Updated Reviewed quarterly
GLD vs IAU: ETF Comparison
GLD · State Street
TER 0.40% · Yield 0.0%
IAU · iShares
TER 0.25% · Yield 0.0%
Both GLD and IAU are US-listed and trigger FIF tax for NZ residents above the NZ$50,000 overseas-share threshold. The comparison is about exposure, fee, and strategy — both share the same NZ tax friction.
In 30 seconds: GLD (SPDR Gold Shares, State Street) trades on the NYSE Arca at 0.40% TER. IAU (iShares Gold Trust, iShares) trades on the NYSE Arca at 0.25% TER. Both GLD and IAU are US-listed and trigger FIF tax for NZ residents above the NZ$50,000 overseas-share threshold. The comparison is about exposure, fee, and strategy — both share the same NZ tax friction.
- GLD: SPDR Gold Shares — 0.40% TER, FIF above NZ$50K
- IAU: iShares Gold Trust — 0.25% TER, FIF above NZ$50K
- GLD yield: 0.0% (None)
- IAU yield: 0.0% (None)
- Cheaper TER: IAU
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | GLD | IAU |
|---|---|---|
| Fund | SPDR Gold Shares | iShares Gold Trust |
| Issuer | State Street | iShares |
| Exchange | NYSE Arca | NYSE Arca |
| Total expense ratio | 0.40% | 0.25% |
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Distribution frequency | None | None |
| NZ tax wrapper | FIF above NZ$50K | FIF above NZ$50K |
Where to buy
GLD trades on the NYSE Arca. IAU trades on the NYSE Arca. Both are US-listed and accessible via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger and Interactive Brokers. See all 11 NZ investment platforms compared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GLD and IAU? ▾
GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) charges 0.40% TER vs IAU (iShares Gold Trust) at 0.25%. GLD is from State Street; IAU is from iShares. Both GLD and IAU are US-listed and trigger FIF tax for NZ residents above the NZ$50,000 overseas-share threshold. The comparison is about exposure, fee, and strategy — both share the same NZ tax friction.
Which has the lower fee, GLD or IAU? ▾
IAU is cheaper at 0.25% TER vs GLD at 0.40% — a gap of 0.15 percentage points.
Which yields more, GLD or IAU? ▾
GLD trailing 12-month yield is 0.0%; IAU is 0.0%. Headline yield is gross; after-tax outcome depends on your tax wrapper (FIF above NZ$50K for GLD, FIF above NZ$50K for IAU).
Can NZ residents buy both GLD and IAU? ▾
Yes. GLD (NYSE Arca) is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger, Interactive Brokers. IAU (NYSE Arca) is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger, IBKR.
How does NZ tax differ between GLD and IAU? ▾
GLD is FIF above NZ$50K. IAU is FIF above NZ$50K. Same tax wrapper, no structural tax difference between the two for NZ residents. See /tax/pie-vs-fif/ for the full mechanics.
