Gold IRAs for Texas Teachers

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission when a reader opens an account through links on this page. The commission has no effect on what you pay or on what we publish. We are not a financial or tax advisor; consult a licensed advisor for your situation. Last reviewed June 2026.

Quick answer

Yes, a Texas teacher can hold a gold IRA. The path depends on where the money comes from. A direct annual contribution is capped at 7,500 dollars per year for tax year 2026, or 8,600 dollars at age 50 and older, and it can be split across a traditional or Roth self-directed IRA that buys IRS-approved bullion.

The larger dollars usually come from a rollover. The rollover door only opens when a distribution becomes eligible. A Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) monthly annuity is not eligible. A TRS Partial Lump-Sum Option at retirement and a full refund of member contributions after separation are eligible.

A 403(b) sitting inside a former school district is eligible after separation from that employer. Texas has no state income tax. The state-run Texas Bullion Depository in Leander accepts IRA metal through its operator Lone Star Tangible Assets.

Short on time? The essentials

Every active Texas teacher can already open a self-directed IRA today and put annual contributions into IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum, or palladium meeting IRC Section 408(m) fineness rules.
The 2026 annual IRA contribution ceiling is 7,500 dollars, or 8,600 dollars once the teacher turns 50. That ceiling is combined across all of the teacher's IRAs (traditional and Roth), not per account.
TRS money cannot leave TRS while a member is still contributing. A refund requires permanent separation from every TRS-covered employer. A Partial Lump-Sum Option is available only at retirement, with tier-specific eligibility.
Rollable teacher money outside TRS lives in supplemental plans. A 403(b) or 457(b) tied to a former school district or higher-education employer is rollable after that employment ends, using a direct rollover to avoid the 20 percent federal withholding under IRC Section 3405.
Only the self-directed IRA structure can legally hold physical metal. A qualified custodian buys the bullion, and an IRS-approved depository stores it. Home storage of IRA metal is a full distribution, per the 2021 Tax Court ruling in McNulty v. Commissioner.
Texas has no state personal income tax under Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution. Contributions, rollovers, required minimum distributions, and taxable early withdrawals are taxed at the federal level only.
The Texas Bullion Depository in Leander is available for IRA storage through Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, which received IRS approval as a nonbank trustee in 2023. Equity Trust Company is the first self-directed IRA custodian working with the depository, checked June 2026.
Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset rules changed under the Social Security Fairness Act signed in January 2025. A gold IRA rollover does not turn either offset on or off.

On this page

Can a Texas teacher have a gold IRA at all?
The two funding doors: contribute or roll
Where TRS ends and a gold IRA can begin
The 403(b) and 457(b) supplemental path
Annual contributions from a teacher's take-home pay
Opening a gold IRA as a Texas teacher in eight steps
2026 contribution limits at a glance
Table: which teacher accounts can move to a gold IRA
What metal an IRA can actually hold
Texas advantages: no state tax and the Texas Bullion Depository
Social Security offsets, WEP, and GPO
Check whether a distribution is eligible to roll
Worked example: an Austin teacher splits her 2026 IRA contribution
When a gold IRA is a bad idea for a Texas teacher
Your next step
Texas teacher gold IRA FAQ

Can a Texas teacher have a gold IRA at all?

Yes. A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds IRS-approved bullion or coins. Any Texas resident with earned income can open one and add annual contributions. Being a public-school employee changes what can be moved into it, not whether the account can exist.

The confusion usually comes from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. TRS is a defined benefit pension. It is not an account balance a member can withdraw at will. That is why an active teacher cannot just move a chunk of TRS to a gold IRA in the middle of the school year.

Two funding doors are open regardless of TRS. Annual out-of-pocket contributions can start today, subject to the standard IRA limit. Rollable dollars from a supplemental 403(b), 457(b), or a previous employer plan can move any time that account is no longer active and locked by the current employer.

The two funding doors: contribute or roll

Every gold IRA is funded through one of two channels. Direct annual contributions cap at 7,500 dollars for tax year 2026, or 8,600 dollars for a taxpayer age 50 and older. The limit applies across all of a person's IRAs combined, so a teacher already contributing to a traditional or Roth IRA elsewhere counts that toward the ceiling.

Rollovers are the larger and more common funding source. A rollover moves an eligible retirement plan balance from a prior plan into a self-directed IRA without triggering current-year tax, as long as it follows the direct-rollover mechanics under IRC Section 401(a)(31) and Section 402(c). The plan sends the money to the receiving custodian, not to the member.

