How to roll a 401(k) or IRA into a gold IRA without a tax bill

At a glance

Best method	Direct transfer or direct rollover, custodian to custodian
Tax withheld	None on a direct transfer or rollover; 20% if a workplace plan pays you
Deadline if the money is paid to you	60 days to redeposit the full amount
Limit	One IRA-to-IRA rollover per 12 months; transfers and plan rollovers don’t count
Counts toward the 2026 contribution limit?	No

Transfers, rollovers and why the difference matters

People say “rollover” for any move between retirement accounts, but the IRS treats three methods differently:

Method	Where the money goes	Tax withheld	Limits
Trustee-to-trustee transfer (IRA to IRA)	Straight to the new custodian	None	No limit on how many
Direct rollover (workplace plan to IRA)	Straight to the new custodian	None	None
Indirect, or 60-day, rollover	To you first, then you redeposit it	20% from workplace plans; IRAs may withhold unless you opt out	60 days; IRA-to-IRA only once per 12 months

The first two keep the money out of your hands, which is what keeps them simple. The third is where people get caught out.

Step by step

1. Check what you can move. If you still work for the employer, ask whether the plan allows in-service rollovers. If you’re 73 or older, take this year’s required minimum distribution first, because RMDs can’t be rolled over.
2. Open the new account. Open a self-directed IRA with a custodian that holds precious metals, and match the tax type: traditional money goes to a traditional IRA, Roth money to a Roth IRA.
3. Ask for a direct transfer or direct rollover. The new custodian usually sends the transfer request to your old IRA. For a 401(k), ask the plan for a direct rollover payable to the new custodian for your benefit.
4. Wait for the money to arrive. Depending on the old custodian or plan, this can take a few days or a few weeks.
5. Choose the metal. Tell the custodian which IRA-eligible coins or bars to buy and from which dealer. Get the price and the premium over spot in writing before you approve the purchase.
6. Confirm storage. The dealer ships the metal to the depository, and the custodian should confirm that it’s held for your IRA.

The traps to avoid

Taking a check made out to you. A workplace plan has to withhold 20% for federal taxes. To roll over the full amount, you deposit it within 60 days and make up the withheld 20% from other savings. Whatever you don’t redeposit is taxed as a distribution, and usually hit with a 10% additional tax if you’re under 59½.

Breaking the once-a-year rule. You can do only one IRA-to-IRA rollover in any 12-month period, counting all your IRAs together. A second one is treated as a taxable distribution. Trustee-to-trustee transfers and rollovers from workplace plans don’t count toward the limit, which is one more reason to use them.

Mixing Roth and traditional money. Moving pre-tax money into a Roth IRA is a Roth conversion, and the amount converted is taxable that year. Keep traditional money in a traditional gold IRA unless you mean to convert.

Letting a salesperson set the pace. A custodian holds the account but doesn’t check whether the metal or the price is any good. Securities regulators warn that using a legitimate custodian doesn’t make an investment legitimate. Be skeptical of “free” metal offers and ask for the premium on every item, so you can see what you’re actually paying. Our list of red flags when buying gold covers the common tactics.

Moving part of your savings

Nothing requires you to move a whole 401(k) or IRA. You can transfer part of an IRA, or roll part of a plan balance, and leave the rest where it is. How much to put into metal is a personal decision. Gold pays no income and its price can swing for years, which we cover in Is gold a safe investment? Our guides to gold IRA fees and keeping IRA gold at home answer two questions that usually come up next.

Frequently asked questions