Transferring holdings out of a Legacy TreasuryDirect account into a modern one requires filling out a paper form and mailing it in — old school, but not complicated once you know what’s involved.
Before you do anything else, make sure you have the following:
1. Open a TreasuryDirect account if you don’t have one
You’ll need an active account to receive the transfer. Apply online and your account number will show up in your email within a few minutes. Write it down somewhere — you’ll be entering it on the form.
2. Download FS Form 5179
This is the form that authorizes the transfer. Grab it from the Forms page on the TreasuryDirect website.
3. Fill out the form
The form comes with its own instructions starting on page 3. A few things worth paying attention to:
4. Get your signature certified
Page 2 of the form requires a certified signature, and this is the part that trips people up most often. A notary public won’t work here — the certification has to come from a financial institution. Acceptable options are:
Brokers specifically are required to use a Medallion Stamp. Whatever the case, sign the form in front of the certifying official rather than ahead of time.
5. Mail it in
Send the completed, certified form to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The address is on page 4 under “Where to Send.”
6. Check your account for the transfer
There’s no published processing timeframe, so the best approach is to log into your TreasuryDirect account every week or two and look for the holdings to appear. It may take a while, but checking periodically will keep you in the loop.