GoldStar Trust Company’s published fee schedule (Rev. 01/2026) charges a precious metals IRA $50 to open, then $300 a year ($150 maintenance plus $150 asset holding), with no fee listed for buying, selling or exchanging metal. Above $125,000 in metal, it adds $1.80 for every $1,000. Depository storage is billed separately, and the schedule does not list a closing or wire fee at all. That makes GoldStar’s custodian charge higher than Equity Trust’s or Strata Trust’s at small balances, with no per-trade fee to offset it.
We read the schedule on GoldStar’s own site on 21 October 2026. The company can change fees 30 days after mailing notice, so ask your dealer or GoldStar for the current sheet in writing before you sign.
GoldStar Trust Fee Schedule at a Glance
For a precious metals account, the schedule lists:
- Establishment: $50.
- Annual maintenance: $150.
- Annual asset holding fee: $150.
- Value-based fee: $1.80 per $1,000 (0.18%) of precious metals value above $125,000.
- Partial liquidation or re-registration: $50.
- Shipping on liquidations and in-kind distributions: $10 plus actual shipping cost.
- Late fee: $50 per occurrence if a fee is unpaid 30 days after its due date.
- Buy, sell or exchange: no fee listed.
What this means for you: the recurring cost is a flat $300 until the balance passes $125,000, and only the metal above that line is charged the extra $1.80 per $1,000.
What You Would Pay at $25,000, $100,000 and $250,000
These figures cover GoldStar’s custodian charges only, not storage and not the dealer’s markup.
- $25,000: $350 in year one ($50 plus $300), then $300 a year. That is about 1.2% of the balance each year.
- $100,000: the same $350, then $300 a year, about 0.3%.
- $250,000: $300 plus $225 on the $125,000 above the threshold ($1.80 times 125), so $525 a year, about 0.21%. Year one is $575.
Over ten years, a balance under $125,000 costs about $3,050 in custodian fees ($50 plus ten years of $300), before storage. The percentage drag falls as the account grows, which is the reverse of a purely percentage-based schedule. Our guide to large rollovers shows why that matters at higher balances.
Transaction Fees, Late Fees and Billing Rules
The schedule lists buying, selling and exchanging as no fee. That is a real difference from Strata Trust, which charges $40 per trade plus a $35 handling fee, so an investor who trades often may come out ahead at GoldStar.
Billing is where readers get caught. Maintenance, asset holding and storage fees are due when the account is established and then on each anniversary of opening. The schedule states that annual fees are not prorated, so closing in month two does not return the unused year. If an account holds several asset types, only one maintenance fee applies, the one tied to the higher-fee asset type. A $50 late fee applies to anything unpaid 30 days after the due date.
What the Schedule Does Not Say
Three gaps matter for a metals investor.
First, no closing or termination fee is listed. That does not prove there is none. It means you should ask GoldStar in writing what leaving costs, since Equity and Strata each list $250. Our guide to closing fees explains how to price an exit. Second, no wire fee is listed for a metals account. Third, the schedule shows depository storage of $125 a year commingled and $225 or more segregated, but it lists those under the general IRA fees and is not explicit that they apply to metals. Confirm storage with the depository quote your dealer gives you. If those numbers do apply, add $125 to $225 to the yearly totals above.
GoldStar vs Equity Trust vs Strata
Comparing the custodian-only charge on a metals account, before storage:
- GoldStar: $300 a year, $50 setup, no trade fee, value-based fee above $125,000, closing fee not listed.
- Equity Trust: $125 a year, $50 setup, $250 to close. See our Equity Trust fee breakdown.
- Strata Trust: $150 a year, $50 setup, $40 plus $35 per trade, $250 to close.
GoldStar costs $150 to $175 more per year than the other two before storage. Its advantages are the lack of trade fees and the absence of any listed closing charge, which only helps if GoldStar confirms it. For a buy-and-hold investor with under $125,000, the flat schedule favors Equity or Strata. The custodian is rarely the largest cost, though. The dealer’s markup usually is, so compare complete quotes using our side-by-side quote guide and the tactics in how to negotiate gold IRA fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does GoldStar Trust charge for a gold IRA?
$50 to establish and $300 a year ($150 maintenance and $150 asset holding) for a metals account, plus $1.80 per $1,000 above $125,000. Storage is extra.
Does GoldStar Trust charge transaction fees to buy gold?
Not according to its schedule, which lists buy, sell and exchange as no fee. Partial liquidations and re-registrations cost $50 and shipping is $10 plus cost.
Does GoldStar Trust charge a fee to close or transfer an IRA?
No closing fee appears on the schedule. Ask GoldStar to confirm in writing before you open the account.
Which dealers work with GoldStar Trust?
We did not verify a list. Ask any dealer proposing GoldStar which custodians it supports, and whether you can choose another.
What is the difference between a custodian and a depository?
The custodian administers the account and reports to the IRS. The depository holds the metal. Our custodian, dealer and depository guide covers both.
Do custodian fees go up as my gold IRA grows?
At GoldStar, only above $125,000, at $1.80 per $1,000 of metal.
This article is educational and not tax or investment advice. Fee figures come from GoldStar’s published schedule (Rev. 01/2026) checked on 21 October 2026.
