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Last updated: July 22, 2026 · By White Metal Resources Editorial
Quick answer: GoldStar Trust Company is a Texas-chartered trust custodian that administers self-directed IRAs holding physical precious metals. It is a division of Happy State Bank, now part of Centennial Bank, and reports more than 5 billion dollars in assets under custody. GoldStar does not sell metal. You pick your own dealer and depository. Its published fees run 50 dollars to establish the account, 90 dollars annual maintenance, and either 125 or 225-plus dollars a year for storage.
Short on time? The essentials
- GoldStar Trust is a custodian, not a dealer. It holds the account and reports to the IRS. You choose the dealer that sells you the metal and the depository that stores it.
- It is a division of Happy State Bank, which merged into Centennial Bank. The trust operations are Texas-chartered and headquartered in Amarillo.
- Precious metals IRA fees are set out publicly: 50 dollars to open, 90 dollars annual maintenance, 125 dollars a year for commingled storage, or 225 dollars a year and up for segregated storage.
- The account can hold IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum, and palladium at the statutory fineness minimums, along with the American Eagle coins that qualify under a separate carve-out.
- Home storage of the metal is not allowed. The depository must take physical possession.
- Cash inside the IRA sweeps to a bank deposit account at Happy State Bank or Centennial Bank, FDIC-insured up to 250,000 dollars per depositor per bank.
- Direct transfers and direct rollovers from a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), TSP, or another IRA fund most precious metals IRAs, because the 2026 IRA contribution limit is 7,500 dollars plus a 1,100 dollars catch-up.
- A published fee schedule and a named depository are the baseline. Vet the dealer with the same rigor you would vet the custodian.
This page is a plain-English review of GoldStar Trust Company for savers weighing a precious metals IRA. Below we cover what GoldStar is, what it does and does not do, its published fee schedule, the metals it can hold, the rollover paths, and how it stacks against other custodians. Every figure traces to a primary source, cited inline.
What is GoldStar Trust Company?
GoldStar Trust Company is a Texas-chartered trust company that serves as an IRA custodian. It operates as a division of Happy State Bank, which merged into Centennial Bank in 2022 (source: GoldStar Trust company page, checked June 2026). Its trust services offices are based in Amarillo, Texas.
The firm traces its roots to 1989, when it was chartered as Colonial Trust Company. Happy State Bank acquired it in 2004 and renamed the operation GoldStar Trust. Today GoldStar reports more than 5 billion dollars in assets under custody across roughly 60,000 client accounts, per its own disclosures.
Its business is custody, not sales. GoldStar administers self-directed IRAs across several asset types, including precious metals, church bonds, private placements, and REITs. It is a passive custodian: it processes transactions you direct, holds title on behalf of the IRA, and files the tax paperwork.
Worth knowing: GoldStar Trust is not the same entity as GoldStar Trust Corporation, an unrelated investor services firm. The custodian reviewed here is the trust division of Happy State Bank, doing business as GoldStar Trust Company at 701 South Taylor in Amarillo, Texas.
How does GoldStar Trust handle a precious metals IRA?
Three parties run any precious metals IRA. GoldStar is the custodian, meaning it holds the account and reports to the IRS. A dealer sells you the metal. A depository stores it. GoldStar does not sell metal and does not store metal on its own premises.
You select the dealer yourself. Once you have opened the IRA and moved funds in, you place a buy order with the dealer of your choice. The dealer invoices GoldStar, GoldStar wires the funds from the IRA cash balance, and the depository logs the metal into an account tied to your IRA.
Cash inside the IRA sits in a bank deposit account. Uninvested funds sweep to a deposit account at Happy State Bank or Centennial Bank, insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to 250,000 dollars per depositor per bank (source: FDIC deposit insurance overview, checked June 2026).
GoldStar administers Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, and Coverdell ESA structures for precious metals. That covers the main federal account types savers use for retirement. The tax rules follow the account type, not the custodian.
What does a GoldStar Trust precious metals IRA cost?
GoldStar publishes a written fee schedule for its precious metals IRA. The most recent revision available at the time of writing is dated December 2025 (source: GoldStar Trust Precious Metals Fee Schedule (Rev. 12/2025), checked June 2026). The line items are direct and few.
You pay a one-time 50 dollar establishment fee to open the IRA. Annual maintenance is 90 dollars, charged each calendar year the account is open. Depository storage runs 125 dollars a year for commingled storage or a minimum of 225 dollars a year for segregated storage, billed by the calendar year. Buy, sell, and exchange transactions themselves carry no fee from GoldStar.
