Posts in Category: Informational

How Much Is A Gold Bar Worth?

A gold bar is a nugget of pure gold cast or stamped for uniformity and easy handling. A standard gold bar weighs precisely 400 troy ounces and represents a nominal value of $100,000, though most now come in kilograms. Since the value of gold is determined by its fineness or number of karats, a bar’s value will vary according to its karat purity. For example, a one-ounce 24-karat gold bar weighs less than a 400-ounce bullion bar.

Gold bars are generally not cast or stamped with other information such as serial numbers or assays marks. This makes them difficult to trace should they ever be stolen or recovered.

How Much Is A Gold Bar Worth?

Gold bars are one of the simplest forms of investment in gold. They can easily be bought, sold, stored, stacked, and counted. Bars make for easy comparisons of prices between different purities and karat weights. Many investors prefer to purchase larger bars that hold more value than smaller ones, though the smaller bars are easier to carry around and sell if necessary.

Gold bars are generally not considered an appropriate investment vehicle for an individual investor since they tend to be expensive per ounce. An investor with a large amount of money who wants to buy gold in larger amounts may prefer bars rather than bullion coins.

From a security standpoint, there is one inherent risk when purchasing gold bars. The bar’s value depends on its weight and purity, making it easy for counterfeiters to pass off fake bars that contain less gold than they claim. Many bars are cast or stamped with Hallmarks identifying their karat purity to combat this problem. This added security can be purchased as insurance by individuals who buy bars.

Gold bullion bars are often purchased by investors who want to avoid the additional expense of storing and insuring individual coins. They are also easier to transact than their coin counterparts, providing a method for large-volume purchases or selling large volumes at once.

Gold bars can be stored in a vault, safe, or home. They are not available from a broker on credit and require direct purchase from a bank or bullion dealer.

Two types of gold bars are most frequently traded. Coins have a value stamped on the coin itself, facilitating reselling if the buyer does not want to maintain possession. District-minted bullion coins are of limited application for investors and typically trade close to face value, though there are exceptions. For example, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (GML) is valued at $3.80 as of April 2, 2013, while the American Gold Buffalo (AGB) is worth $1.11.

In contrast, gold bars are typically traded in larger denominations of 1000 troy ounces (31.1 ozt or 454 grams) and up. Each ounce trades at the price of its purity, typically $1,000 for gold in the 100-ounce range and $3,000 for gold in the 500-ounce range.

How Much Is A Gold Bar Worth?

Gold bars are not taxed when sold, though the dealer may tack on a premium. In most cases, a dealer will buy back gold bars if sold to them, subject to the market’s price.

A small industry around gold bar insurance stems from their confiscation during World War II. Many modern investors do not consider this risk and may find their investments diminished or reduced in value if they cannot access their bars in an emergency.

A gold bar is one of the most common forms of modern gold investment. The ease at which they can be purchased and sold, as well as their relative size and relatively low price point, make them an appealing option for both individuals and large-scale investors. The London Bullion Market Association Website or GoldCore’s Gold Bar Standard Kit may obtain more information on gold bars.

The following is an excerpt from the United States Treasury Directive of July 17, 1934, regarding gold ownership:

It shall be unlawful for any citizen of the United States, or any corporation organized under the laws of the United States, to own gold coin or gold bullion over that amount which he may legally exchange for export among the several countries of which gold may be nationals, provided that such citizen does not export more than three hundred and fifty (350) troy ounces at one time.

ANSWER:

The U.S. Treasury provided the following guidelines in regards to the purchase of gold bars. The following is an excerpt from their website:

Are there restrictions on purchasing, selling, and possessing gold bars?

The United States has not restricted the possession or sale of gold bars. However, importation regulations require licensed individuals to declare purchases of $10,000 or more in cash or monetary instruments for any single importation into the U.S.

What are the advantages of gold bars over gold coins?

Bars have a uniform size, shape, and weight. Gold bars are easily identified, recountable in bulk, and easy to identify as to karat content. For those who prefer less risk, bars provide the benefit of minimizing storage space requirements and minimal additional insurance risk associated with the sale of coins.

Is It Illegal To Own Gold Coins?

Yes, gold coins are legal to own in the United States, but they can be illegal if they come from Saint Lucia. The country is a member of the World Trade Organization, which follows international law and bars countries that fail to meet it from placing restrictions on gold imports.

What is this law all about? Article 403 states that any country that imposes additional duties or other measures concerning articles imported as raw materials cannot restrict such imports as long as they do not place them under domestic control after importation.

Is It Illegal To Own Gold Coins?

A group of investors in the United States filed a request to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office on behalf of Saint Lucia, said Thomas Melito, an attorney with Howrey LLP who represents the investors.

“The purpose of Article 403 is to ensure that imports from countries that are members of the World Trade Organization enjoy treatment no less favorable than imports from other countries,” Melito said. “The basic idea behind the rule is that importing gold from one country should not be treated any differently than importing gold from another country.

“Article 403 has been invoked by the United States to ensure that the treatment of gold imports from countries that are members of the WTO do not differ from those from non-members, like Iraq and Iran,” Melito said.

