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Most retirement accounts qualify for rollover.
What retirement accounts qualify for a Gold IRA rollover, and the specific rules that apply to each account type — from 401(k)s to TSPs.
If you have a retirement account from a former employer or a Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA, you can almost certainly roll over funds into a Gold IRA. Active 401(k) plans with current employers have additional rules — we'll walk you through your specific options on your free assessment call.
Not sure if your account qualifies? Call us at 877-330-3228 — a specialist will review your specific situation clearly.
Full rollover eligible
Full rollover eligible
Full rollover eligible
After 2-year holding period
Full rollover eligible
Full rollover eligible
Full rollover eligible
Federal employees / military
Each retirement account type has slightly different rollover mechanics. Here's what to know for the most common situations.
The most straightforward rollover. A Traditional IRA can be transferred to a Self-Directed Gold IRA via a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer with no tax consequences and no withholding. You can also do partial rollovers — moving only a portion of your Traditional IRA balance to gold while keeping the rest invested elsewhere.
Roth IRA assets can be rolled into a Self-Directed Roth IRA holding gold and silver. The Roth tax treatment is preserved — qualified distributions remain tax-free in retirement. You cannot, however, roll a Traditional IRA into a Roth Gold IRA without doing a Roth conversion, which is a taxable event.
If you've left a job and still have a 401(k) with that former employer, you can almost always roll it directly to a Self-Directed Gold IRA. There's typically no tax penalty, no withholding, and no limit on how much you can move. This is the most common scenario for Gold IRA rollovers.
Active 401(k) plans with your current employer have additional rules. Some plans allow "in-service rollovers" once you reach age 59½, while others restrict rollovers until you separate from employment. Your specialist will review your specific plan documents to confirm what's possible. If your current 401(k) doesn't allow in-service rollovers, you can still open a new Self-Directed Gold IRA with separate funds.
Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs are used primarily by self-employed individuals and small business owners. They can be rolled directly into a Self-Directed Gold IRA without restriction. The SEP structure can also continue to receive employer contributions while a portion is rolled to gold.
SIMPLE IRAs have a unique 2-year holding rule. During the first 2 years after your initial contribution, the only allowed rollover is to another SIMPLE IRA. After the 2-year period, you can roll a SIMPLE IRA into any other IRA type — including a Self-Directed Gold IRA — under standard rollover rules.
403(b) accounts (used by employees of public schools, hospitals, and non-profits) can be rolled directly into a Self-Directed Gold IRA. Same rules as a 401(k): if you've left the employer, the rollover is straightforward. If you're still employed, your plan documents determine eligibility for in-service rollovers.
457(b) plans (typically held by state and local government employees) follow similar rollover rules to 401(k) and 403(b) accounts. After leaving the employer, the full balance is eligible for rollover to a Self-Directed Gold IRA with no penalty.
Federal employees and military service members with TSP accounts can roll over to a Self-Directed Gold IRA after separation from service. TSP rollovers are completely tax-free and penalty-free when done as a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. Vault Metal works with TSP holders frequently and is familiar with the specific TSP-86 form requirements.
Not sure which category your account falls into? Your free assessment includes a review of your specific account documents to confirm what's eligible for rollover. Call 877-330-3228 or schedule a callback.
The IRS rules that govern Gold IRAs are the same rules that govern traditional retirement accounts — but a few specifics matter when you're rolling over physical metals. Here's what you'll want to know before getting started.
$8,000 if you're 50 or older
The 2026 IRS contribution limit for a Gold IRA matches the traditional IRA limit. Catch-up contributions for clients 50+ add $1,000 annually. Rollovers from existing retirement accounts are not counted against this limit.
Same as traditional IRA rules
You can take distributions from your Gold IRA without the 10% early withdrawal penalty starting at age 59½. Distributions before this age are taxable and subject to penalty, with limited exceptions (disability, first-time home purchase, qualified education expenses, etc.).
Per SECURE Act 2.0
Traditional Gold IRA holders must begin taking annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) at age 73. RMDs can be satisfied either by selling metals back to Vault Metal for cash or by taking an in-kind distribution of the physical metals. Roth Gold IRAs have no RMD requirement.
For indirect rollovers only
If you take possession of retirement funds personally during a rollover, you have 60 days to deposit them into the new IRA before they're treated as a taxable distribution. Vault Metal handles direct trustee-to-trustee rollovers, which avoid this rule entirely — funds move directly between custodians without you ever touching them.
Higher for silver, platinum, palladium
The IRS requires gold to be at least 99.5% pure (American Gold Eagles are an approved exception at 91.67%), silver at 99.9%, and platinum & palladium at 99.95%. Approved metals must come from accredited refineries or sovereign mints. Collectibles, rare coins, and jewelry are not IRA-eligible.
No home storage permitted
IRA-held precious metals must be stored at an IRS-approved depository — you cannot keep them at home or in a personal safe deposit box. Vault Metal works with Delaware Depository, which offers Lloyd's-insured, fully allocated, segregated storage in your name.
This information reflects current IRS rules and is for general guidance only. It does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Specific situations vary — your Vault Metal specialist can walk through how the rules apply to your retirement accounts, and we encourage you to consult your tax advisor for advice specific to your circumstances.
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