Precious metals IRA early-withdrawal penalty estimator
Take money out of a precious metals IRA before age 59 and a half and the IRS adds a 10% federal additional tax. Many states add their own additional tax on top, so check your state. The federal penalty is estimated below.
Estimate only, not tax advice. The 10% federal additional tax applies to early distributions before age 59 and a half; exceptions exist. Your state may add its own additional tax, and ordinary income tax applies separately. Source: IRS Publication 590-B. Consult your tax advisor.
Picking a company that explains every fee up front is the first step. Get the free precious metals IRA company checklist.
These figures cover only the custodian and depository sides of the account. They do not include the dealer's spread, which is the gap between what you pay for the metal and what it would sell for the same day. The spread is usually the largest lifetime cost of a precious metals IRA and it is set by the dealer, not by GoldStar.
The trade-off: the published fees are transparent and modest against the industry, but the number that matters most is the all-in cost after the dealer spread. See precious metals IRA fees explained for how each line contributes.
Which metals can a GoldStar Trust IRA hold?
GoldStar can hold any physical precious metal that qualifies under the Internal Revenue Code. The statute covers gold, silver, platinum, and palladium at set minimum purities drawn from commodity futures delivery standards (source: 26 U.S.C. Section 408(m), checked June 2026).
The recognized minimums are silver .999, gold .995, and platinum or palladium .9995. Bars must come from a refiner accredited to a delivery standard such as the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery list (source: LBMA Good Delivery, checked June 2026). American Eagle coins qualify under a separate carve-out for United States coins minted under 31 U.S.C. Section 5112.
The dealer you select is what actually determines your coin and bar menu. GoldStar accepts any product that clears the statute. If a dealer pushes numismatic or graded coins that fall outside the fineness floor and the Eagle carve-out, those are treated as collectibles and trigger a taxable distribution. See IRA-eligible silver coins and the numismatic coin upsell warning.
| Metal | Minimum fineness | Commonly accepted products |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | .995 | American Gold Eagle (Eagle carve-out), Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Austrian Gold Philharmonic, LBMA-accredited bars |
| Silver | .999 | American Silver Eagle (Eagle carve-out), Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Austrian Silver Philharmonic, approved bars |
| Platinum | .9995 | American Platinum Eagle, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, approved refiner bars |
| Palladium | .9995 | American Palladium Eagle, Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf, approved refiner bars |
| Not eligible | n/a | Rhodium, iridium, generic rounds under the fineness floor, and numismatic or graded coins outside the Eagle carve-out |
Sources: 26 U.S.C. Section 408(m); IRS collectibles issue snapshot; LBMA Good Delivery. Coin specifications are industry-reported. Checked June 2026.
Commingled vs segregated storage at the depository
GoldStar does not run its own vault. It routes IRA metal to a specialized precious metals depository, which is a bonded and insured storage facility separate from the custodian and separate from the dealer.
Two storage modes are available, and the fee schedule prices them separately. Commingled storage pools your metal with other IRA metal of the same type and specification. You are entitled to a like quantity of the same product, not the specific coins you bought. Segregated storage keeps your holdings physically apart in a labeled position.
Segregated storage costs more because it uses more vault space per client and requires per-account handling. Commingled storage costs less because the depository can stack identical bars efficiently. Both modes carry full insurance while the metal is in the vault.
Our view: commingled storage is fine for a mainstream bullion holding that you plan to sell at market on the way out. Segregated storage is worth the extra cost only if the specific coin or bar identity matters to you, for example because you hold proof coins with original packaging. See segregated versus commingled storage.
How rollovers into a GoldStar Trust IRA work
Most precious metals IRAs are funded by moving money from an existing retirement plan, not by fresh contributions. The 2026 IRA contribution limit is 7,500 dollars, plus a 1,100 dollars catch-up at age 50 and over (source: IRS, 2026 retirement limits, checked June 2026). That ceiling is small relative to the cost of a meaningful physical position.
A direct rollover or direct transfer moves funds custodian to custodian. There is no tax event, no 60-day deadline, and no 20 percent mandatory withholding. An indirect rollover puts the money in your hands first and must be redeposited within 60 days, or it becomes a taxable distribution (source: IRS Publication 590-A, checked June 2026).
Use the calculator below to check whether a given source account can move into a self-directed IRA at GoldStar. Enter the plan type and it flags the eligibility and the notable rules.
Can you roll your account into a precious metals IRA? Eligibility checker
Most retirement money can move into a precious metals IRA once it is an eligible rollover distribution. Pick your account and situation for a general answer. Always confirm the specifics with your plan administrator or custodian.
General guidance only, not tax or financial advice. Eligibility depends on your specific plan document and IRS rules; confirm with your plan administrator and a tax advisor. A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer avoids the 60-day rule and 20% withholding.
