Q. I am reading TSP-775 (6-2013) concerning important tax information about TSP withdrawals. First paragraph (Deadline for withdrawing your TSP Account) states that “By April 1 of the year following the year you become age 70.5 and are separated from Federal Service, the TSP requires that you withdraw your entire account balance in a single payment.” It goes on to give options about monthly payments, life annuities. This leaves me perplexed. I thought I only needed to withdraw the required minimum distribution after becoming age 70½. Also, I thought if I have other IRAs, I could take the RMD from those and leave my Thrift Savings Plan unscathed. If I withdraw the entire account balance from my TSP, I will have to pay federal tax on whole amount. Can you clarify?
A. Here’s what you read:
By April 1 of the year following the year you become age 70½ and are separated from Federal service, the TSP requires that you withdraw your entire account balance in a single payment, begin receiving monthly payments, purchase a life annuity, or use a combination of these withdrawal options.
The requirement is that you do one of the three basic options separated by commas (full lump-sum withdrawal, monthly payments, purchase a life annuity), or elect some combination of them by the required beginning date.
Unfortunately, the TSP does not allow you to waive the RMD for your TSP balance. It must be taken from your TSP account.