The receiving custodian is what makes a gold IRA physically possible. A self-directed IRA uses a qualified non-bank trustee or specialty custodian that can hold bullion. The two most common Texas-facing names are Equity Trust Company and STRATA Trust. Equity Trust is currently the first custodian working with the Texas Bullion Depository through Lone Star Tangible Assets.

Where TRS ends and a gold IRA can begin

TRS itself is not rollable while a member is active. The plan pays a lifetime monthly annuity in retirement, and IRS Publication 575 treats a series of substantially equal periodic payments over a life expectancy as ineligible for rollover. So a working teacher who intends to draw a TRS annuity someday cannot roll that future income stream into a gold IRA.

Two TRS cash forms are eligible for rollover. A Partial Lump-Sum Option (PLSO) elected at retirement, sized as 12, 24, or 36 months of the standard service retirement annuity, is an eligible rollover distribution. TRS provides the appropriate rollover form no earlier than two months prior to the member's retirement date.

The second is a refund of accumulated member contributions plus interest, filed on TRS Form 6 after the member permanently terminates all TRS-covered employment. TRS Form 6A is the Refund Rollover Election. Partial withdrawals are not allowed on a refund; it is an all-or-nothing election that also terminates TRS membership.

Tier eligibility matters on the PLSO. Tier 1, Tier 4, and Tier 6 members must be eligible for an unreduced service retirement. Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 5 members must be eligible for service retirement and have combined age plus years of service credit total at least 90. A disability retiree cannot elect the PLSO.

The 403(b) and 457(b) supplemental path

Texas public school districts commonly sponsor a 403(b) plan for supplemental savings. Some also offer a governmental 457(b). Both are separate from TRS. They accept elective salary deferrals in addition to whatever the district contributes to TRS on the teacher's behalf.

Rollover eligibility on a 403(b) or 457(b) usually opens after separation from that employer. IRC Section 402(c) treats a 403(b) as an eligible retirement plan for rollover purposes. A governmental 457(b) is also eligible under Section 402(c)(8)(B)(vii). The direct-rollover mechanics are the same across the three plan types.

Two in-service exceptions matter. A member age 59 and a half or older can generally take an in-service distribution from a 403(b) that permits it, and that distribution is eligible for rollover. Hardship distributions from a 403(b) are usually not eligible rollover distributions and cannot move to a gold IRA. Confirm the specific plan's rules in the summary plan description before filing anything.

Annual contributions from a teacher's take-home pay

Annual contributions are the most reliable way for a still-teaching Texas educator to start building a gold IRA position. The 2026 ceiling is 7,500 dollars per year, plus a 1,100 dollar catch-up at age 50 and older, for a total of 8,600 dollars. That ceiling is combined across traditional and Roth IRAs, not per account.

Choosing traditional or Roth is a tax-timing decision. A traditional IRA deduction reduces current-year federal taxable income if the deduction limits allow, and the distribution is federally taxable later. A Roth contribution is after-tax now and qualified distributions are federally tax-free later. Texas adds no state layer either way.

Roth IRA income phase-outs still apply. For tax year 2026, the ability to contribute directly to a Roth IRA phases out at higher modified adjusted gross income levels. Confirm the current phase-out ranges on IRS Publication 590-A before signing. A backdoor Roth conversion path exists but adds its own paperwork and pro-rata considerations.

Opening a gold IRA as a Texas teacher in eight steps

The order below covers both the annual-contribution path and the rollover path from a prior 403(b) or a TRS PLSO or refund. The mechanical sequence at the custodian is the same. What changes is where the funding comes from.