Melito said that Saint Lucia is a member of the WTO, but none of its trading partners have raised a complaint against it. It adopted Customs legislation on Dec 5, 2004, which includes Article 403, and Saint Lucia could not enact import restrictions.

He said that Saint Lucia began imposing duties on gold in January 2005, which affected U.S. investors who sought relief under Article 403. In April 2005, the United States filed a complaint with the WTO that the act of imposing duties on gold imports violated Article 403, he said.

Saint Lucia agreed in June 2005 to suspend its new duties on gold imports and allow U.S. investors to either repatriate what they had already paid in obligations or apply them as a distribution against future imports of gold, Melito said. The country also agreed to pay $300,000 to U.S. investors for their losses.

“Once the suspension is lifted on July 1 (the new import duty will return), U.S. investors will have to pay the import duties on gold coming into Saint Lucia from countries outside the country,” he said.

Melito said that the U.S. government enacted a law that imposed duties in early 2002 against imports of gold from several countries, including Liberia and Eritrea, that were exempt from duty during 2001. In April 2002, U.S. investors began filing claims under Article 403, claiming that their property was being treated differently than a comparable investment in other products, which they alleged violated their rights under Article 403(a) of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

“These cases were resolved in April 2003. Under the settlement terms, U.S. investors were granted relief for the duties,” he said.

Is It Illegal To Own Gold Coins?

In August 2005, Saint Lucia adopted new legislation suspending the domestic laws applying to gold imports and will remove its restrictions on gold imports from all countries beginning July 1, Melito said. “The country did this as a compromise to try and avoid having cases brought under Article 403 by U.S. investors,” he said.

“This legal rule is designed to create a level playing field for products that are traded based on their underlying utility, such as agricultural and industrial goods,” Melito said. “As a WTO member, Saint Lucia recognized that it could not impose restrictions on imports that were inconsistent with Article 403 and in light of this recognition agreed to suspend its act of charging gold duties on imports.”

Melito said the U.S.-Saint Lucia agreement was settled under GATS, which means that the country’s new laws related to gold imports will be reviewed twice by the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and then shelved by Congress.

“This is a good thing for U.S. companies that trade with Saint Lucia from the standpoint that it creates predictability in terms of how the country will treat imports of gold from other countries,” he said. “Consumers, however, might not like this because other countries will be able to impose duties on gold imports, and those duties will effectively create higher prices for consumers.”

Melito said the U.S Trade Representative’s office negotiated a settlement with Saint Lucia under GATS rather than Article 403 because, “by filing a GATS case, we can arrange an agreement including compensation to U.S. investors which satisfies all parties, as opposed to an Article 403 case where there is no compensation.

He said that the U.S.-Saint Lucia agreement under GATS is somewhat similar to the settlement reached in May between the United States and Saint Kitts. “Like the case in Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United States will be reviewing these new laws, and those findings will be sent to Congress for a determination on whether it is fair trade,” he said.

Do You Have To Pay Taxes On Gold You Find?

Finding gold on your own is a monumental occasion that not many get to see. It seems like nowadays finding gold on your own it’s almost impossible to do. However if you do manage to find God on your own, whether that be planned or unplanned does that now mean you will get taxed for it? in the state of California, if there is any valuable items found on one’s property, they are told to hand it over to the police. The police were on keep it for a period of time and eventually release it to the person who found it if it is not claimed by someone else.

Do You Have To Pay Taxes On Gold You Find?

However, if you do manage to find gold, you are able to keep it on your own free well. But once, or if, you decide to sell it it is been reported to the government and then it may be taxed. But until the government has its hands on it it is in your possession and no one else’s. According to the article “Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Found Gold”, it explains how a couple in the state of California managed to find over $10 million worth in pure gold sitting on their property.

However once that was made known to the government they only took about half of it and the other half went to state and federal taxes. The second the government was notified about the amount of gold coins that a couple had found they instantly estimated the value of each coin at what it was worth and taxed it. Being said once more however, if you find gold and do not intend to sell it to anyone it will not be taxed as it is yours. To be fair however, even if you were to find gold, any amount, on your property technically speaking you are not the sole owner of gold.

In the article, “What If You Find Gold On Your Property? Know The Procedure”, it is sad that you must buy mineral rights for. No rights allow you to gain ownership of the items that you have found on your property that are worth value. If you follow the right steps regarding you are receive much financial compensation along with a numerous amount of benefits.

Now if you decide to sell mineral rights to someone else, that then gives them the right to dig on your property in order to find valuables. Once and if they find said valuables, those are now there’s and they have full ownership to them. It is also known that companies you are interested in your property, can then go by mineral rights which then gives them permission to your land and all of its unclaimed gems. In the end if you have mineral rights and decide that you don’t have enough knowledge on the subject, you can then sell your mineral rights to a person or company and you will receive financial benefits from that.

Now back to the selling aspect of gold and it beat you taxed. If you decide to go to a pawnshop or trading site to sell your gold for money or some thing else, once it is sold the government takes a portion of the profit for tax. Typically, you need to report any extra income you get to the IRS especially any gold transactions. there also needs to be a certain amount of God, that will force you to report it to the tax company.

