Q. My question regards Required Minimum Distributions and how this Internal Revenue System rule relates to an annuity purchased with IRA funds. If the annuity in question has fixed payment amounts that are less than a calculated RMD, the funds are not available to the account owner for distribution to meet the RMD rules. Does this scenario appear to be a credible reason for not meeting the RMD rules and an exception that IRS should allow? A. We don’t answer questions about IRAs here, but I will pretend you asked about the Thrift Savings Plan, since the answer is the same…
Yearly Archives: 2013
Q. I am a retired CSRS employee. What taxes, if any, do I owe New York state on annual distributions? The initial contributions were not taxed by New York. A. Your distributions are considered ordinary income for tax purposes. They should be reported as such on your federal and state tax returns, unless your state provides a special exemption for this type of income. If you want specific guidance for completing your tax return, you should seek the help of a qualified tax preparer.
Q. I am 22 years old with four years of service and would like to withdraw early from my Thrift Savings Plan. I know I will be charged 10 percent in early withdrawal fees, but how much will the “applicable taxes” be? I am an Alaska resident, if that makes any difference. A. The only way to know what you’ll ultimately pay in taxes is to prepare your tax return for the year of the withdrawal.
Q. When I prepare my taxes, do I add my Thrift Savings Plan withdrawal amount in with my total earnings for the year? If not, where do I put it? A. Sorry, but we don’t prepare tax returns at Ask the Experts. That’s a question for your tax preparer.
Q. I am 55 with 13 years of service. My wife is three years younger than me and will work three additional years — until I am 65. My Thrift Savings Plan balance is approximately $200,000, and I hope to retire at 62. My wife and I have other investments of approximately $300,000, totaling $500,000 (mostly 401(k), but approximately 20 percent Roth). I understand that when I am retired and after we reach the “threshold,” I will pay one of every two dollars made. Is this true for dollars dispersed from Roth accounts? I understood them to be “tax-free.” A.…
Q. I am working, waiting for approval of disability retirement under FERS. Will I be penalized 20 percent if I withdraw my Thrift Savings Plan in lump sum when I am approved for disability? I was diagnosed with Stage II multiple myeloma in May. A. The exemption from the early withdrawal penalty to which you are referring is for a distribution taken as a result of a total and permanent disability. The TSP cannot certify that you qualify for this exemption and it is up you, or your tax preparer, to demonstrate that you meet this exemption.
Q. I am a 59-year-old federal employee with 34 years of service under CSRS. I am retiring soon and heard about the Voluntary Contributions Program. I don’t have a wad of cash except accessing some of the equity in my home (I have about $200,000 of equity, and I could pull up to $100,000 out). Is it worth refinancing (at a low 3.5 percent) to access the money and use the VCP to convert it into a Roth IRA? A. Probably not, unless you need the cash for expenses.
Q. Can you make a rollover from a private post-tax 401(k) into the Roth TSP account? A. If it’s Roth 401(k) money, yes.
Q. I am 26 years old and have been working in the federal system for three years. I am a GS-9 Step 2 and contribute 7 percent of my income to my Thrift Savings Plan. Since I have a long ways to go before I retire, I would like to know what percentage I should put in each fund, if any? A. I suggest that you consider investing your money in the L Fund that most closely corresponds to your life expectancy.
Q. All of my Thrift Savings Plan deposits are in the G Fund. I am a CSRS retiree. Since most of these funds are interest earned on federal bonds, are my withdrawals taxable by the state? I know they are federally taxable. I believe my contributions (which started in 1987) were both federal and state tax deferred, but I can’t recall with certainty. I called the Montana State Revenue once on this and they said they aren’t state-taxable, but I have my doubts. A. You should consult a qualified tax preparer for the answer. In general, your withdrawals are taxable, unless your…