Gold IRA Rollover Checklist: Print Before You Move

The short answer

Work from the source account outward: confirm what may move, verify the new account and quote, match the payment instructions, then reconcile receipt and custody. These boxes stay in this browser session; they are not submitted or stored by the site.

On this page

What should I check before a gold IRA rollover?

Establish the account type, available distribution and reason for changing the existing arrangement before speaking about a metal order.

Find the latest source-account statement and plan distribution instructions.
Identify traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE or other tax sources.
Ask the administrator which amount can move now.
Check whether an RMD or other ineligible payment must be handled separately.
Compare the current plan’s charges, access and investments with the proposed IRA.
Decide what would make you keep the current account instead.

Before-starting worksheet: a blank box records an unresolved check. Use the current plan’s official documents to supply the answer.

RMDs, employer-plan hardship payments and certain other distributions cannot be rolled over. Ask the payer to confirm which part of your proposed payment is eligible before it leaves the plan. ^[1]

Blank pad and pencil illustrating a gold IRA rollover checklist — Generated editorial illustration. No company, customer account or actual transaction is shown.

What should the company and custodian explain?

They should identify who performs each job and give you written terms you can compare before signing.

Get the legal name of the actual IRA custodian.
Confirm that the new account accepts the intended source and tax type.
Request the opening, administration, storage and transaction-fee schedule.
Ask the old institution about exit, wire, closure or contract charges.
Request the exact metal description, quantity and full invoice.
Request a current repurchase bid for that same metal.
Ask whether buyback is required and what conditions apply.
Record which contact handles a payment problem and which handles a purchase problem.

Request the full purchase price and a same-day repurchase quote for the exact metal. The gap is a cost of entering and leaving the position; a low account fee does not remove it. ^[4] The company guide supplies the published starting facts; the actual quote should fill the gaps.

What must match on the payment paperwork?

The source account, receiving account, tax type, amount and payee must describe the transaction you actually intend.

Check the receiving account number against the custodian’s written instructions.
Confirm whether the movement is a direct rollover or trustee transfer.
Check the exact payee wording before a check is printed.
Keep traditional and Roth instructions separate where required.
Save the complete submitted forms and required approvals.
Keep the payer’s confirmation and payment reference.
Get confirmation of receipt from the receiving custodian.

Ask the employer plan to pay the receiving IRA directly. The mandatory withholding for a payment to you does not apply to this direct route. ^[1] For an existing IRA, request payment from the old trustee to the new trustee. A trustee-to-trustee transfer avoids withholding and is outside the IRA rollover frequency limit. ^[2] If a personal payment has already been issued, read the indirect rollover deadline and withholding explanation rather than using this checklist as tax advice.

What should you verify after the IRA is funded?

Match the money received with the trade you authorized and the custody record you receive. Funding the account does not prove the later order is correct.

Reconcile the amount leaving the old account with the amount arriving.
Check every invoice line against the order you approved.
Confirm the metal type and storage arrangement with the custodian.
Retain the first custody statement and query unexplained differences.
Keep the applicable tax forms and give them to your tax preparer.
Retain the fee schedule and note when recurring charges are due.
Record how to request a sale, transfer or account closure later.

Gold held in an IRA must fit the statutory coins or bullion exception. Qualifying bullion must be in the physical possession of an eligible trustee. Confirm the custodian's accepted metal and storage arrangements before purchase. ^[3]

When should you leave the next box unticked?

Leave it unticked when a term is missing, the payment type is uncertain or you feel pushed to proceed before comparing the documents.

Gold can fall in price and pays no income. Dealer pricing, custody and storage add costs; FINRA says self-directed IRA fees are typically higher than directed-IRA fees. A rollover is not right for everyone. ^[4] For a fresh start, return to the rollover route by account.

What else should you check?

Check the account-specific rule and the conditions in each answer before approving a payment.

Are the checkboxes saved or sent to a company?

No. There is no account, form submission or server storage for these boxes. Print or save your own copy if you want to retain a working record.

Can this checklist replace the plan’s forms?

No. Use the current institution’s official instructions and forms and check the IRS rollover overview. The sheet is an aid for questions and recordkeeping, not an authorization to move money.

Which sources support this guide?

Rule sources checked November 2, 2026; access dates are shown below. Company records carry their own checked dates beside the figures.

IRS Topic 413: rolloversAccessed 2026-11-02.
IRS: retirement plan and IRA rolloversAccessed 2026-11-02.
26 USC 408(m): coins, bullion and trustee possessionAccessed 2026-11-02.
FINRA/CFTC: questions before buying physical metalsAccessed 2026-11-02.

Change log · November 2, 2026
Updated the worksheet to link deadline questions to the dedicated rule guide and included official IRS instructions alongside institution forms.
Pre-launch check: metadata, answer order, link wording and publication dates reviewed. Release state: pre-launch; no production baseline.

Where should you go next?

Choose the next guide for the decision in front of you.