830 East 2nd Street in Casper, Wyoming and 8484 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. The BBB rates it A+ and it has been accredited since February 17, 2015, with one complaint in the last three years. Its IRAs are held by Equity Trust as Custodian. The IRS-approved firm that administers your IRA, keeps records and reports to the IRS. Compare gold IRA companies, with metals stored at an IRS-compliant Depository. The secure facility that stores your IRA metals. Compare gold IRA companies rather than by Augusta.
We searched CFTC enforcement actions, SEC full-text filings, the FTC case library, the CFPB complaint database and federal court dockets and found no actions or lawsuits naming Augusta as a party. Online posts about an “Augusta lawsuit” are mostly marketing articles that cite no court record. Being legitimate does not make a gold IRA a good deal, though; the cost of the metal itself is the part to check.
Augusta Precious Metals fees and minimum
Augusta now lists its standard gold IRA fees: a $50 one-time setup fee, a $125 yearly custodian fee and $110 a year for depository storage and insurance. That is $285 the first year and $235 a year after, and the fees stay flat no matter how large the account gets. Augusta also says every account receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta; ask exactly how that works for your account and get it in writing. It charges no management or performance fees.
The minimum is $50,000 for both IRA and cash purchases. The cost Augusta does not publish is its markup: the gap between what you pay for a coin and its spot metal value. Augusta says no commission is added to the price the order desk quotes, but that price already includes the dealer’s margin. The CFTC warns that spreads on IRA metals can run from 30% to 300% or more, and Augusta’s own FAQ notes that lower-mintage coins can sell back for different prices than common bullion.
How Augusta’s gold IRA process works
Augusta’s process is phone and video based. A personal agent books you into a web conference with its education team, which covers how gold IRAs work, fees, and the sales tactics other companies use. When you are ready, Augusta’s IRA processing team handles the custodian application and transfer or rollover forms with Equity Trust and your current provider. Funding the account does not obligate you to buy.
You then choose IRA-eligible products, such as American Gold and Silver Eagles, with the order desk. The price locks on a recorded confirmation call once payment arrives. For low-mintage products, a 7-Day Price Protection Program lets you revise the order once if prices drop. Metals ship insured to the depository you pick; Augusta lists options in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Dallas and Wilmington, Delaware, among others.
How Augusta Precious Metals Works
Augusta Precious Metals uses a three-step, education-first process: clients start with a Gold IRA guide, then speak one-on-one with a salaried, non-commissioned educator about their situation, and only move forward if it makes sense for them. The company states its representatives are salaried rather than paid on commission, which is intended to reduce pressure to upsell.
For clients rolling over an existing IRA or 401(k), Augusta coordinates the transfer into a Self-directed IRA. An IRA that can hold alternative assets such as physical metals, administered by a specialized custodian. Compare gold IRA companies holding physical gold or silver at an approved depository. Clients can also purchase gold and silver products directly, outside of a retirement account.
What customers say about Augusta Precious Metals
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Thorough, low-pressure education before buying
- Knowledgeable, patient staff
- Clear explanation of costs and next steps
- Hands-on help with rollover paperwork
Common complaints
- Delays or problems during account transfers
- Trouble getting documents
- Occasional reports of pushing specific products
- Slow responses when trying to cancel or exit
- No live prices on the website; you must call for quotes
Selling back: Augusta’s buyback terms
Augusta says it has never declined a buyback, but it also says no dealer can legally guarantee future repurchases, its buyback policy can change without notice, and its sale and buyback prices are set at its sole discretion. To sell, you book a valuation call; the price is confirmed on a recorded call that opens a 24-hour window in which you can cancel if another dealer bids higher. Augusta says funds are wired in about three weeks, depending on Equity Trust and the depository.
You are never required to sell back to Augusta. Before you buy, ask what Augusta would pay today for the exact coins it is selling you. The gap between those two numbers is roughly what you lose if you need to sell soon.
Augusta Precious Metals reviews and complaints
Augusta’s ratings are high: 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 375 reviews, with 92% five star and 1% one star, and an A+ BBB rating with 136 customer reviews and one complaint in three years. Its Trustpilot profile is on a paid plan, which lets companies invite reviews, and Augusta’s site advertises these ratings heavily, so read the low-star reviews too.
