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

: Using a wire transfer or personal check generally does not trigger this form. "Paper Gold" vs. Physical Gold

: 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.

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

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

: Documents for a bank transfer, wire, or personal check are recommended to avoid triggering cash-specific reporting requirements. IRS Reporting (Dealer's Paperwork)

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:

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