Q. I’m a federal employee aged 58 retiring with 30 years’ service, and I would like to take 109,000 from my non-Roth TSP to pay off mortgage. Besides federal tax, would I also have to pay a 10 percent penalty because I am not 59 1/2 years old? Would the federal government withhold 20 percent penalty or taxes or would it be more?
A. There will be mandatory withholding of 20 percent, but the early withdrawal penalty will not be assessed. Details are available at
https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tsp-536.pdf.
