Gold ETF in 2026: A 28% tax difference most investors miss Victoria Vesovski June 16, 2026 6 min read GC=F mojo cp / Two investors can own the same amount of gold and walk away with very different after-tax returns. Imagine two retirees who have invested the same amount in gold. One bought a gold ETF, while the other chose a self-directed Gold IRA.
Even though both are betting on the same precious metal, the IRS may not treat them the same way when it's time to cash out. Must Read Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year and begs investors not to miss this 'explosion' The ultra-rich use these 5 real estate strategies to build wealth while they sleep — you can start with just $100 Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks. Here's where their money is going "A gold ETF and a Gold IRA get taxed at completely different layers" Geoff Schmidt (1), a CPA and founder of Holy Schmidt (2), told Moneywise.
"Same asset, two entirely different rulebooks." A gold ETF gives investors exposure to gold through shares that trade on the stock market, while a Gold IRA allows investors to hold physical precious metals inside a retirement account. That difference affects how the investments are held, but it also affects how they're taxed. Some investors assume gold ETFs receive the same favorable tax treatment as stock funds, while others believe a Gold IRA automatically offers the biggest tax advantage.
Here's how Gold IRAs and gold ETFs compare from a tax perspective. Gold ETFs don't get taxed like stocks Gold has seen a strong run over the past year. The precious metal hit more than 50 record highs last year and returned over 60% (3) for the year as investors sought a safe haven amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
According to the World Gold Council (4), gold ETFs attracted 801 tons of inflows in 2025, while purchases of bars and coins climbed to a 12-year high. But many investors don't realize those investments can be taxed differently than traditional stock funds. "The common assumption is that a gold ETF behaves like a stock fund at tax time, with that nice 15% or 20% long-term rate," Schmidt said.
"For the large physically backed funds, GLD and SLV being the obvious examples, it doesn't." Schmidt said gold ETFs are generally taxed based on the assets they hold. Since many of the largest gold ETFs own physical bullion, long-term gains can be subject to the same collectibles tax rules as physical gold, with rates of up to 28% (5). However, that doesn't mean every investor will pay 28%.
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