Can you hold gold in an RRSP or TFSA?
Physical bullion in registered accounts is possible but comes with rules and trade-offs worth understanding.
Eligible gold and silver for registered accounts
The Income Tax Act allows certain precious metals to be held in RRSPs, TFSAs, and other registered plans. Eligible products must meet minimum purity requirements: gold must be at least 99.5% pure (0.995), and silver must be at least 99.9% pure (0.999). Coins and bars from recognized refiners and mints generally qualify.
You need a self-directed account with an approved trustee
To hold physical bullion in an RRSP or TFSA, you need a self-directed registered account administered by a trust company or financial institution that supports precious metals. The bullion must be stored by an approved depository — you cannot take physical possession while it is in the registered account.
Storage and custodian fees
Holding physical metal in a registered account involves annual storage fees, custodian fees, and potentially transaction fees on buy and sell. These ongoing costs reduce your effective return compared to holding the same metal outside a registered account with no custodian fees.
Alternatives: ETFs and mining stocks
If you want precious metals exposure in a registered account without the complexity of physical storage, gold and silver ETFs listed on the TSX are a simpler option. They trade like stocks, have lower custody overhead, and are widely supported by all brokerages. The trade-off is you do not own physical metal.
How to use MapleBull for this
Use MapleBull to compare physical bullion pricing. If you decide to hold physical metal in a registered account, knowing the current premium landscape helps you evaluate whether the added fees of registered storage are justified versus holding outside a plan.