Confirm which money you can move. Direct pay contributions are always available up to the annual limit. A rollover requires an eligible distribution: a TRS PLSO at retirement, a TRS refund after permanent separation, or a 403(b) or 457(b) balance from a former employer.
Pick a self-directed IRA custodian. Precious-metals IRAs require a qualified non-bank trustee or specialty custodian. Common Texas-facing names include Equity Trust Company, STRATA Trust, and GoldStar Trust. Equity Trust is the first custodian working with the Texas Bullion Depository.
Open the account and pick traditional or Roth. A traditional self-directed IRA is federally tax-deferred; a Roth self-directed IRA is after-tax now, federally tax-free later on qualified distributions. Texas has no state income tax layer either way.
Choose a gold IRA dealer. The dealer sources IRS-approved bullion and coordinates with your custodian. Verify the dealer partners with the custodian you picked and quotes tight spreads on common bullion coins and bars.
Fund the account. For an annual contribution, wire or ACH from personal savings up to the 2026 limit. For a rollover, complete TRS Form 6A or the PLSO rollover election, or the 403(b) plan's direct-rollover form. The receiving custodian signs to certify the plan can accept the rollover.
Place the metal order. Once cash lands inside the new IRA, instruct the custodian to pay the dealer for IRS-approved bullion or coins meeting IRC Section 408(m)(3) fineness. Gold must be at least 99.5 percent pure, silver 99.9 percent, platinum and palladium 99.95 percent, with statutory exceptions for the American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagle.
Ship to an IRS-approved depository. The dealer ships the metal directly to the depository the custodian instructs. The Texas Bullion Depository in Leander is available for IRA storage through Lone Star Tangible Assets. Home storage is a full distribution, per McNulty v. Commissioner (2021).
File the right forms next April. A rollover appears on Form 1099-R from the sending plan (code G for a direct rollover) and Form 5498 from the receiving custodian. Report the gross amount on Form 1040 line 5a and the taxable amount on line 5b. An annual contribution appears on Form 5498 as well.

2026 contribution limits at a glance

The chart below shows the 2026 IRA contribution ceiling in the two age bands most Texas teachers fall into. The catch-up limit lets a teacher age 50 or older add an extra 1,100 dollars per year on top of the standard 7,500 dollar limit.

Vertical bar chart showing the 2026 IRA contribution limit a Texas teacher can put into a gold IRA in one tax year. Under age 50: 7,500 dollars, the standard IRA contribution limit. Age 50 and older: 8,600 dollars, the standard limit plus a 1,100 dollar catch-up. The limit applies across all of a person's IRAs combined (traditional plus Roth). Texas has no state personal income tax, so contributions and future distributions are affected by federal rules only, without a Texas state layer. Source: Internal Revenue Service Publication 590-A, tax year 2026, checked June 2026. — IRA contribution limits available to a Texas teacher for tax year 2026, from the fact base. The limit is a combined ceiling across all of the taxpayer's IRAs (traditional and Roth), not per account. Source: Internal Revenue Service Publication 590-A, tax year 2026, checked June 2026.

Two clarifications on the chart. The 8,600 dollar figure is the sum of the 7,500 dollar standard limit and the 1,100 dollar catch-up under IRC Section 219(b)(5)(B). And the ceiling applies to earned income for the year; a teacher with earned income below the ceiling is limited to that lower amount.

Table: which teacher accounts can move to a gold IRA

The table below summarizes the rollover eligibility of accounts a Texas teacher commonly holds. Read it as a screening step before any provider call. Confirm the current rules with the specific plan.

Rollover eligibility of Texas teacher accounts into a self-directed gold IRA
Account	Rollable to a gold IRA	Trigger event
TRS monthly service retirement annuity	No	None; the annuity is a lifetime benefit paid over life expectancy.
TRS Partial Lump-Sum Option (PLSO)	Yes	Elected at retirement, subject to tier eligibility; TRS Form 6A.
TRS refund of member contributions	Yes	Permanent separation from all TRS-covered employers; TRS Form 6 and Form 6A.
TRS disability retirement annuity	No	None; disability retirees are not eligible to elect a PLSO either.
Active 403(b) at current district	Usually no	An in-service rollover is available at age 59 and a half if the plan allows.
403(b) at a former district or university	Yes	Direct rollover after separation from that employer.
Governmental 457(b) at a former employer	Yes	Direct rollover after separation from that employer.
403(b) hardship distribution	No	Not an eligible rollover distribution under Treasury regulations.
Traditional or Roth IRA already open elsewhere	Yes	Trustee-to-trustee transfer between IRAs; not a rollover in the strict sense.
Personal savings or checking	Yes, as an annual contribution	Subject to the 2026 IRA contribution limit and earned-income rule.

Sourced from IRS Publication 575, IRS Publication 590-A, IRS Publication 590-B, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Partial Lump Sum Option page, and the TRS Refunding Your Member Account page. Confirm current tier eligibility and plan rules directly with TRS and with the specific 403(b) or 457(b) plan. Checked June 2026.

