TSP to Gold IRA: How to Move Your Thrift Savings Plan Into Gold (2026)
The TSP has no gold fund, so the only way to own physical gold with Thrift Savings Plan money is to move part of it into a self-directed gold IRA. You can do that without taxes, but only at certain times, and the TSP has its own rules about spouses, Roth money and paperwork. Here is exactly how it works, and what you give up by leaving the TSP.
The short answer
- The TSP cannot hold gold. The G Fund is government securities, not gold. You need a self-directed IRA to own physical metal.
- You can move money out after you leave federal service, or while still working once you are 59½ (up to four age-59½ withdrawals a year, $1,000 minimum each).
- Use a direct rollover. The TSP sends a Treasury check to your new IRA custodian, so nothing is withheld for taxes.
- You do not have to move everything. Partial moves are allowed, and the TSP’s funds cost a fraction of what a gold IRA does.
When can you move TSP money into a gold IRA?
Your employment status and age decide whether the TSP will release the money.
You have left federal service
Yes. You can move all of it or take partial withdrawals and roll them into an IRA. You can take more than one partial withdrawal.
Still working, age 59½ or older
Yes. Up to four age-59½ withdrawals per calendar year, each at least $1,000 (or your whole vested balance if it is less). Each can be rolled into an IRA.
Still working, under 59½
Generally no. Financial hardship withdrawals cannot be rolled over to an IRA. In most cases you wait until you turn 59½ or leave federal service.
Roth TSP money
Yes, to a Roth IRA. Withdrawals come proportionally from Roth and traditional balances, and each part is rolled over separately.
Tax-exempt (combat zone) money
Check your custodian. If the IRA will not accept tax-exempt balances, the TSP pays that portion to you instead.
Balance under $200 after separation
Automatic payout. The TSP pays very small balances out automatically. Those payments can still be rolled over.
Sources: TSP, In-service withdrawals; TSP Fact Sheet TSPFS05, Rollovers from the TSP; TSP booklet TSPBK25 (9/2026).
Your spouse may have to sign
If you are married, the TSP gives your spouse legal rights over your account, and the rules depend on your retirement system.
| You are | What the TSP requires |
|---|---|
| Married FERS or uniformed services participant, balance over $3,500 | Your spouse is entitled to a joint life annuity with a 50% survivor benefit. Any other choice, including a rollover to an IRA, needs your spouse’s signed consent. |
| Married FERS or uniformed services, still working | Your spouse must sign a consent waiver for an age-59½ withdrawal. |
| Married CSRS participant, balance over $3,500 | No consent needed, but the TSP notifies your spouse of the withdrawal. |
Source: TSP booklet TSPBK25, Installments, Total and Partial Distributions, Life Annuities (9/2026); TSP, In-service withdrawals.
How to move your TSP into a gold IRA
This is the direct rollover route, the one that keeps the IRS out of it.
- Decide how much to moveMost people move only part of their TSP. You can leave the rest in the TSP's low-cost funds.
- Open a self-directed gold IRAChoose a gold IRA company and open an account with its IRA custodian. Ask the custodian to confirm it accepts TSP rollovers, and whether it accepts tax-exempt (combat zone) money if you have any.
- Get the custodian's receiving detailsYou will need the exact payee name, account number and mailing address for the rollover check. Do not send the TSP the IRA provider's own forms; the TSP will not accept them.
- Request the withdrawal in TSP My AccountChoose a withdrawal, pick the amount, and elect to roll it over to an IRA using the custodian's details. You can also use ThriftLine. If you are a married FERS or uniformed services participant, your spouse's consent is part of the request.
- The TSP sends the money to your custodianThe TSP pays rollovers with a U.S. Treasury check made out to your new IRA custodian, not to you, so no 20% is withheld.
- Choose your metalsOnce the money arrives, pick IRS-approved gold or silver bullion. The metal is shipped to an approved depository in your IRA's name. Get the price and markup in writing before you approve the purchase.
Direct rollover vs having the TSP pay you
| What matters | Direct rollover | Paid to you first |
|---|---|---|
| Who the check is made out to | Your new IRA custodian | You |
| Federal tax withheld | None | 20% of the taxable amount |
| Deadline | None | 60 days to deposit the full amount in an IRA |
| If you miss it | Not an issue | The part not rolled over is taxed, and may face a 10% penalty if you are under 59½ |
Source: TSP booklet TSPBK26, Tax Rules About TSP Payments (4/2026). To roll over the full amount after 20% was withheld, you would have to make up the difference from other savings.
