Affiliate disclosure: White Metal Resources may earn a commission when you open an account through links on this page. This never changes what you pay or what we write. We are not financial or tax advisors. Consult a licensed advisor before making retirement decisions.
Last updated: July 18, 2026 · By White Metal Resources Editorial
Quick answer: A traditional silver IRA follows the same required minimum distribution rules as any other traditional IRA. You must begin annual withdrawals in the year you reach age 73 today. The start age rises to 75 in 2033 for people born in 1960 or later.
The amount is set by dividing the prior December 31 account balance by a life expectancy factor from IRS Publication 590-B. You can take it in cash after the depository sells silver, or in kind by shipping coins or bars home. A Roth silver IRA has no required distribution during the original owner's lifetime.
Short on time? The essentials
- Traditional silver IRAs carry required minimum distributions. Roth silver IRAs do not, while the original owner is alive.
- The start age is 73 today for people born from 1951 through 1959, and rises to 75 in 2033 for people born in 1960 or later.
- The first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the year after you turn 73. Every later RMD is due by December 31 of its year.
- The annual RMD equals the prior year end account balance divided by an IRS life expectancy factor from Publication 590-B.
- Silver IRA RMDs are settled in cash after the depository sells metal, or in kind by shipping the coins or bars to you.
- An in-kind distribution is still fully taxable at the fair market value of the silver on the distribution date.
- Missing an RMD triggers a federal excise tax, reduced from 50 percent to 25 percent by the SECURE 2.0 Act in 2023.
- A timely correction of the shortfall can further reduce the excise tax to 10 percent, subject to filing Form 5329.
- Fixed annual custodian and storage fees keep running while distributions shrink the account, so late life fee drag climbs.
This page walks through required minimum distributions on a silver IRA, one rule at a time. It covers the start age, the annual calculation, cash and in-kind options, the deadlines, the SECURE 2.0 excise tax on a missed distribution, the Roth carve-out, and the inherited account rules. Every figure traces to the Internal Revenue Code, IRS Publication 590-B, or the IRS Required Minimum Distributions FAQ.
What is a required minimum distribution on a silver IRA?
A required minimum distribution, usually called an RMD, is the smallest amount a traditional IRA owner must withdraw each year once they reach the federal start age. It is set by the Internal Revenue Code, not by your custodian or your dealer. A silver IRA is a traditional IRA in a self-directed wrapper, so the same rules apply.
The federal statute is IRC Section 401(a)(9), which the IRS applies to IRAs through Section 408(a)(6). Publication 590-B translates the statute into the tables and deadlines savers use every year (source: IRS Publication 590-B). The rules apply regardless of whether the account holds mutual funds, a farm, or physical silver bullion.
Worth knowing: the rule is about the account, not the metal. Nothing about silver, platinum, palladium, or gold changes the RMD calculation. What silver adds is a practical question: whether the RMD comes out as cash after the depository sells silver, or as physical coins and bars shipped in kind. Both are legal, and both are taxable.
When must you start silver IRA RMDs?
The start age depends on your birth year, because the SECURE Act of 2019 and the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 both moved the line. Today most silver IRA owners begin at 73. A later cohort will begin at 75. Neither figure applies to Roth silver IRAs, which are covered in a section below.
The IRS states the current rule plainly in its RMD FAQ: the start age is 73 for individuals who reach age 72 after December 31, 2022 (source: IRS Required Minimum Distributions FAQs). Under SECURE 2.0 the start age rises to 75 beginning in 2033 for people born in 1960 or later. Final IRS regulations clarify that people born in 1959 begin at 73, not 75.
| Birth cohort | First RMD age | Governing rule |
|---|---|---|
| Born before 1951 (reached age 72 before 2023) | 72 | Original SECURE Act rule |
| Born 1951 to 1959 | 73 | SECURE 2.0 Act, effective 2023 |
| Born 1960 or later | 75 | SECURE 2.0 Act, effective 2033 |
Source: IRS Publication 590-B; IRS Required Minimum Distributions FAQs; SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Checked June 2026.
How is a silver IRA RMD calculated?
The annual RMD equals the prior December 31 fair market value of the IRA divided by a life expectancy factor from an IRS table. Most silver IRA owners use the Uniform Lifetime Table, published as Appendix B, Table III of Publication 590-B. The divisor shrinks each year of life, so the RMD rises as a share of the balance.
Two other IRS tables can apply. Table II, the Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy Table, is used when the sole beneficiary is a spouse more than ten years younger. Table I, the Single Life Expectancy Table, is used by most beneficiaries after the original owner dies. The IRS publishes all three tables in Publication 590-B Appendix B (source: IRS Publication 590-B).
