Dealers and custodians often use "transfer" and "rollover" interchangeably. The IRS does not. The mechanics, and the risks, differ.
What is a trustee-to-trustee transfer?
A trustee-to-trustee transfer moves funds directly from one IRA custodian to another without you ever taking possession. There is no 60-day clock, no withholding, and no limit on how often transfers may occur, making it the simplest path for most precious-metals IRA funding.
What is a 60-day rollover?
A 60-day rollover pays a distribution to you, or a check payable to you, and you have 60 days to redeposit the full amount into an IRA. Missing the deadline makes the distribution taxable and possibly subject to an additional early distribution tax.
How often can I do an indirect rollover?
You may complete only one IRA-to-IRA indirect rollover per any 12-month period, aggregated across all of your IRAs. This limit does not apply to trustee-to-trustee transfers or to rollovers between IRAs and employer plans.
What is the withholding pitfall on a rollover?
A distribution from a 401(k), 403(b), or similar employer plan paid to you is generally subject to 20% mandatory federal withholding. To roll the full pre-withholding amount into an IRA within 60 days, you must replace the withheld 20% from other funds, or that portion becomes a taxable distribution.
Which method applies to my situation?
For IRA-to-IRA moves, including into a precious-metals IRA, a trustee-to-trustee transfer is typically preferred. For a 401(k), 403(b), TSP, or similar plan, you can use either a direct rollover with no withholding or an indirect rollover paid to you and subject to withholding.
This is general education. Confirm the correct method for your specific account with your custodian and a tax professional. Our specialists coordinate the paperwork once the method is chosen. See also which metals are IRA-eligible.