Can an LLC Invest in Gold?
Gold is an invaluable asset that offers numerous uses, from serving as an insurance policy against inflation or currency fluctuations to protecting against war or economic disruptions.
Physical gold investments or precious metal exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which trade like stocks but hold actual gold bullion, may also be an option for you to consider when looking to make investments in precious metals.
Taxes
There are numerous strategies for investing in gold, from purchasing physical metal directly or buying shares of gold mining companies. But regardless of which vehicle you select, taxation should always be an important consideration.
In general, the IRS taxes any profit earned through physical gold investment as collectibles income, with any gains subject to tax at up to 28% – far higher than long-term capital gains tax rates that apply to most investments of 15% long-term gains taxation rates.
To reduce taxation, investors may opt for bullion-backed exchange-traded funds that trade like stocks but directly correlate with gold’s price. But due to insurance, storage and shipping costs they incur; shareholders could potentially be subject to premium charges; also holding title directly could expose precious metals to judgment creditors should someone sue an individual; therefore it should always be held within an LLC for increased asset protection.
Asset Protection
Gold can be an attractive asset in a business portfolio, but investing can pose risks that must be evaluated carefully prior to making a commitment. Doing this will enable you to determine if investing in this particular type of asset fits with the rest of your holdings or not.
One disadvantage of investing in gold is that it doesn’t generate passive income. Physical bullion must be stored and insured, which adds additional expenses; additionally, you won’t be able to sell it quickly for cash, which limits liquidity.
An additional risk associated with investing in gold is capital gains taxes when selling it, since the IRS considers precious metals collectibles. If your metal is held within an IRA account, however, these taxes will likely not apply; to minimize your tax liabilities and ensure maximum return from your investment. For best results it is wise to consult a financial advisor in this matter prior to investing.
Availability
Gold is one of the easiest investments to buy and invest in. You can either purchase physical gold from private sellers or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks its price; alternatively you could invest by purchasing and selling futures contracts; however, this market requires greater knowledge and sophistication for use.
Gold has long been prized as an investment with no sudden price swings like stocks or bonds do, offering investors peace of mind against inflationary forces such as Federal Reserve policies that stimulate the economy or government spending that sends prices skywards. It can even act as a protection against stock market crashes.
Gold and silver assets should be held within an LLC to ensure your assets remain protected, but you cannot take physical possession of the metals directly due to IRA rules that prohibit distributions prior to age 59.5. Instead, title must first be transferred into an LLC before being put away in storage.
Legality
Gold has long been considered an investment, yet its availability was once severely restricted under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 6102. Today however, gold can be easily obtained and purchased in various forms – such as coins and bullion bars – its price varying depending on dealer markup fees and purity levels (i.e. how much gold has to be melted down to create pure gold). Coins typically contain one troy ounce of gold; collectors may wish to invest in South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leaves or American Gold Eagles among others.
Your investment options in gold can also include investing in stocks of companies that mine and trade gold, whether through brokerage accounts, Roth or traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which track prices without physically holding physical gold.
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