: This must be filed by the dealer if you pay with more than $10,000 in cash or cash equivalents like money orders or traveler's checks.

: You may need to provide a recent bank statement or utility bill (no older than six months) to establish your address.

Are you looking to buy bars/coins from a dealer, or are you interested in paper investments like an ETF? Form 8300 and reporting cash payments of over $10,000 - IRS

: Easier to trade and doesn't require physical storage or high insurance costs.

While federal law doesn't require you to fill out a report just for owning gold, you will need the following for a transaction of this size:

Buying a pound of gold (roughly 14.6 troy ounces) is a significant transaction that typically involves specific financial "paperwork" for identity verification and tax compliance. Essential Documentation for the Buyer

If you are looking for a "useful paper" in the sense of a financial instrument instead of physical metal, you might be interested in :