texasbulliondepository.gov

What It Is

Texas Bullion Depository is a precious metals depository established by the State of Texas in the United States. It falls under the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and is a state-managed and audited facility for physical precious metals storage. It is not a payment gateway or e-wallet; instead, it provides custody, IRA storage, and related precious metals services for assets such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Core Capabilities and Compliance

Its main selling point is the combination of “state government institution + segregated storage.” According to the official website, it offers segregated storage only: metals deposited by customers are stored separately from other clients’ assets, and the original items are returned upon withdrawal. The facility is located in Leander, Texas, with more than 40,000 square feet of high-security buildings on its campus. It features reinforced vaults, controlled access, surveillance, intrusion detection, 24/7 security, and on-site protection by Texas State Police. Customer assets are automatically insured through the Lloyd's of London insurance market. The operator, LSTA, is a contractor for the Texas Comptroller and has been approved as a non-bank trustee under U.S. tax regulations, allowing it to handle IRA precious metals assets.

Pricing and Fees

Starting April 1, 2026, non-IRA accounts will use a unified tiered annual fee schedule based on average daily value: 0.49% for under $500,000, 0.44% for $500,000 to $1 million, 0.39% for $1 million to $2.5 million, 0.34% for $2.5 million to $5 million, and negotiable rates for over $5 million. Fees accrue daily and are billed quarterly, with a minimum of $25 per quarter. There are no account opening fees or withdrawal fees, but separate charges apply for domestic U.S. shipping, personal pickup, use of the customer room, stop payments, late payments, and refused deposits.

Pros, Cons, and Best Fit

The advantages include government backing, audit transparency, insurance coverage, and segregated storage. It is suitable for U.S. citizens, residents, business entities, and long-term investors who want to hold precious metals through an IRA. The drawbacks are that account opening is currently only clearly available to U.S. customers, while international customer service has not yet been launched; payment methods, API integration, and online trading capabilities are not disclosed; and service hours are limited to business days in U.S. Central Time.

Access from China and Alternatives

The available materials do not provide information about network access from China or account opening for Chinese users, so China access status is unknown. For Chinese users, this service is more like a U.S.-domestic precious metals custody option. If cross-border precious metals storage is needed, it may be worth comparing Brinks, Loomis, Delaware Depository, or other precious metals custodians that support international clients.