I have a Precious Metals Self Directed IRA account with a mixture of gold and silver coins and bars worth about $500k as of today and trying to decide if I should take physical possession of everything and take the sizeable tax hit (around 40% with Fed & State income taxes or around $200k..ouch!!) or take a partial distribution, say around $200k for a smaller tax hit and then take out more next year? I over 62 1/2, so there is no concern of additional penalties, just the tax hit and shock of how much PM I would eventually have to sell to cover the tax bill. Obviously, on the day I request the distribution (some or all) the SDIRA Trust Company freezes the price based on that day's spot price and then ships the items. If I take out everything now, if PM prices go up significantly, then my assumption is that there is a good chance that the growth (between now and next year when I would have to write the tax check) would help offset (partially pay for) the onerous tax bill. Also, would it be wise to take multiple distributions (even if I take out everything this year) so that there are smaller shipments of "heavy items" coming to my door. If I decide to take out some this year and more next year, should I take out more or all the silver now, the gold, or some of each? Any one have a similar dilemma? Thoughts? Any thing else that I am not considering?