For a silver IRA, the balance used in the numerator is the fair market value the custodian reports on Form 5498 for the prior year. That value is the price the silver would have fetched on the year end date, not the price you paid. Your custodian sends this figure to the IRS each May.
The calculator below estimates the RMD for the current year. Enter a prior year end balance and an age, and it will apply the IRS Uniform Lifetime factor.
Precious metals IRA required minimum distribution (RMD) estimator
Once required minimum distributions begin (age 73 now, 75 starting 2033), you divide last year-end balance by an IRS life-expectancy factor. Most states tax the result as ordinary income, on top of federal tax. You can take a precious metals IRA RMD in cash or in metal.
Estimate only, not tax advice. Uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table (most owners). A spouse more than 10 years younger and sole beneficiary uses a different table. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMD. Sources: IRS Publication 590-B (Table III); IRS RMD FAQs. Consult your tax advisor.
Picture a saver, born in 1953, who reaches age 73 in the current tax year. Suppose the traditional silver IRA held $150,000 of physical silver at the prior December 31, as reported by the custodian on Form 5498. The saver has no spouse who is more than ten years younger, so the Uniform Lifetime Table applies.
- Look up age 73 in the Uniform Lifetime Table. The IRS divisor is 26.5.
- Divide the prior year end balance by the divisor: $150,000 divided by 26.5 equals $5,660.38 for the year.
- The saver must withdraw at least $5,660.38 by the applicable deadline, either as cash after the depository sells silver, or in kind by shipment.
- Any amount above the RMD is allowed and still taxable at ordinary rates. The excess does not reduce a future year's RMD.
The figure is illustrative. Actual balances change with silver prices and prior withdrawals, and the divisor changes each year. This is not tax advice; ask a licensed tax advisor before you file. See how a silver IRA is taxed for the full picture.
Do you take the RMD in cash or in metal?
You have two routes. In a cash distribution, the custodian instructs the depository to sell enough silver to raise the RMD amount, then wires or mails the cash to you. In an in-kind distribution, the depository ships physical coins or bars to your home and the account is charged the fair market value of what was sent.
Both routes settle the same tax bill. The IRS treats the fair market value on the distribution date as ordinary income for a traditional IRA, whether that value arrived as a wire or as a box of coins (source: IRS Publication 590-B). What differs are the practical costs and the second sale, which only happens in the cash route.
Cash distributions cost you the dealer buyback spread twice over: once when the depository sells the silver, and again if you ever buy silver back outside the IRA. In-kind distributions skip the sale but add shipment fees and insured freight, and you still owe the tax on the fair market value. See taking an in-kind distribution for the settlement steps.
| Feature | Cash distribution | In-kind distribution |
|---|---|---|
| What leaves the vault | Cash proceeds after the depository sells silver | The physical coins or bars themselves |
| Federal tax on the amount | Ordinary income at fair market value on distribution date | Ordinary income at fair market value on distribution date |
| Dealer spread cost | Paid once at the depository sale | Avoided at the distribution itself |
| Shipment and handling | Wire fee only | Insured freight plus depository handling |
| Basis for future sale | Not applicable; the metal is gone | Fair market value at distribution becomes the basis |
| Reported on Form 1099-R | Yes | Yes |
Source: IRS Publication 590-B; IRS Form 1099-R instructions. Silver spot prices change daily and are not part of this comparison. Checked June 2026.
What is the deadline each year?
Two dates matter. The very first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the year after you turn 73. Every RMD after that, including the second one taken in the same delayed year, is due by December 31 of its own tax year (source: IRS Publication 590-B).
The April 1 delay is a one-time option. Using it means two taxable distributions land in the same calendar year, which can push a saver into a higher bracket. Many silver IRA owners take the first RMD in the year they turn 73 to avoid stacking two RMDs the following year.
The trade-off: delaying the first RMD keeps money invested for a few extra months, but doubles the taxable income in the delayed year. Weigh the deferral gain against the tax bracket cost with a licensed advisor before you elect the delay.
What happens if you miss a silver IRA RMD?
A missed RMD triggers a federal excise tax under IRC Section 4974. Before 2023 the rate was 50 percent of the amount not taken. The SECURE 2.0 Act cut the default rate to 25 percent for tax years beginning after December 29, 2022 (source: IRS Required Minimum Distributions FAQs).
