Q. Can I roll over a Thrift Savings Plan distribution that I received last week to a Roth IRA? A. Yes, as long as it’s not a required minimum distribution. Your tax preparer is responsible for making sure that you obey the applicable rules, however. Self-preparation of all but the simplest tax return can be hazardous to your financial health.
Browsing: Uncategorized
Q. Are TSP lump-sum withdrawals considered earned income for the purposes of the earned income test for FERS disability retirement? A. TSP withdrawals are not considered earned income.
Q. Can the Thrift Savings Plan withhold state income taxes from a monthly payment (scheduled withdrawal)? If yes, what is the procedure? A. No.
Q. A sad tale: I am 64 and still working for the Defense Department. For most of my career, I have left my money in the G Fund except for some short periods where some of it was in the C Fund. I now have $430,000 in the G Fund but just can’t find it in myself to diversify although I see that I have lost a lot of money over the years this way. Can you recommend a relatively safe future strategy that won’t keep me awake at night? A. Find a trustworthy and affordable adviser to help you.
Q. My IRA was started when active-duty personnel were permitted to contribute to an IRA with after-tax dollars. I am 66 and want to begin planning for the required minimum distribution with a little long-term projecting. Here is the dilemma. In trying to compute the cost basis and taxable amount, I have to distinguish between the military years “after-tax dollars invested” and the “before-tax dollars investments” contributed during my post-active-duty working years. I found out that for some of the active years, no IRS Form 8506 was filed (showing the contributions for some years). How can I substantiate for the IRS…
Q. Can a CD be transferred into the Thrift Savings Plan? A. No. Only cash can be transferred into the TSP.
Q. For the past five years, I’ve been contributing the maximum to the traditional Thrift Savings Plan (balance north of $127,000). In 2014, I plan to switch all contributions ($17,500) to Roth TSP. I have more than four years until military retirement (April 2018). At that time, will I be able to transfer all Roth TSP contributions to my Roth IRA? I have no plans of transferring the traditional TSP balance. The goal is to combine Roth TSP/Roth IRA contributions and pay cash for retirement home. We don’t want any debt, including mortgage upon retirement. A. You may not selectively…
Q. I am a federal worker who will turn 50 next year. I plan on putting in the maximum amount for contributions ($17,500) and catch-up contributions ($5,500). Thrift Savings Plan form instructions (TSP-1, TSP-U-1-C) require a whole dollar amount for contributions per paycheck, and we get paid every two weeks. $17,500/26 = $673.077. $673 x 26 = $17,498, which is two dollars short of the limit. The catch-up limit doesn’t kick in unless you reach $17,500, but there is no way to get there with the current set of instructions. What do you recommend? I don’t want any penalties if…
Q. I am confused about the five-year rule for Voluntary Contributions Program funds rolled over into a Roth IRA. If a Roth IRA has been funded for five years, is there still a five-year withdrawal waiting period for funds transferred from a VCP account into that IRA? A. The five-year clock applies to each conversion, but how it will affect you isn’t clear from the information you’ve provided. The answer depends upon your age and how much you withdraw. I suggest that you read Internal Revenue Service Publication 590 and consult a CPA before proceeding.
Q. I’ve just been flying straight with the L2030 plan until I can get some reliable advice. I would like to keep my capital I have in the Thrift Savings Plan, receive a monthly or quarterly check, and reinvest the amount I don’t need back into my capital. When I turn 70½ (in four years) I’ll have to start receiving the required minimum distribution, which I can’t reinvest. I don’t want to get an annuity because I’d have to give up my capital. How can I hold on to my capital, reinvest in it and possibly leave that money to my children…