Gold in an RRSP or TFSA

Gold can sit inside Canada's two main tax shelters, but the rules are narrower than many people expect, and getting them wrong triggers a 50% tax. This page explains what the Income Tax Regulations allow, how self-directed accounts and listed alternatives work, what they cost and the risks, using CRA, Justice Laws and provider sources. It describes options; it is not tax or investment advice.

What do the CRA rules allow?

RRSPs, RRIFs and TFSAs can only hold "qualified investments". The CRA's list includes cash and GICs, most securities on a designated stock exchange (shares, ETF units, REIT units), mutual funds and certain bonds. Precious metals come in through section 4900 of the Income Tax Regulations, which adds three gold categories:

Source: Income Tax Regulations, C.R.C., c. 945, s. 4900(1)(t), (u) and (v), Justice Laws Website, read October 12, 2026.

Three practical consequences follow. First, only Royal Canadian Mint coins qualify as coins, so a 99.99% Gold Maple Leaf can work, while 22 karat coins such as Gold Eagles and Krugerrands cannot. Second, the 110% cap rules out collector and premium coins whose price is well above their gold value; our Royal Canadian Mint guide shows how far some Mint shop coins sit above spot. Third, the plan itself must buy from an approved source, so coins already in your safe generally cannot be moved in.

Why can't you keep RRSP gold at home?

A registered plan is a trust, and the trust owns the investment, not you personally. The trustee or its custodian holds the metal, usually at a professional vault. Taking the gold home would mean the plan no longer controls it. Be wary of any scheme that suggests otherwise; our guide to gold scams covers common pitches.

How do you hold physical gold in a self-directed account?

Most bank-run RRSPs and TFSAs do not offer physical bullion. You normally need a self-directed account with a trustee or brokerage that has set up precious metals custody. Examples we found:

• Silver Gold Bull with Questrade: Silver Gold Bull says it helps clients open and fund registered accounts with Questrade, including RRSP, TFSA, RRIF, FHSA and others, with metal held in a Canadian vault and insurance cited through Questrade and Brink's Canada. Its FAQ says only 99.99% gold and LBMA-approved products are placed in an RSP, and its team confirms eligible products at purchase. Fees are not listed on that page. See our Silver Gold Bull review.
• Kitco: refers clients to partner custodians to hold precious metals in an RSP, according to our Kitco Canada review.
• Wealthsimple gold: lets you trade fractional, physically backed 99.99% gold in registered accounts including TFSAs and RRSPs, for 1% over spot with $0 storage, held at the Royal Canadian Mint and Brink's with Silver Gold Bull providing custody. Gold is held at program level for all clients rather than as specific bars, and Wealthsimple says coin redemption is only available for non-registered accounts.

Before opening any account, ask the provider in writing: which products are eligible, who the trustee and custodian are, whether your metal is allocated to you, and every fee from purchase to sale. Our allocated vs unallocated guide explains why the last point matters.

What about gold ETFs and exchange-traded receipts?

Securities listed on a designated stock exchange are qualified investments, so gold products listed on the TSX can usually go into any self-directed RRSP or TFSA without special custody arrangements. You own a security, not coins, and you buy and sell it like a share.

• Royal Canadian Mint Gold Reserves ETRs (MNT and MNT.U): exchange-traded receipts issued by the Mint itself, listed on the TSX since November 29, 2011. The Mint's June 30, 2026 update lists a service fee of 0.35% a year, says they are eligible for all registered plan accounts in Canada, and offers monthly redemption for gold or cash. Each ETR is a claim on unallocated gold held by the Mint, and between 2011 and mid-2026 the ETRs traded between 6.1% below and 19.7% above their net asset value.
• Physically backed gold ETFs and trusts: several are listed in Canada. Each has its own management fee, vault and redemption rules set out in its prospectus or fact sheet.

Our guide to physical gold vs gold ETFs compares the two approaches in more depth.

What does gold in a registered plan cost?

Physical gold in a plan stacks several costs: the dealer premium when buying, any account administration fee, storage, and the spread when selling. On a modest holding these can easily outweigh a listed product's yearly fee. Pure bullion is free of GST and HST either way, as our Canadian gold tax guide explains.

What are the tax rules and limits?

• RRSP: contributions are deductible within your room, gains grow sheltered, and withdrawals are taxed as income. The 2026 RRSP dollar limit is $33,810.
• TFSA: contributions are not deductible, but qualifying gains and withdrawals are tax-free. The 2026 TFSA dollar limit is $7,000.
• Non-qualified investments: if an RRSP, RRIF or TFSA acquires something that does not qualify, the CRA charges a tax equal to 50% of its fair market value. RRSP and RRIF annuitants report it on form RC339; TFSA holders on form RC243, both by June 30 of the following year. The CRA says the tax can be refunded in some cases; for a TFSA, the investment must be disposed of by the end of the following year, and there is no refund if you knew or should have known it did not qualify.

Pros and cons of gold in an RRSP or TFSA

Step by step: adding gold to a registered plan

1. Decide between physical gold and a listed product. Listed products are simpler; physical bullion means a specialist account.
2. Check your contribution room in your CRA My Account before contributing.
3. Choose a trustee or brokerage that offers what you want, and get its full fee schedule in writing.
4. Confirm eligibility for each product. For coins: Royal Canadian Mint, 99.5%+ and within the 110% cap. For bars: LBMA good delivery refiner and hallmarked.
5. Let the plan buy it. The purchase must go through the plan from an approved source.
6. Keep statements showing what the plan holds and where.

For buying gold outside a plan, see our guide to buying gold in Canada and our comparison of buying gold from Canadian banks. This page is general information, not tax or financial advice; a tax professional can confirm how the rules apply to you.

Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.