SECURE 2.0 also added a further reduction. If the shortfall is corrected within a defined correction window and the saver files IRS Form 5329, the excise tax drops to 10 percent. The correction window generally runs to the end of the second year after the missed RMD, subject to notice from the IRS. Ask a licensed tax advisor about the specific facts of your situation before you file.
Even at 10 percent, the excise tax stacks on top of the ordinary income tax owed when the shortfall is finally distributed. The best strategy is a scheduled distribution well before December 31, so a wire delay or a depository backlog does not push the withdrawal into the next tax year.
Do Roth silver IRAs have RMDs?
A Roth silver IRA has no required minimum distribution during the original owner's lifetime. The rule flows from IRC Section 408A(c)(5) and is confirmed in the IRS RMD FAQ (source: IRS Required Minimum Distributions FAQs). A Roth account holder can leave silver in the depository indefinitely, subject only to fees.
SECURE 2.0 removed the pre-death RMD requirement on Roth 401(k) accounts starting in 2024, bringing employer Roth plans in line with Roth IRAs. The rule is a helpful planning point for savers with mixed traditional and Roth balances. Distributions from the Roth side can be timed on your terms, while distributions from the traditional silver IRA must meet the RMD deadline.
Once the Roth silver IRA owner dies, RMD rules apply to the beneficiary. Those inherited rules are different and are covered in the section below. See how a silver IRA is taxed for the wider treatment of Roth and traditional funds.
What are the RMD rules on an inherited silver IRA?
Inherited silver IRAs follow their own set of rules, changed sharply by the SECURE Act in 2019. Most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty the account within ten years of the original owner's death. A narrow set of eligible designated beneficiaries can still stretch withdrawals over their own life expectancy.
The IRS lists five categories of eligible designated beneficiary in Publication 590-B (source: IRS Publication 590-B). Those categories are a surviving spouse, a minor child of the account owner, a disabled individual, a chronically ill individual, and any beneficiary within ten years of the owner's age. Every other individual beneficiary falls under the ten-year rule.
The ten-year rule alone does not require a fixed schedule. Final IRS regulations issued in 2024 clarified a second layer. If the original owner had already started RMDs, most non-spouse beneficiaries must also take annual RMDs in years one through nine of the ten-year window. The account must still be emptied by the end of year ten. This is where a licensed tax advisor is worth the fee.
| Beneficiary type | Distribution rule | Annual RMD required |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse | Can treat as own, roll over, or remain as inherited | Depends on the election |
| Minor child of the account owner | Life expectancy while a minor, then ten-year rule at majority | Yes, during the life-expectancy phase |
| Disabled or chronically ill individual | Life expectancy over the beneficiary's life | Yes, annually |
| Beneficiary no more than 10 years younger than owner | Life expectancy over the beneficiary's life | Yes, annually |
| Other non-spouse individual designated beneficiary | Ten-year rule; account emptied by year 10 | Yes in years 1 through 9 if the owner had started RMDs |
| Non-individual beneficiary (most trusts, estates, charities) | Five-year rule or the owner's remaining life expectancy | Follows the applicable rule set |
Source: IRS Publication 590-B; SECURE Act of 2019; Final IRS regulations under IRC Section 401(a)(9) issued in 2024. This is a simplified summary; ask a licensed tax advisor for the rule that applies to your situation. Checked June 2026.
Steps to take an RMD from a silver IRA
The mechanics are the same each year. Preparing early prevents a December bottleneck at the depository, which sees heavy year end traffic. The steps below cover a straightforward Uniform Lifetime Table distribution.
- Confirm the prior year end balance. Pull the Form 5498 or the December 31 custodian statement that reports the fair market value of the silver IRA.
- Look up the correct IRS divisor. Use the Uniform Lifetime Table in Publication 590-B Appendix B Table III, unless a spouse more than ten years younger is your sole beneficiary.
- Compute the annual RMD. Divide the prior year end balance by the divisor to get the minimum dollar amount you must distribute this year.
- Choose cash or in kind. Instruct the custodian to sell silver and wire cash, or to ship coins or bars in kind through the depository.
- Complete the distribution by the deadline. The first RMD may be delayed to April 1, but every later RMD is due by December 31 of its own year.
- File the return with the 1099-R. The custodian issues Form 1099-R for the distribution; report it on the federal return and pay any tax due.
See silver IRA fees explained for how a distribution can trigger wire and shipment charges. See approved depositories for the vaulting side of the transaction. For a full account map, start with the silver IRA guide.
When a silver IRA works against RMD planning
A silver IRA is a good fit for some savers and a poor one for others. Distribution age is where the fit is tested. Below are the situations in which the RMD math argues against a silver holding, or against keeping it in the same size at the same custodian.