What metal an IRA can actually hold

IRC Section 408(m) treats collectibles as prohibited investments inside an IRA and then carves out an exception for bullion and certain coins meeting a fineness threshold. Gold must be at least 99.5 percent pure. Silver is 99.9 percent. Platinum and palladium are 99.95 percent.

Two coins are named statutory exceptions. The American Gold Eagle is IRA-eligible at 91.67 percent purity by statute, which is 22-karat. The American Silver Eagle is IRA-eligible at 99.9 percent. Proof Eagles qualify only when held in original mint packaging with the certificate.

Common eligible bars come from refiners approved by NYMEX, COMEX, LBMA, or produced by a national government mint. Common names include PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, Valcambi, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the Perth Mint. Common eligible coins include the American Gold Buffalo at 99.99 percent, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf at 99.99 percent, Austrian Gold Philharmonic at 99.99 percent, and Australian Kangaroo at 99.99 percent.

Not eligible: rare or numismatic coins bought for collectible value, pre-1965 junk silver, graded slabbed coins with high premiums over metal value, and the South African Krugerrand at 91.67 percent gold with no statutory exception. Stay with common bullion for a first gold IRA position.

Texas advantages: no state tax and the Texas Bullion Depository

Two Texas features change the wrapper around any federal IRA move.

The first is the constitutional prohibition on a Texas state personal income tax under Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution. A traditional IRA distribution taxed federally later, a botched indirect rollover that becomes taxable, a required minimum distribution after age 73, and an early withdrawal subject to the 10 percent federal penalty are all federal only for a Texas resident.

The second is the state-run Texas Bullion Depository. Authorized by House Bill 483 signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 12, 2015, the depository is an agency of the State of Texas. It has operated since 2017 on a purpose-built campus in Leander, north of Austin, with Lone Star Tangible Assets LP as the depository contractor.

IRA storage is available. The depository states directly that it is available for IRA storage through its operator Lone Star Tangible Assets, which received IRS approval as a nonbank trustee in 2023. Equity Trust Company is the first self-directed IRA custodian working with the depository. The depository has said it plans to expand custodial relationships over time; verify the current list with the depository before filing.

Storage features published on the depository's site include a Class 3 vault (the highest security rating), biometric access, and 24/7 surveillance. Insurance is through Lloyd's of London. IRA storage fees are typically negotiated between the custodian, the gold dealer, and the depository contractor, and can differ from the standard storage schedule.

Social Security offsets, WEP, and GPO

Many Texas teachers do not pay Social Security tax on classroom wages because their district participates only in TRS. Two federal rules can then reduce Social Security benefits earned from other work. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces the retiree's own worker benefit. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces spousal or survivor benefits.

Rolling a TRS PLSO, a TRS refund, or a 403(b) into a gold IRA does not turn WEP or GPO on or off. The offset is triggered by receiving a pension from work not covered by Social Security, not by whether the money later lives in an IRA. Moving the balance does not change the non-covered-pension status.

Two nuances are worth confirming directly with the Social Security Administration. A member who takes a full refund of contributions and ends TRS membership may see a different WEP treatment than a member who elects an annuity. And the calculations changed under the Social Security Fairness Act signed into law on January 5, 2025. Ask the SSA how your record is now treated.

Check whether a distribution is eligible to roll

Before calling a provider, screen the money against the federal rollover rules. The tool below walks through the eligibility questions and timing constraints. It is a triage step, not legal or tax advice.

Can you roll your account into a gold IRA? Eligibility checker

Most retirement money can move into a gold IRA once it is an eligible rollover distribution. Pick your account and situation for a general answer. Always confirm the specifics with your plan administrator or custodian.

Account type Your situation

General guidance only, not tax or financial advice. Eligibility depends on your specific plan document and IRS rules; confirm with your plan administrator and a tax advisor. A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer avoids the 60-day rule and 20% withholding.

Picking a company that explains every fee up front is the first step. Get the free gold IRA company checklist.

Worked example: an Austin teacher splits her 2026 IRA contribution

Worked example

Patricia is 52, teaches middle school in the Austin area, and is actively contributing to TRS through her district. She wants to start a gold IRA position with 2026 annual dollars without touching TRS. Her income falls below the Roth phase-out, and she already has a traditional IRA at a discount broker.

