Written by Pat Collins, edited and approved by John Halloran | 5.0 Google Review Rating | A+ BBB Rating with Zero Complaints | Serving 58,000+ Investors in All 50 States Since 1992

Content reviewed by Licensed CPA Amelia John on 6/30/26

Step by Step Guide: How to Sell a Gold IRA

• Have Your Statement Ready
  Gather your latest gold IRA statement.
• Call CGE at (800) 300-0715
  Request a free account valuation.
• Maximize Your Sell Price
  Backed by our Verified Fair Pricing
• Complete the Paperwork
  We’ll help you complete the required documents.
• Liquidation and Receipt of Funds
  Upon receiving your metal, we’ll wire the proceeds to your account.

Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know to successfully liquidate the gold IRA assets from within your individual retirement account. Our gold retirement account advisors are here to guide you through the process.

Why Do You Want to Liquidate The Precious Metals In Your IRA?

Every situation is a bit different, and each one requires different paperwork to process. Here are the most common reasons our clients choose to sell their gold or other precious metals — and how we help with each:

• Transfer to a New Custodian — Do you want to sell your metals and move the cash to a different custodian? We’ll help you sell and move the funds.
• Cash Distribution — Are you ready to cash out your gold IRA? We’ll help you liquidate and complete the distribution request paperwork.
• Inherited IRA — Have you inherited an IRA and want to sell the physical metals? We’ll help you liquidate the account and take a distribution or move the funds.
• Financial Advisors — Are you helping a client liquidate a precious metals IRA? We’ll help you secure a competitive buyback and transfer the funds.
• Required Minimum Distributions — Do you have to satisfy an RMD? We’ll help you sell just enough metal and handle the distribution paperwork.

Are you unhappy with the dealer you originally worked with? Rest assured you don’t have to use them again. We can help you liquidate — no matter who you originally bought from.

Gold IRA Liquidation Process and Required Documentation

Call Us for a Buyback Quote

Have your latest gold IRA statement handy and call our liquidation specialists at 800-300-0715. We’ll compare current buyback pricing on your exact holdings against two of the major online bullion sellers through our Verified Fair Pricing process — then call you back with our quote and the comparison. No obligation.

Complete the Required Paperwork

Each custodian’s a bit different, so we’ll walk you through the documents yours requires and help you complete them — start to finish. Whether it’s DocuSign or paper forms, we make sure it’s done right.

Here’s an example of an Investment Direction (Sell) Form and the information it requires. This document authorizes us to buy your metal. Section 1 (shown here) confirms your name, account number, email, and the last four of your Social.

This is the Purchase Order we send your custodian once pricing is locked. It documents exactly what we’re purchasing and the agreed price — the same number we quoted you.

And if you’re taking cash out rather than transferring, this Distribution Request Form authorizes the distribution. Section 1 (shown here) identifies your account and whether the distribution is an RMD.

Who’s Your Gold IRA Custodian?

Certified Gold Exchange can work with any self-directed IRA custodian. Some dealers have been cut off by certain custodians because of client complaints or disputes. We’ve never been — we’re able to work with all of them. That means no matter who holds your IRA account, we can help you sell. 

Custodians we work with most often include: 

• Strata Trust 
• Equity Trust 
• GoldStar Trust 
• New Direction Trust Company 
• Entrust 

Don’t see yours? See the full list of self-directed Gold IRA custodians or call us at 800-300-0715.

With Cash in Your Account, What’s Next?

Once your metal is sold and the cash is in your IRA, you have a few options:

Transfer to Another IRA

Most clients move the funds to another retirement account — via a direct, custodian-to-custodian transfer that’s a non taxable event. We can help you coordinate with your other IRA provider, and it’s usually completed within a few days.

Take a Cash Distribution

If you’d rather withdraw the funds, we’ll help you complete a Distribution Request form. A few things to be aware of:

• You get to choose whether to withhold federal and, if applicable, state taxes.
• Distributions from a Traditional IRA are generally taxed as ordinary income for the year.
• Qualified distributions from a Roth IRA are generally tax-free.
• Distributions taken before age 59½ may trigger a 10% early withdrawal penalty from the IRS.
• Your custodian can send funds by ACH (usually free), or a wire or check for a fee.

This applies whether the funds came from your own IRA or an inherited one — the end result is the same. Inherited accounts carry additional distribution rules, so we’ll handle the paperwork and recommend you confirm the specifics with your tax advisor.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

An RMD is a distribution the IRS requires you to take starting at age 73 (Roth IRAs are exempt for the original owner). Your custodian will typically calculate your RMD amount for you.

Inherited gold IRAs follow different rules. A spouse can frequently assume the account as their own and use the standard RMD timeline. A non-spouse beneficiary, however, generally must empty it within 10 years, sometimes with annual RMDs. The rules are nuanced though, so we’ll help with the paperwork and recommend you confirm the details with your tax advisor.

In some cases you can satisfy your RMD by taking an in-kind distribution (receiving physical gold and silver instead). Call us at 800-300-0715 to explore an in-kind RMD.

Don’t wait until the end of the year to start — custodians and depositories are especially busy then, and missing an RMD deadline can result in a steep IRS penalty.

