Can I do a TSP rollover without paying any tax?
Yes — a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is tax-free and penalty-free under IRC § 408(d)(3). Tax only applies if you take physical possession of the funds and miss the 60-day redeposit window.
Reviewed by Gold IRA Blueprint Editorial TeamLast updated
Quick Answer
The TSP is the federal employee and military service retirement plan. It functions like a 401(k), and average TSP balances are unusually high — making TSP-to-Gold-IRA rollovers among the highest-value transactions in the industry. The full process takes 2–3 weeks for most TSP accounts and is tax-free when handled as a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer.
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TSP → Gold IRA: The 5-Step Process
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1
Open a self-directed Gold IRA
Choose a Gold IRA custodian (Augusta or Birch in most cases). They handle the paperwork to establish a Traditional, Roth, or SEP self-directed IRA depending on your source account type.
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2
Request the rollover from your TSP administrator
After separating from federal service, you can roll your full TSP balance to a Gold IRA tax-free via a direct transfer. While employed, TSP rollovers are restricted to age-based withdrawals (after 59½) and hardship distributions.
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3
Fund settles in 7–14 days
The receiving Gold IRA custodian confirms receipt. Throughout this period your money is in cash inside the new IRA — no market exposure.
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4
Select IRS-approved metals
Gold must be ≥99.5% pure (American Gold Eagles are explicitly allowed). Silver ≥99.9%. Your account rep walks you through allocation between gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
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5
Metals ship to an approved depository
Bullion goes directly from the dealer to an IRS-approved depository — most commonly Delaware Depository or the Texas Bullion Depository. You receive a confirmation statement within ~5 business days.
⚠ Critical TSP rule
Submitting TSP-99 paperwork without a receiving custodian ready
Once TSP-99 is filed, you have a tight window to receive funds into your Gold IRA. Open and fund the receiving Gold IRA account FIRST, then file TSP-99 — not the other way around.
Key restriction: TSP-to-Gold-IRA rollovers are only available after separation from federal service, reaching age 59½, or qualifying for a hardship distribution. Active-duty military have additional restrictions documented in TSP Bulletin 12-13.
2026 TSP Limits & Tax Treatment
2026 contribution limit
In 2026: $23,500 employee contribution limit ($31,000 if age 50+).
Rollover tax treatment
Tax-free and penalty-free with direct trustee-to-trustee transfer
Typical balance rolled
$80,000 to $450,000
Time to complete
2–3 weeks end-to-end
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Top Gold IRA Companies for TSP Rollovers
| Rank | Provider | Min | BBB | Best For | Get Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Augusta Precious Metals
★ 5 · 13 yrs
|
$50,000 | A+ | $100k+ savers wanting white-glove service and education-first onboarding | Free Kit |
| #2 |
Birch Gold Group
★ 4.8 · 22 yrs
|
$10,000 | A+ | Accounts under $100k that need an accessible entry point with strong education | Free Kit |
| #3 |
Goldco
★ 4.8 · 19 yrs
|
$25,000 | A+ | Mid-range investors who value fast setup and the up-to-10% free silver promotion | — |
| #4 |
American Hartford Gold
★ 4.9 · 10 yrs
|
$10,000 | A+ | Cost-sensitive savers under $100k who want low fees and an easy online setup | — |
| #5 |
Advantage Gold
★ 4.9 · 12 yrs
|
$5,000 | A+ | Beginners — $5,000 minimum is the lowest of any major Gold IRA company | — |
Rankings reflect editorial review of BBB rating, minimum, fees, customer reviews, and time in business. Last updated June 2026.
Helpful Tools Before You Rollover
TSP → Gold IRA FAQs
People Also Ask About TSP Rollovers
Quick answers to the adjacent questions 2026 retirement savers ask alongside this one.
What's the difference between a TSP rollover and transfer?
A "transfer" moves funds custodian-to-custodian (no 60-day clock, no 1099-R). A "rollover" technically means the check passes through you. In practice, both terms are used loosely — always request the trustee-to-trustee version.
How many TSP rollovers can I do per year?
The IRS one-rollover-per-12-months rule (Bobrow v. Commissioner) applies to indirect IRA-to-IRA rollovers only. Direct trustee-to-trustee transfers and 401(k)-source rollovers are unlimited.