Picking a company that explains every fee up front is the first step. Get the free precious metals IRA company checklist.
How to open a GoldStar Trust precious metals IRA
The account setup follows the same shape as any self-directed IRA. GoldStar publishes its application on its site and accepts electronic signatures. Five steps run start to finish.
- Pick your dealer first. Because GoldStar does not sell metal, you cannot proceed without a dealer. Check the dealer's Better Business Bureau profile, its published spread, and whether it steers you toward common bullion or premium numismatic coins.
- Complete the GoldStar precious metals IRA application. Choose the account type (Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, or Coverdell) and name a beneficiary. Pay the 50 dollar establishment fee.
- Fund the account. Request a direct rollover from your 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), TSP, or IRA. Ask the source plan to send funds custodian to custodian, avoiding withholding.
- Place the metal order. Sign the buy direction with your dealer. GoldStar wires the funds and books the trade against your IRA cash balance.
- Confirm the depository receipt. Verify that the depository has logged the metal into an account tied to your IRA and that the storage mode (commingled or segregated) matches your election.
How does GoldStar compare with other custodians?
GoldStar is one of a handful of custodians most dealers use for precious metals IRAs. The others most commonly named are Equity Trust and Strata Trust. The table below sets out the practical differences for a savings-focused reader.
| Feature | GoldStar Trust | Typical peer custodian |
|---|---|---|
| Charter | Texas-chartered trust; division of Happy State Bank (Centennial Bank) | State-chartered trust or IRS-approved non-bank trustee |
| Base of operations | Amarillo, Texas | Varies (South Dakota, Ohio, Texas are common) |
| Establishment fee | 50 dollars, one time | Commonly 50 to 100 dollars |
| Annual maintenance | 90 dollars flat | Often 80 to 275 dollars, sometimes scaled to balance |
| Commingled storage | 125 dollars a year | Commonly 100 to 150 dollars a year |
| Segregated storage | 225 dollars a year minimum | Commonly 150 to 300 dollars a year and up |
| Sells metal? | No; strict custodian model | Same at trust-only custodians; some peers bundle a dealer |
| Accepted metals | Any IRC section 408(m) compliant coin or bar | Same statutory list |
Sources: GoldStar Trust Precious Metals Fee Schedule (Rev. 12/2025); public fee schedules of peer custodians as posted on their sites. Checked June 2026. Peer figures are ranges seen across the industry, not quotes from any single company.
Two custodian traits matter most for a saver. The first is fee transparency, meaning a written schedule you can read before you sign. The second is a strict custody-only model, meaning the custodian does not also sell you the metal. GoldStar clears both. See custodian vs dealer and what a self-directed IRA custodian does.
A worked example of the annual cost
Picture a saver rolling 60,000 dollars from an old 401(k) into a GoldStar precious metals IRA and buying silver through a chosen dealer. The saver picks commingled storage. Here is how the recurring costs land in year one and year two, using the published schedule.
- Year one, GoldStar side: 50 dollar establishment fee plus 90 dollars maintenance plus 125 dollars commingled storage equals 265 dollars.
- Year two and after, GoldStar side: 90 dollars maintenance plus 125 dollars commingled storage equals 215 dollars per year.
- Separately, a dealer spread of, say, 6 percent on the silver purchase is a one-time cost of 3,600 dollars on a 60,000 dollar order, paid up front and again, in part, when you sell.
The recurring 215 dollars a year is 0.36 percent of a 60,000 dollar balance. On a 15,000 dollar balance the same 215 dollars would be 1.43 percent, roughly four times the drag. The dealer spread is separate and often larger. Ask for both the fee schedule and the spread in writing. This is an illustration, not financial advice; consult a licensed advisor for your situation.
Who GoldStar Trust suits, and who it does not
An honest read of fit saves you time and fees. GoldStar tends to fit savers who want a plain, low-fee custody-only model and who are willing to pick their own dealer.
It suits people who value a bank-backed trust structure, who have already vetted a dealer they trust, and who plan to hold a mainstream bullion position for years. The published fees favor accounts large enough to spread the fixed annual charges, generally 25,000 dollars or more.
It suits less well if you want a single company to handle the account and sell you the metal. Some savers prefer a bundled setup where the dealer arranges everything. GoldStar's model is deliberately unbundled, which is a strength for cost transparency and a source of friction for hands-off buyers.
Our view: the unbundled model is a feature, not a bug. It keeps the party that sells the metal separate from the party that reports to the IRS, and that separation is what independent watchdogs recommend. See scams and red flags to avoid.
