Q. Recently, legislation known as the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act was passed, which would amend the tax law to allow special category employees to withdraw money from TSP accounts prior to age 59½ without incurring the 10 percent IRS tax penalty. I am a military technician with 33 years of service. I know military technicians are special category employees. Would I qualify for this provision?
A. Public Law 114-26, the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act, was signed by the president on June 29, 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers (“public safety employees”) who separate from service during or after the year they turn age 50 to make a withdrawal from the TSP without incurring a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.
