Q. I am a 57-year-old FERS employee with over 38 years of federal service (including seven years of military service which I bought back). I have approximately $470,000 in my TSP account and plan to retire in January 2015. Can I take an immediate one-time-only partial withdrawal when I retire and elect to receive a specific dollar amount of monthly distributions immediately thereafter and, in a few years, halt the monthly distributions and roll over my remaining TSP balance to an outside IRA? A. Yes
Yearly Archives: 2014
Q. I want a lump sum for a certain amount and monthly withdrawals (not full withdrawal) for 25 years. Can I do both in the same year? A. The TSP considers monthly payments to be a form of full withdrawal.
Q. How much is the TSP taxed upon retirement if pulled out all at once, and how does that affect you’re end-of-year taxes at the end of that year? A. Your withdrawal will be subject to a 20 percent mandatory federal tax withholding and the amount of your withdrawal will be added to your tax return for the year as ordinary income. The withholding is considered a deposit against your federal tax liability for the year.
Q. Can I take my money out of the TSP and pay the penalty? Is there any way to get all my money out without having to retire or quit? If so, can I then move it into another self-directed IRA? A. The only ways to remove money from your TSP account before reaching age 59-1/2 while you are still a federal employee are: a loan and/or an in-service financial-hardship withdrawal. Neither of these may be rolled into an IRA account.
Q. I am interested in buying a franchise. I am 61 and plan to retire in 2014. Can I withdraw my money without it being taxed for this type of investment? A. No.
Q. I am a 55-year-old Postal employee planning to retire sometime in the next year under CSRS. Many years ago, I purchased a $2,000 Vanguard IRA that has grown to more than $40,000. I also have a separate similarly valued Roth IRA. I know that I can begin penalty-free withdrawals from TSP after separation, but can I roll my Vanguard IRA into TSP? I also know that I cannot roll my Roth into TSP. My desire is to have the money accessible before 59-1/2 and to avoid having three pots to withdraw MRDs when I’m 70-1/2. Any suggestions? A. You…
Q. I am 67, and I plan to work two more years. I am collecting my Social Security. My TSP is invested in the G fund, and I panic every time I invest elsewhere and the market goes bust and I lose $6,000 in one day. Should I diversify or stay in the G fund so close to retirement? I have diversified in the past and lost $52,000 in 2008. A. It sounds like you’re not qualified to manage a retirement investment account. You should either stick to the G Fund, buy a TSP annuity or find a trustworthy investment…
Q. I will retire in two years. If I leave my money in the TSP, what happens when I reach 70-1/2 and I am forced to pay a certain percentage of my savings out every year due to my age. Does that mean I would have to pull all my TSP money out (pay taxes on it) to transfer it to another account in anticipation of the yearly deduction? A. If you begin monthly distributions using form TSP-70 during or before the year you reach age 70-1/2, the TSP will automatically distribute the required amount each year. There is no…
Q. I work for the BOP and I am 10 months away from being forced to retire with 20 years of service. A few years ago there was talk around work that the age restriction was going to be raised, and it seems that was wishful thinking. I just accepted it as a probability because it was raised in the past and that gave me the opportunity to get hired. I took out a loan against my TSP account anticipating the age requirement would go up and as a result, unless something does change, I will most likely have a…
Q. Will TSP only pay out over a 30-year period? If so, then what happens to the money if I happen to pass away at 70? Can a beneficiary be set up so the rest of the money in the TSP will be paid out?? A. The TSP does not limit monthly payments to 30 years. If you pass away at any time, your account balance will be paid to your beneficiaries. I suggest that you review the information available at www.tsp.gov and then ask a specific question that is not answered by the literature.