Her ceiling for 2026 is 8,600 dollars combined across all of her IRAs, made up of the 7,500 dollar standard limit and the 1,100 dollar catch-up available at age 50 and older. She decides to split it: 4,000 dollars to the existing traditional IRA (index funds) and 4,600 dollars to a new self-directed Roth IRA that will hold IRS-approved bullion.

Path: direct annual contribution. Patricia opens the self-directed Roth at a Texas-facing custodian, funds it with a 4,600 dollar ACH from her personal checking account, and picks a gold IRA dealer that partners with the custodian and offers common bullion at tight spreads. Because it is a Roth contribution, no federal deduction applies this year; qualified distributions will be federally tax-free later.

The custodian pays the dealer for a mix of common American Gold Eagles (statutory exception at 22-karat) and a Canadian Gold Maple Leaf at 99.99 percent. The dealer ships to the Texas Bullion Depository in Leander through Lone Star Tangible Assets, working with Equity Trust as the current custodian.

Tax bill on the contribution: 0 dollars now for the Roth (after-tax already), and a federal deduction on the 4,000 dollar traditional contribution if her adjusted gross income allows it. Her Texas state income tax on both contributions is 0 dollars because the state does not levy one.

If Patricia's district also sponsors a 403(b) she still contributes to, that balance stays put. She could roll it to the self-directed gold IRA only after separating from the district. This is not tax advice; confirm with a CPA before filing.

When a gold IRA is a bad idea for a Texas teacher

A gold IRA is not the right move for every Texas educator. The patterns where it backfires are repeatable. We list them here, with no CTA attached.

You are still teaching and expect to keep contributing to TRS for years. TRS itself cannot be moved during active service. Trying to force a rollover often gets pitched as a refund, which permanently terminates TRS membership and gives up the future annuity built on that service. Members close to vesting or close to a Rule of 90 milestone rarely benefit from cashing out.

Your total investable savings are small. A 10,000 dollar or 15,000 dollar IRA carrying a 200 dollar annual custodian fee and a 150 dollar storage fee pays more than 2 percent per year on flat operating costs alone, before any dealer markup. Small balances rarely justify a self-directed structure.

You want the metal at home. An IRA cannot hold metal at the member's house. The 2021 Tax Court ruling in McNulty v. Commissioner treats home storage as a full distribution, which triggers federal income tax on the whole balance and the 10 percent penalty if the account owner is under age 59 and a half.

The dealer is pushing premium, proof, or graded coins. The widest markups in this market are on graded coins and proof sets marketed as exclusive or limited. Common bullion coins and bars carry the tightest spreads. A gold IRA loses value quickly if the metal is bought at a 25 percent or 35 percent markup over spot.

You need the cash within the next few years. Buying and shipping bullion, then selling it back through a dealer, costs a round-trip spread. Bullion also moves in price. A gold IRA is a multi-year allocation, not a short-term savings vehicle.

You expect a rollover to change Social Security offsets. WEP and GPO can still apply after a TRS refund or a 403(b) rollover. Moving the money into an IRA does not remove the non-covered-pension status that triggers the offset.

You are between 55 and 59 and a half and need cash for living expenses. A distribution taken directly from a qualified employer plan on separation at age 55 or older sidesteps the 10 percent federal early-distribution penalty under IRC Section 72(t)(2)(A)(v). Rolling that money into an IRA reactivates the penalty on future withdrawals until age 59 and a half.

Your next step

If a gold IRA looks like the right allocation for part of your teacher retirement dollars, the highest-leverage next step is to vet the provider before filing any form. Augusta Precious Metals is our primary affiliate partner and publishes a free gold IRA company checklist built for that vetting step.

Get the Augusta Precious Metals gold IRA company checklistSponsored link. Use it to evaluate any provider you call, including Augusta itself. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Texas teacher gold IRA FAQ

Can an active Texas teacher open a gold IRA today?

Yes. Any Texas resident with earned income can open a self-directed IRA and add annual contributions up to the 2026 ceiling of 7,500 dollars, or 8,600 dollars at age 50 and older. The account can hold IRS-approved bullion or coins meeting IRC Section 408(m) fineness rules. Active TRS status does not block the account; it blocks the ability to move TRS money into it while still contributing.

Can TRS money move to a gold IRA?