Reviewers praise the education session and patient staff. The few negative reviews describe transfer delays, trouble getting documents, pressure toward certain products and slow replies when trying to cancel. Keep your Transaction Agreement, recorded-call confirmations and invoices, and file with the BBB or your state attorney general if a dispute is not resolved.
Gold IRA rules and warnings to know
- IRS storage rules: IRA metals must be held by a bank or approved trustee. So-called home-storage gold IRAs can be treated as a taxable distribution.
- Eligible metals: only certain U.S. Mint coins and bullion that meet IRS fineness rules qualify; most collectible coins do not.
- CFTC warnings: the CFTC warns that dealer spreads can run 30% to 300% or more, that scam dealers use scary forecasts and false urgency, and that anyone telling you what to buy may need to be registered. Get every price in writing.
- Cancellation: Augusta offers a 7-day money-back cancellation on transactions, or longer if your state requires it.
- Disputes: Augusta’s website terms send disputes to binding individual arbitration in Wyoming and waive class actions. Read your Transaction Agreement for the terms that govern your purchase.
- Distributions: required minimum distributions start at age 73, and early withdrawals can trigger taxes and penalties.
Augusta does not give investment or tax advice. Talk to a fee-only fiduciary adviser before moving a large share of retirement savings into metals.
Alternatives to Augusta Precious Metals
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A gold ETF in your current IRA or 401(k) brokerage window
Usually the cheapest way to add gold exposure: no setup, custodian or storage fees or coin markups, just the fund’s yearly expense ratio, though you do not own physical coins.
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Better if you want to buy metal in small orders (from $99 for direct purchases) or store it at the state-run Texas Bullion Depository.
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Another long-running, BBB accredited gold IRA dealer to get a competing written quote from.
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Buying coins outside an IRA
If you just want some physical gold, buying common bullion coins with after-tax money avoids IRA custodian and storage fees entirely.
Next steps
Augusta Precious Metals reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is Augusta Precious Metals a legitimate company?
Yes. It has operated since 2012, holds an A+ BBB rating with accreditation since 2015, and uses Equity Trust as IRA custodian. We found no CFTC, SEC, FTC or state actions against it.
What are Augusta Precious Metals' fees?
As listed October 2026, a $50 one-time setup fee, $125 a year for the custodian and $110 a year for storage and insurance, or $285 the first year and $235 after. Augusta says it pays up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees, and the markup on the metal is separate.
What is the minimum investment with Augusta?
$50,000 for both IRA and cash purchases. Augusta says the minimum is not a fee; it is the amount you must buy.
Does Augusta charge a markup on gold?
Augusta says it adds no commission to quoted prices, but it does not publish its margin over spot. Ask for the per-ounce price, the spot price and the buyback bid for the same product on the same day.
Has Augusta Precious Metals been sued?
We found no federal court case, CFTC or SEC action, or state attorney general action naming Augusta as a party. Articles claiming an Augusta lawsuit generally cite no court record.
Who is Augusta's IRA custodian?
Equity Trust. Augusta's processing team coordinates the paperwork with Equity Trust and your current plan provider.
Where does Augusta store IRA gold?
At an IRS-compliant depository you choose; Augusta lists locations including Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Dallas and Wilmington, Delaware. Metals are held allocated and insured.
Will Augusta buy my gold back?
Augusta says it has never declined a buyback, but it cannot guarantee future repurchases and sets buyback prices at its discretion. There is no liquidation fee when it buys back.
Can I cancel an Augusta order?
Yes. Augusta offers a 7-day money-back cancellation period after a transaction is confirmed, or longer where state law requires it.
Can I keep Augusta IRA gold at home?
No. IRS rules require IRA metals to be held by an approved custodian or depository. Taking possession can be treated as a taxable distribution.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Augusta Precious Metals: Precious metals IRA FAQs (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Augusta Precious Metals: Home page (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Augusta Precious Metals: Terms of Use (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Augusta Precious Metals business profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Augusta Precious Metals reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database search (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFTC: Enforcement actions (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFTC: Precious Metal Frauds (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFTC: The Truth Behind Gold and Silver IRA Scams (PDF) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Investments in collectibles in individually directed qualified plan accounts (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CourtListener: Federal docket search for Augusta Precious Metals (accessed October 12, 2026)
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