Keep a Cash Balance

Sometimes clients also choose to leave the cash in the account — your custodian may pay interest on the balance, similar to a money market account, while you decide your next move.

Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Gold IRA

CGE has been helping clients liquidate precious metals IRAs for decades, and we’ve seen quite a few costly mistakes made. Here’s what to watch out for:

1. Allowing a dealer to talk you into an unnecessary metal swap.
   Some predatory firms use liquidation calls as an opportunity to pressure investors into exchanging one metal or coin for another, often creating new spreads, commissions, delays, or losses for the client. If you call a dealer to liquidate your gold IRA and they try to talk you out of selling or push you into a replacement product, consider it a serious red flag and contact Certified Gold Exchange immediately.
2. Accepting your custodian’s valuation at face value.
   Most custodians value your account by multiplying the number of ounces you hold by the spot price. But coins like American Silver Eagles frequently trade at a premium above spot, and sometimes significantly more. So make sure to always get an independent dealer quote to ensure you’re not leaving money on the table.
3. Not confirming if your dealer can transact at your depository.                                   If your dealer and their partners don’t have accounts at the depository where your metals are stored, your coins or bars must be packaged and physically shipped elsewhere — adding time, cost, and risk. CGE and our trading partners maintain accounts at the major depositories, including the Delaware Depository, International Depository Services, and Brink’s in Salt Lake City, which eliminates shipping in most cases and speeds up your payout by several days.
4. Liquidating right before an RMD deadline.
   Clients who wait too long to sell metal for their Required Minimum Distribution might not make the December 31st deadline, which can result in a 25% penalty on the undistributed amount. Custodians and depositories are very busy towards the end of the year. So starting the process in October or November should give you plenty of time to execute the liquidation and take your RMD on time.

Avoid these common pitfalls and make informed decisions, so you can keep more of your money and close faster — which is exactly what we’ll help you do. Call us at 800-300-0715 with any questions before you sell.

FAQs

1. Do I Have to Sell My Metal Back to the Dealer I Bought From? 

No. You’re free to sell to any dealer you choose — you’re never locked into the company you originally bought from. Many of our clients come to us precisely because they were unhappy with their original dealer. We help investors liquidate no matter who they first purchased their metals from.

2. How to Sell a Gold IRA You’ve Inherited from Your Spouse? 

This is one of the more common situations we help with. As a spouse, you can generally treat the inherited account as your own — transferring the precious metals into an existing self-directed IRA if you have one, or into a new one we can help you open. Once it’s in your name, selling works exactly like any other liquidation.

In some cases — usually if you’re under 59½ — keeping the assets in a beneficiary (inherited) IRA can make sense instead. Because the right choice depends on your unique situation, we recommend confirming the specific tax implications with your tax advisor first. Once you’ve decided, we’ll handle the paperwork from there.

3. How Does My IRA Custodian Value My Precious Metals?

Most custodians typically provide a market value based on the spot price. They simply multiply the number of ounces (of gold, silver, platinum and palladium) you hold in bars or coins by the price of metal to obtain your “value.” But some items, like American Eagles, are typically worth more than the spot price, so it’s not an accurate valuation. Other items, like so-called “premium” or “exclusive” coins, are frequently worth less than bullion items.

4. How Long Does the Cash Out Process Typically Take?

The timeline will depend on market conditions, your custodian, and where your IRA assets are stored. But generally, it will typically take 10 to 14 days before you receive the money.

5. Can I Sell Just Part of My Gold IRA? 

Yes. You can sell just a part of your gold IRA. You don’t have to liquidate your entire account. Many clients sell only a portion, whether to satisfy an RMD, raise some cash, or rebalance their investment portfolio. We’ll help you sell just enough metal and will complete the paperwork for your partial withdrawal or transfer.

6. What Fees are Involved with Selling Gold in my IRA?

Each custodian will have their own set of fees. But you can typically count on paying a transaction fee. If you take a cash distribution, you may be charged a fee to have a check or wire sent to you. And if you close your account, many custodians will charge you an account closure fee as well. Your metals dealer will also typically charge a buy/sell spread of a few percent. But the buyback quote we provide is the exact amount you’ll receive — no hidden fees.

7. Can I Still Contribute to my Account After Selling Gold From It? 

Yes. The IRA contribution limit for 2026 is $7,500 if you are under age 50 and $8,600 if you are age 50 or older. These limits apply to your total combined contributions to Traditional and Roth IRAs. Roth IRA contribution limits use the same dollar caps, but eligibility is subject to annual income limits.

Disclaimer: The Certified Gold Exchange, Inc. is a precious metals dealer. CGE is not a tax advisor or legal advisor. Customers should consult their tax professional and financial advisor before liquidating or distributing precious metals from within their retirement accounts.

About the Authors

Pat Collins & John Halloran bring over 5 decades of hands-on experience in the precious metals industry. They can help you sell your gold IRA, with any self-directed IRA custodian. Their focus is simple: help clients get a fair, competitively priced buyback with no pressure and no surprises. Certified Gold Exchange has served precious metals investors since 1992.

Have a question about liquidating your gold IRA? Call Pat or a member of the CGE liquidation team at 800-300-0715.