Two TRS cash forms are eligible. A Partial Lump-Sum Option elected at retirement, sized as 12, 24, or 36 months of the standard service retirement annuity, is an eligible rollover distribution under IRC Section 402(c). A refund of accumulated member contributions plus interest, filed on TRS Form 6 after permanent separation, is also eligible on Form 6A. A monthly TRS annuity is not eligible.

Does a 403(b) at my former district roll to a gold IRA?

Yes, after separation from that employer. IRC Section 402(c) treats a 403(b) as an eligible retirement plan. Use a direct rollover from the plan to the receiving self-directed IRA custodian, made payable to the custodian and not to you. That path avoids the 20 percent mandatory federal income tax withholding under IRC Section 3405 and the 60-day redeposit clock.

Does Texas charge state income tax on my rollover or on an early withdrawal?

No. Texas has no state personal income tax under Article 8, Section 24 of the Texas Constitution. A direct rollover is a non-taxable event federally. A taxable event, including a botched indirect rollover or an early withdrawal, is taxed by the IRS only. The 10 percent federal early-distribution penalty still applies if the account owner is under age 59 and a half and no exception fits.

Can my gold IRA metal be stored at the Texas Bullion Depository?

Yes. The Texas Bullion Depository states that it is available for IRA storage through its operator Lone Star Tangible Assets LP, which received IRS approval as a nonbank trustee in 2023. Equity Trust Company is the first self-directed IRA custodian working with the depository. Ask your gold dealer to coordinate delivery and storage with Equity Trust and the depository contractor.

How much can a Texas teacher contribute to a gold IRA in 2026?

The 2026 annual IRA contribution limit is 7,500 dollars, or 8,600 dollars at age 50 and older including the 1,100 dollar catch-up under IRC Section 219(b)(5)(B). The ceiling is combined across all of the taxpayer's IRAs (traditional plus Roth), not per account. Contributions are also limited by earned income for the year.

Will a gold IRA rollover change my Social Security benefits?

Not by itself. The Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset are triggered by receiving a pension from work not covered by Social Security. Rolling that money into an IRA does not remove the non-covered-pension status. Both rules changed under the Social Security Fairness Act signed into law on January 5, 2025. Confirm the current calculation with the Social Security Administration on your record.

What is the difference between a gold IRA and buying gold at a coin shop?

A gold IRA is a self-directed IRA that holds IRS-approved bullion inside the retirement tax wrapper. The metal is held by an IRS-approved depository, not at home, and it cannot be taken personally without triggering a distribution. Buying gold at a coin shop puts the metal in the buyer's hands as a taxable asset outside any IRA and does not offer the traditional or Roth tax treatment.

Sources

Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590a. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Service. Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). irs.gov/publications/p590b. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Service. Publication 575: Pension and Annuity Income. irs.gov/publications/p575. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Service. Rollovers of Retirement Plan and IRA Distributions. irs.gov/retirement-plans. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 413, Rollovers from Retirement Plans. irs.gov/taxtopics/tc413. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 558, Additional Tax on Early Distributions from Retirement Plans. irs.gov/taxtopics/tc558. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Code Section 402(c). Rollovers from qualified plans. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(31). Direct rollover option. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Code Section 3405. Twenty percent mandatory federal withholding on eligible rollover distributions paid to the participant. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m). Collectibles rule and bullion exception. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t)(2)(A)(v). Separation-from-service exception at age 55. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
Internal Revenue Code Section 219(b)(5)(B). IRA catch-up contribution for taxpayers age 50 and older. uscode.house.gov. Checked June 2026.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Partial Lump Sum Option (PLSO). trs.texas.gov/pension-benefits/active-member-resources/plan-retirement/resources/plso. Checked June 2026.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Refunding Your Member Account. trs.texas.gov/Pages/active_member_refunding_member_account.aspx. Checked June 2026.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Application for Refund (Form TRS 6) and Refund Rollover Election (Form TRS 6A). trs.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
United States Tax Court. McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. No. 10 (November 18, 2021). Home-storage IRA confirmed as a full distribution.
Texas Bullion Depository. IRA Storage Services. texasbulliondepository.gov/ira-storage. Checked June 2026.
Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Texas Bullion Depository overview. comptroller.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
Texas Constitution, Article 8, Section 24. Prohibition on a state personal income tax. statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Checked June 2026.
Social Security Administration. Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. ssa.gov. Checked June 2026.
Public Law 118-273. Social Security Fairness Act (signed January 5, 2025). congress.gov. Checked June 2026.

By the Harry’s Coins Editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.