Q: I am retiring Dec. 31, 2010. I will be 55 years and 11 months old with 35 years of service. I would like to leave my Thrift Savings Plan monies, but make one withdrawal only and leave the rest until I either have to take withdrawals or need additional income to supplement my pension. Can I make the one withdrawal without paying the 10 percent penalty? A: Under the circumstances you describe, you will be allowed one partial withdrawal after you retire, without penalty. You may then take a full withdrawal — either in monthly payments or a lump…
Yearly Archives: 2009
Q: As a Federal Employees Retirement System employee, I was told that the limit on Thrift Savings Plan contributions changes once you reach age 50. Is this true? If so, what is the additional amount? A: You’re talking about catch-up contributions, which are an additional contribution (or total amount of annual contributions) that can be made starting when you reach age 50. For 2009, the catch-up contribution limit is $5,500. Check www.tsp.gov for more details.
Q: Mike Miles gave this answer recently: “The [Thrift Savings Plan] is a better investment environment than any retail IRA account I have ever seen, and I generally recommend that eligible investors move their IRA money into the TSP whenever possible. You are eligible if your IRA account contains no after-tax money — money from non-deductible contributions. Check with your IRA custodian to determine what, if anything, they will charge for liquidating your account.” You say that the individual is eligible if his IRA contains “no after-tax money.” Isn’t it true that even if the IRA contains both before-tax and…
Q: I am a federal employee under the Federal Employees Retirement System. In the year and month of my retirement, I will have about $170,000 in my Thrift Savings Plan. In the year of my retirement, can I do a one time withdrawal of $30,000 and not request a monthly withdrawal that year, and then the following year of my retirement start my monthly withdrawals? A: Yes, if you have not used up your one-time partial withdrawal prior to taking the $30,000 withdrawal. — Mike Miles
Q: I would like to know what my options are for withdrawing from my Thrift Savings Plan account? What would be the tax consequences for those options? I am a Federal Employees Retirement System retiree approaching the age of 70. A: I suggest that you first review the information available at www.tsp.gov including: The booklet at www.tsp.gov/forms/tspbk02.pdf and the tax notice at www.tsp.gov/forms/octax92-32.pdf. If, after you’ve studied these, you have any specific questions, I’ll be happy to answer them. — Mike Miles
Q: If I retire from the Postal Service this next year, can I draw monthly payments from my TSP account before I am 59 1/2 without penalty? A: Yes, if you: 1. Retired during or after the year in which you reached age 55; or 2. Take them as series of Substantially Equal Periodic Payments under IRS rules; or 3. Meet one of the other exceptions to the penalty outlined in the notice you’ll find at www.tsp.gov/forms/octax92-32.pdf — Mike Miles
Q: I just retired under the early out option from the U.S. Postal Service, and want to start regular monthly withdrawals from the Thrift Savings Plan, until the MetLife annuity index rate goes up somewhat. Can I, at that point, change from monthly payments to an immediate annuity option, without any kind of penalty? I am 52 years of age. A: Yes. — Mike Miles
Q: There is a possibility that I may have to accept the early out with the U.S. Postal Service. If I do, can I make a loan from my Thrift Savings Plan before I retire? Will I be able to continue to pay it back monthly even though I am retired from the USPS? Or will I have to pay the complete amount back before I retire? Are there any penalties for this? Do I have the choice of not paying it back, and if I choose not to, will I be charged penalties as if I withdrew that amount?…
Q: My husband is 67 years old. He mentioned recently that he thinks he would like to work another five years before retiring from the federal government. I have a question regarding his Thrift Savings Plan. I have read the questions on the TSP Web site, and it sounds to me that as long as he has not separated from federal service, he is not required to take any distributions from TSP. Am I reading that correctly? If not, how is his TSP affected if he continues to work past the age of 70½? Can he still contribute to TSP?…
Q: I’m planning to retire this calendar year and want to leave my Thrift Savings Plan as is. Will I be able to take TSP distributions at will, or am I only allowed to take a one-time distribution (roll-over)? A: You’re only allowed to take a partial distribution one time. You may also elect a full distribution in the form of adjustable monthly payments and a final single payment, however. — Mike Miles