In over the course of one year, you have only sold one piece of gold for $100 that in fact will not get taxed, however if you were to sell more than $1000 in one year, you will then be taxed. But it is important to note whether you find golden decide to sell it or keep it for yourself that is still a monument is treasure that you have found, and quite possibly no one else would have located.

Does Fidelity Have A Gold IRA?

A Fidelity Gold IRA is an investment account that offers some of the best terms, especially for those who don’t have a lot to invest. Today, we will take you through what it takes to get a gold ira, were to open one, and how it compares with other options. Fidelity is the largest mutual fund company in the US, with roughly $3 trillion in assets under management as of 2017, so they are the obvious first choice when you want to invest in gold. As mentioned, they offer some excellent rates on their investments like their IRA’s, which can be opened online.

Does Fidelity Have A Gold IRA?

Does Fidelity Have A Gold IRA?

Overview

Fidelity is the largest mutual fund company in the US, with roughly $3 trillion in assets under management as of 2017, so they are the obvious first choice when you want to invest in gold. As mentioned, they offer some excellent rates on their investments like their IRA’s, which can be opened online.

These aren’t new, Fidelity first launched them in 2006, and the answer from the “help desk” is always the same, although I’ve never called them because I’m sure there’s a better option out there. This is a reasonably simple IRA to open. You can do so by clicking here or going to the “IRA Center” section on their website and clicking on the IRA link.

You’ll then be taken to an enrollment page which you can fill out online. You will also have the option of whether you would like to use your Social Security number or give them your name and date of birth. I’ve been able to get a PIN for this IRA through my employer, so I shouldn’t have any trouble opening it with no fees in most cases, but if that’s not an option for you, then basically all you need is your name and date of birth. This can be done at no charge.

FAQS

1. What is a Fidelity Gold IRA?

A Fidelity Gold IRA is an investment account that offers some of the best terms, especially for those who don’t have a lot to invest. Today, we will take you through what it takes to get a gold ira, were to open one, and how it compares with other options.

2. How much does it cost?

Fidelity’s IRA doesn’t charge any setup or maintenance fees if you are already working for someone else or plan on maintaining a minimum balance of around $2500 at any given time during the year. This is one of the cheapest options available.

3. What investment choices are available?

Investment choices vary depending on the account type, but the most popular include: Fidelity funds, index funds, government, and corporate bonds; of course, gold is also an option for IRA owners, despite Fidelity’s unwillingness to advertise that fact. In addition to mutual funds (traditional or Roth accounts) and a variety of CDs (certificates of deposit), there is also a self-directed IRA which allows approved investors to buy just about anything they want.

4. How much can be invested?

Most mutual funds, including Fidelity’s, have a minimum investment requirement of $2500, but you can open an IRA with just 100 dollars. Otherwise, the maximum individual contribution is $5000 a year or $5500 for someone 50 or over.

5. Can I take a loan against my gold IRA?

You cannot take a loan against your gold IRA at Fidelity. While most other companies will allow you to do this, it’s a good idea to avoid taking out loans on any of your IRAs. There can be financial penalties for doing so, and it is a bad idea to borrow against an investment.

6. Are there any disadvantages?

Most investors find that Fidelity Gold IRAs are the best way to invest in gold because the company is reliable and trustworthy. Still, they also put some restrictions on what exactly you can buy with your IRA. The vast majority of investment options available through Fidelity Gold IRAs are mutual funds or CDs, which are considered low-risk investments. Only a few options are considered “riskier, ” including stocks, precious metals, and real estate.

7. How often do I pay taxes on my gold IRA?

Unlike a standard investment in some other companies, your gold IRA has no tax consequences. You had already paid taxes when you contributed. Because the funds are invested low-risk, you will likely never have to pay capital gains taxes or any other type of annual tax on your IRA, as this is typically only applicable to speculators.

Does Fidelity Have A Gold IRA?

Final Verdict

One of the main reasons you may want to choose a gold IRA is if you are looking for a safe way to earn interest on your retirement money without paying taxes or issuing penalties. A gold IRA is one of the world’s most secure and safest investments, not just because the physical asset (gold) is rare and valuable, but because it isn’t subject to any market fluctuations or risk. The gold in your IRA can even be held in storage at no charge by Fidelity at one of their vaults across the country. Fidelity also provides excellent customer service and can be reached over the phone or through their website when you have questions about opening an account or making important investment decisions.

Learn About IRAs at Urban Water ERC

Do you have an IRA? Do you want to learn more about this type of vehicle for retirement? Let Urban Water ERC assist you and your family in discovering resources that you may not have previously considered. Gone are the days of a nice, dependable “defined pension” of our parents.

Well, I shouldn’t say totally “gone,” since there are likely some larger companies that still offer such a pension (my dad is lucky enough to have one that was started in the 1950s and continues to help him to this day).

Sadly, it’s just not that common anymore, and we are left to figure out how to fund our retirements differently. That’s where IRAs come in. Trust me, I’m still learning about it all myself, so when we have information to share, you’ll find it in these posts – coming to you soon.