While it is legal to trade futures and do all sorts of stuff inside your IRA, you are probably going to have a tax disaster.
There is nothing in the IRS pub to draw such a wild conclusion. How can you have a tax disaster on non-taxed accounts - you don't even file a tax return for them. Maybe your so called expert is talking about early withdrawal for a regular IRA - a 10% penalty - hardly a "tax disaster".
Any problems will be in a self directed accounts, where you have a custodian like Midland, you could invest in collectables like art, stamps, coins, etc or buy a sailboat & claim its for charters when you only use it as a live aboard & recreation. These activities are prohibited by the IRS and will cost you in fines.
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b/ch01.html#en_US_2016_publink1000230799
IRS Pub - summary of what can't you do in an IRA.
What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes?
The tax advantages of using traditional IRAs for retirement savings can be offset by additional taxes and penalties if you do not follow the rules. There are additions to the regular tax for using your IRA funds in prohibited transactions. There are also additional taxes for the following activities.
What Acts Result in Penalties or Additional Taxes?
The tax advantages of using traditional IRAs for retirement savings can be offset by additional taxes and penalties if you do not follow the rules. There are additions to the regular tax for using your IRA funds in prohibited transactions. There are also additional taxes for the following activities.
- Investing in collectibles.
Prohibited Transactions
Generally, a prohibited transaction is any improper use of your traditional IRA account or annuity by you, your beneficiary, or any disqualified person.
Disqualified persons include your fiduciary and members of your family (spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant, and any spouse of a lineal descendant).
The following are some examples of prohibited transactions with a traditional IRA.
- Borrowing money from it.
- Selling property to it.
- Using it as security for a loan.
- Buying property for personal use (present or future) with IRA funds.
If your IRA invested in nonpublicly traded assets or assets that you directly control, the risk of engaging in a prohibited transaction in connection with your IRA may be increased.