What you give up by moving money out of the TSP
The TSP charges very low fees. A gold IRA can make sense for part of your savings, but be clear about the trade-offs.
| On $100,000 | TSP | Gold IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly cost | About $34 to $51 (0.034% to 0.051% total expense ratios, 2025) | Roughly $225 in storage and custodian fees at several major companies, though some waive or cover fees |
| Cost to buy | No sales charge | Dealer markup over the spot price, which varies by product; ask for it in writing |
| Income | Interest and dividends inside the funds | None; gold pays no interest or dividends |
| Early access after leaving at 55+ | No 10% penalty if you separate in or after the year you turn 55 (50, or 25 years of service, for public safety employees) | That exception is lost; IRA withdrawals before 59½ can face the 10% penalty |
| Lifetime income option | Can buy a TSP annuity | No built-in annuity |
Sources: TSP, Expenses and fees (2025); TSPBK26 (4/2026). Gold IRA yearly figure based on Birch Gold’s and Goldco’s published fees; see our gold IRA fees guide for details.
The practical takeaway: most federal employees who buy gold move a portion of their TSP, not all of it, and keep the rest in the TSP’s low-cost funds. How much is right depends on your age, income needs and other savings, so it is worth running the numbers with a licensed financial advisor.
6 mistakes to avoid with a TSP to gold IRA move
1. Letting the TSP pay you
A check made out to you triggers 20% withholding and a 60-day deadline. Always choose a rollover to the IRA custodian.
2. Using the gold company’s forms
The TSP will not accept other institutions’ rollover forms. Request the withdrawal in TSP My Account or through ThriftLine.
3. Forgetting spouse consent
If you are a married FERS or uniformed services participant, the request cannot be processed without your spouse’s signed consent.
4. Moving everything at 55 and needing cash
Money left in the TSP can be withdrawn without the 10% penalty if you separated in or after the year you turned 55. Once it is in an IRA, that exception is gone until 59½.
5. Buying “rare” or collectible coins
Collectible and so-called semi-numismatic coins usually carry much bigger markups. Stick to IRS-approved bullion and get the price in writing. See our gold IRA red flags guide.
6. Falling for home storage pitches
Metal in an IRA must be held by an approved custodian or depository. Keeping IRA gold at home can be treated as a distribution.
What a gold IRA costs after the move
Expect a one-time setup fee, yearly storage and custodian fees, and a dealer markup on the metal itself. The markup is usually the biggest cost and the one companies say least about. Our gold IRA fees guide breaks this down company by company, and our gold IRA rollover guide covers moving a 401(k) or IRA as well. Have a 403(b) or 457(b) from a state or local job? See our 403(b) and 457(b) to gold IRA guide.
TSP to gold IRA: frequently asked questions
Can I roll my TSP into a gold IRA while I'm still a federal employee?
Only if you are 59 1/2 or older. The TSP allows up to four age-59 1/2 withdrawals per calendar year while you are still working, each at least $1,000 (or your whole vested balance if it is less), and you can roll them into an IRA. If you are younger than 59 1/2 and still employed, you generally have to wait until you leave federal service.
Does the TSP have a gold fund?
No. The TSP offers the G, F, C, S and I Funds, the Lifecycle Funds and a mutual fund window. The G Fund holds special-issue U.S. Treasury securities, not gold. To own physical gold with TSP money, you have to move money into a self-directed IRA that holds IRS-approved metals.
Will I owe taxes if I move my TSP to a gold IRA?
Not if you do a direct rollover, where the TSP sends the money straight to your new IRA custodian. If the TSP pays you instead, it must withhold 20% for federal income tax, and you have 60 days to deposit the full amount in an IRA or the part you miss is taxed and may face a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
Can I move only part of my TSP into a gold IRA?
Yes. After you leave federal service you can take partial withdrawals and roll all or part of them into an IRA, leaving the rest in the TSP. While still working, each age-59 1/2 withdrawal can be a partial amount of $1,000 or more.
Do I need my spouse's consent?
If you are a married FERS or uniformed services participant with more than $3,500 in the TSP, your spouse must sign a consent for most withdrawals, including age-59 1/2 withdrawals. For married CSRS participants, the TSP notifies your spouse instead of asking for consent.
Can I move my Roth TSP balance into a gold IRA?
Yes, into a Roth IRA that holds precious metals. If you have both Roth and traditional money, the TSP pays the withdrawal proportionally from each, and the traditional and Roth portions are rolled over separately, so you may need both a traditional and a Roth self-directed IRA.
How much more does a gold IRA cost than the TSP?
Much more. The TSP's total expense ratios for 2025 ranged from 0.034% to 0.051%, about $34 to $51 a year on $100,000. A gold IRA typically adds a setup fee, roughly $225 a year in storage and custodian fees at several major companies, and a dealer markup when you buy the metal.
Get the rollover explained before anything moves
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