- A small balance against fixed annual fees. Custodian and storage fees keep running while distributions shrink the account. A $250 combined fee is 0.5 percent of a $50,000 balance and 5 percent of a $5,000 balance.
- Silver price volatility right at year end. The RMD is anchored to the prior December 31 fair market value. A sharp price drop in the new year means selling more ounces to raise the same dollar amount.
- A high dealer buyback spread on the cash route. Selling silver every year at a wide spread erodes returns quickly. A published buyback policy in writing is a threshold requirement, not a nice-to-have.
- Uncoordinated Roth and traditional balances. Traditional silver IRAs still require RMDs. Concentrating RMD-heavy traditional funds in silver and leaving cash in a Roth can create pressure to sell metal in a bad month.
- Missed deadlines and correction risk. Even the SECURE 2.0 10 percent excise tax stacks on ordinary income tax. Automating the distribution well before December 31 is the sensible move, and physical settlement takes time.
If one of these describes you, a conversation with a licensed tax and retirement advisor is worth it before December. There is no CTA in this section on purpose. The point is to keep the account clean for your spouse or heirs, not to pitch a new product.
Silver IRA RMD questions, answered
At what age must you start taking RMDs from a silver IRA?
For most silver IRA owners today, the required minimum distribution start age is 73. It applies to individuals who reach 72 after December 31, 2022. Under SECURE 2.0, the start age rises to 75 in 2033 for people born in 1960 or later. People born in 1959 begin at 73, per the final IRS regulations.
How is a silver IRA RMD calculated?
Divide the prior December 31 fair market value of the account by the life expectancy factor for your age from the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table in Publication 590-B Appendix B Table III. A different table applies when a spouse more than ten years younger is the sole beneficiary. The value is reported by the custodian on Form 5498.
Can you take a silver IRA RMD in physical silver instead of cash?
Yes. An in-kind distribution ships coins or bars from the depository to your home and settles the tax at fair market value on the distribution date. Cash distributions sell silver first through the dealer and wire the proceeds. Both routes report on Form 1099-R and both are taxable at ordinary income rates.
What is the penalty for missing a silver IRA RMD?
Under SECURE 2.0, a missed RMD triggers a 25 percent federal excise tax on the amount not taken, down from 50 percent under prior law. A timely correction of the shortfall with IRS Form 5329 can further reduce the excise tax to 10 percent. The excise tax is separate from the ordinary income tax that also applies once the shortfall is distributed.
Do Roth silver IRAs require RMDs?
No. A Roth silver IRA has no required minimum distribution during the original owner's lifetime, under IRC Section 408A(c)(5). The owner can leave silver at the depository indefinitely, subject to annual custodian and storage fees. Once the Roth owner dies, RMD rules apply to the beneficiary under the SECURE Act framework.
When is the deadline for the first silver IRA RMD?
The very first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of the year after you turn 73. Every RMD after that is due by December 31 of its own tax year. Using the April 1 delay stacks two RMDs into a single calendar year, which can push a saver into a higher tax bracket. Many owners take the first RMD in the year they turn 73 to avoid the stack.
Are RMDs from a silver IRA taxable?
Yes. Traditional silver IRA distributions are ordinary income at the fair market value on the distribution date, whether taken in cash or in kind. Roth silver IRA qualified distributions are generally tax-free after the five-year rule and age 59.5. Ask a licensed tax advisor how the rule applies to your Form 1040 filing.
How do inherited silver IRA RMDs work?
Most non-spouse individual beneficiaries must empty the account within ten years of the owner's death under the SECURE Act. If the owner had already started RMDs, annual distributions in years 1 through 9 are also required under final 2024 IRS regulations. Eligible designated beneficiaries such as a surviving spouse, a disabled or chronically ill individual, or a beneficiary within ten years of the owner's age can stretch distributions over their own life expectancy.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (Uniform Lifetime Table, Single Life, Joint and Last Survivor). Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service, Retirement Plan and IRA Required Minimum Distributions FAQs (start age, deadline, excise tax). Checked June 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, 26 U.S.C. Section 408 (individual retirement accounts, physical possession, fineness reference). Checked June 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, 26 U.S.C. Section 401(a)(9) (required minimum distribution statute). Checked June 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, 26 U.S.C. Section 4974 (excise tax on missed required minimum distributions). Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service, Retirement Topics, Required Minimum Distributions. Checked June 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service, About Form 5329, Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (used to report or waive the missed RMD excise tax). Checked June 2026.