Can I roll a TSP into a Roth Gold IRA?
Yes — this is a "Roth conversion." The converted amount is taxable as ordinary income in the year of conversion, but no penalty applies and all future qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
Model a Roth conversion →What happens to my employer match if I roll over?
Vested matching contributions roll out with the rest. Unvested match is forfeited per your plan's vesting schedule. Confirm your vesting status before initiating.
Can I roll over while still employed?
Many plans permit an in-service rollover starting at age 59½. Some allow earlier rollover of after-tax contributions. Check your plan's Summary Plan Description for "in-service distribution" rules.
Will the rollover affect my Social Security?
No. Rollovers don't count as income, so they don't affect Social Security benefit calculations or taxation. Only the eventual distributions in retirement count toward provisional income.
Do I need a financial advisor to roll over a TSP?
Not legally — Gold IRA custodians walk you through the entire process. A fee-only fiduciary advisor can be useful for the broader allocation decision (how much to put in gold vs. equities vs. bonds).
Free 2-minute eligibility quiz →Can I roll over partial amounts at different times?
Yes — most plans allow multiple partial rollovers. A common pattern is to roll over 50% now, watch performance for a year, then decide on the remaining balance.
What if I miss the 60-day rollover deadline?
The IRS allows a "self-certification" waiver for certain hardships (PLR 2016-50). If denied, the entire amount becomes taxable plus a 10% early-withdrawal penalty if you're under 59½.
Best Gold IRA for a TSP rollover under $50k?
Birch Gold Group ($10,000 minimum) is the most common pick under $50k. Augusta Precious Metals takes over above $50k thanks to flat-fee pricing.
Compare all TSP-eligible rollover guides
Every rollover-eligible account type has a dedicated guide with step-by-step paperwork, common pitfalls, and provider recommendations.
Authority hub: all rollover guides →Key Terms & Related Concepts
The vocabulary every Gold IRA decision touches — IRS regulations, custody, tax treatment, and adjacent retirement concepts.
- Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA)
- An IRA structured to hold alternative assets including precious metals. Same federal contribution limits as a regular IRA but the custodian permits a wider asset menu.
- Custodian
- An IRS-approved trust company that holds title to your IRA assets. Required for every Gold IRA — you can't be your own custodian.
- Depository
- An IRS-approved facility that physically stores your Gold IRA bullion. Most common: Delaware Depository, Brink's, Texas Bullion Depository.
- Trustee-to-trustee transfer
- Direct movement of funds from one IRA custodian to another with no check made payable to you — tax-free and unlimited under IRC § 408(d)(3).
- IRC § 408(m)(3)
- The federal statute that permits IRAs to hold gold (≥99.5% pure), silver (≥99.9%), platinum, and palladium meeting purity requirements.
- Spot price
- The live market price for one troy ounce of pure gold or silver. IRA-grade coins typically trade 3–8% above spot to cover minting and dealer margin.
- SECURE 2.0 Act (2022)
- Federal law that raised RMD age to 73 (rising to 75 in 2033), tightened beneficiary 10-year drain rules, and added Roth catch-up requirements for high earners.
- Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
- The annual amount you must withdraw from a Traditional Gold IRA starting at age 73 under SECURE 2.0. Roth IRAs have no lifetime RMDs. Free RMD calculator →
- 60-day rollover rule
- If you take physical receipt of retirement funds, you have 60 days to deposit them into a qualifying IRA or owe income tax + 10% penalty under 59½.
- 5-year Roth rule
- Earnings on a Roth Gold IRA are tax-free only if 5 tax years have passed since your first Roth contribution AND you're 59½+. Conversions have a separate 5-year clock.
- In-kind distribution
- Taking physical possession of your Gold IRA bullion as a distribution. Taxed as ordinary income at fair market value on the distribution date.
- Backdoor Roth
- Strategy for high earners above Roth income limits — contribute to a Traditional IRA (non-deductible) then convert to Roth. Available for Gold IRAs too.
Sources & References
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements
- IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements
- IRC § 408(d)(3) — Rollover contributions
- IRS Notice 2014-54 — Allocation of pre-tax and after-tax amounts in rollovers
- Bobrow v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2014-21 — One-rollover-per-12-months rule
Recommended next step
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