When GoldStar Trust is the wrong choice
A balanced review has to name when this custodian is the wrong fit. There is no CTA in this section on purpose.
- You want a fully bundled dealer plus custodian package. GoldStar will not steer you to a metals seller. If you have not vetted a dealer, the account cannot progress. Some savers prefer a peer custodian that partners tightly with a preferred dealer.
- Your balance is small against the fixed fees. Roughly 215 dollars a year in maintenance and storage runs 2.15 percent on a 10,000 dollar balance. A small holding may never recover that drag, and the dealer spread compounds the problem.
- You may need the money within a few years. Selling means crossing the dealer spread again, and precious metals can move sharply short-term. Under age 59.5, a distribution also carries a 10 percent federal additional tax on top of ordinary income tax (source: IRS Publication 590-B, checked June 2026).
- You want alternative assets outside the metals list. GoldStar also supports church bonds, private placements, and REITs, but savers who want a full alternative-asset menu (real estate, notes, LLCs, private equity) often look at Equity Trust or a specialist non-bank trustee instead.
- You expect a guaranteed return. Nobody can accurately predict where metal prices will go. A pitch that promises guaranteed gains is a warning sign, not an opportunity.
GoldStar Trust questions, answered
Is GoldStar Trust Company legitimate?
Yes. GoldStar Trust Company is a Texas-chartered trust company operating as a division of Happy State Bank, now part of Centennial Bank. It reports more than 5 billion dollars in assets under custody and administers self-directed IRAs across several asset classes. It is a passive custodian; it does not sell metal or give investment advice.
Does GoldStar Trust sell precious metals?
No. GoldStar is a custodian only. You select your own precious metals dealer, and the dealer invoices GoldStar for the purchase. This separation is a feature, because it keeps the party that reports to the IRS distinct from the party that sells you the coin or bar.
What does GoldStar Trust charge for a precious metals IRA?
The published fee schedule dated December 2025 lists a 50 dollar one-time establishment fee and a 90 dollar annual maintenance fee. Depository storage runs 125 dollars a year commingled, or 225 dollars a year and up for segregated storage. Buy, sell, and exchange transactions carry no additional GoldStar fee. The dealer's spread is separate.
Which metals can a GoldStar Trust IRA hold?
The account can hold any coin or bar that meets the IRS purity minimums under Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m): silver .999, gold .995, and platinum or palladium .9995. American Eagle coins qualify under a separate United States coin carve-out. Bars must come from an approved refiner. Numismatic or graded coins outside the carve-out do not qualify.
Can I store my IRA metal at home if GoldStar is my custodian?
No. Federal law requires an IRS-approved trustee to hold physical possession of the metal at an approved depository. Storing IRA metal at home is treated as a taxable distribution and may carry a 10 percent additional tax under age 59.5. GoldStar routes all IRA metal to a specialized depository, and no home storage option exists.
How long does it take to open a GoldStar Trust precious metals IRA?
The account itself is usually open within a few business days once the application and initial funding are received. A direct rollover from a 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or TSP typically takes two to four weeks, driven by the sending plan's processing time. Metal is delivered to the depository after the funds settle and the buy order is placed.
Is cash in a GoldStar Trust IRA FDIC-insured?
Yes, up to the standard limit. Uninvested cash sweeps to a deposit account at Happy State Bank or Centennial Bank, insured by the FDIC up to 250,000 dollars per depositor per bank. Insurance covers the cash balance only; physical metal is protected by the depository's separate insurance policy, not by the FDIC.
What is the difference between GoldStar Trust and Strata Trust or Equity Trust?
All three are IRA custodians widely used for precious metals. GoldStar is a Texas-chartered trust and a division of a commercial bank. Strata Trust is also Texas-chartered and metals-focused. Equity Trust is an Ohio-based non-bank IRS-approved trustee with a broader alternative-asset menu. Fee schedules and asset menus differ; check each firm's written schedule before choosing.
Sources
- GoldStar Trust Company, Precious Metals IRA Fee Schedule (Rev. 12/2025). Checked June 2026.
- GoldStar Trust Company, company overview and history. Checked June 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, 26 U.S.C. Section 408 (IRAs and permitted collectibles). Checked June 2026.
- IRS Newsroom, 2026 retirement plan and IRA limits (Notice 2025-67). Checked June 2026.
- IRS, Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements. Checked June 2026.
- IRS, Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements. Checked June 2026.
- IRS, Investments in collectibles in individually directed qualified plan accounts (Issue Snapshot). Checked June 2026.
- London Bullion Market Association, Good Delivery. Checked June 2026.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, deposit insurance overview. Checked June 2026.
