Precious Metals IRA Rollover Checker
Find out whether your retirement account can move into a gold or silver IRA, and which IRS rules apply.
The rules governing what can and cannot move into a self-directed IRA are scattered across several parts of the tax code, and the consequences of getting them wrong are expensive. A rollover handled correctly is not a taxable event at any age. The same money moved the wrong way can trigger income tax on the entire balance, a ten percent penalty, or in one specific case a twenty-five percent penalty.
This tool asks three questions and returns the rules that apply to your particular situation: whether the account is eligible at all, whether tax is due, whether a penalty applies, and which deadlines you need to respect. It covers twelve of the most common US retirement accounts, including several that people are commonly surprised to find are restricted.
It is general information, not tax advice. Plan documents vary, and an individual situation can turn on details this tool does not ask about.
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Precious Metals IRA Rollover Checker
Find out whether your retirement account can be moved into a Gold or Silver IRA, whether you will owe tax, and which IRS rules apply to your situation.
Calculating…
Based on current IRS rollover rules for qualified retirement plans and IRAs. Methodology & sources ↓
Methodology: results reflect IRS rules for rollovers into a self-directed IRA holding IRS-approved precious metals, including the 60-day rollover window, the 20% mandatory withholding on distributions from employer plans, the once-per-12-months limit on indirect IRA-to-IRA rollovers, the two-year SIMPLE IRA rule, and required minimum distributions beginning at age 73. This tool provides general information, not tax advice — plan documents and individual circumstances vary, so confirm your situation with a qualified tax professional before moving funds.
Methodology and sources
Rules applied. The sixty-day rollover window; the twenty percent mandatory withholding on distributions from employer-sponsored plans; the once-per-twelve-months limit on indirect IRA-to-IRA rollovers; the two-year SIMPLE IRA restriction and its twenty-five percent penalty; the ten percent early distribution penalty below age 59½; required minimum distributions from age 73; and in-service distribution limits on plans held with a current employer.
Direct versus indirect. A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is not reported as a distribution, carries no withholding and has no deadline. An indirect rollover puts the funds in your hands first and starts a sixty-day clock. Most costly rollover mistakes originate there.
What the tool does not know. Individual plan documents, which can be more restrictive than the tax code allows. A plan administrator is the definitive source on whether a specific plan permits a rollover at a given time.
Maintenance. These are statutory rules rather than provider terms, so they change rarely. The page is reviewed when the IRS updates a threshold, such as the RMD starting age.
Frequently asked questions
Does rolling a 401(k) into a gold IRA trigger tax?
Not if it is done as a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. The funds move between custodians without being reported as a distribution, so there is no income tax and no withholding, regardless of your age.
What happens if I miss the sixty-day deadline?
The entire amount is treated as a distribution. It becomes taxable income in the year received, and if you are under 59½ a ten percent early distribution penalty applies on top. The IRS grants waivers in limited circumstances, but they are not automatic.
Can I roll over a 401(k) while still working for the employer?
Only if the plan permits an in-service distribution. Many plans allow this from age 59½, some allow it earlier, and some do not allow it at all. This is set by the plan document rather than by the IRS, so the plan administrator is the only reliable source.
Why is the twenty percent withholding so important?
On an indirect rollover from an employer plan, the administrator must withhold twenty percent even if you intend to roll the money over. To complete a full tax-free rollover you have to deposit one hundred percent of the original balance within sixty days, replacing the withheld portion from your own funds and reclaiming it later on your return.
Do required minimum distributions affect a rollover?
Yes. From age 73 an RMD amount cannot be rolled over. It has to be taken first, and only the remainder can move. This is worth planning ahead of time in a metals IRA, because physical metal is not easily divisible.
This tool provides general information about IRS rollover rules and is not tax or legal advice. Confirm your situation with a qualified tax professional and your plan administrator before moving retirement funds.
Looking for provider comparisons? See our gold IRA company reviews and silver IRA company reviews.