Q. Is it OK to transfer an established 72(t) program from one institution to another? A. As long as you don’t disturb the series of payments, I believe you can. But you should consult your tax preparer before you do it, to be sure.
Browsing: 72(t)
Q. I’m about to retire at age 47 after 25 years as a federal law enforcement officer. I plan to roll my 401(k) (TSP) over to a traditional IRA and begin taking substantially equal periodic payments per 72(t) from the IRA, which, as I understand, once I start, I have to continue until age 59 ½. I plan to use the annuitization method to make equal monthly withdrawals, but I would like to take the first year’s withdrawal in a lump sum to help pay off some debt. Will the IRS allow that without the 10 percent penalty, or do I have to…
Q. I have an opportunity to retire under a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority. I have 30+ years of FERS service, non-law enforcement. My age will be 53 years and 11 months if I retire under this VERA offering. At what age will I have full access to my Thrift Savings Plan without the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty by “taking substantially equal payments over my life expectancy.” At what age will I have full access to my TSP without the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty by NOT “taking substantially equal payments over my life expectancy.” If immediately upon retirement I…
Q. My wife and I are FERS employees. We are both considering retiring early if offered Voluntary Early Retirement Authority at ages 50+/- (both with more than 25 years of service). With children still in the picture for some time, access and flexibility with our Thrift Savings Plan accounts are crucial to any plan. I would like to accomplish two things: 1). 72(t) withdrawals until 59½ in one account. 2). Flexibility to roll over funds currently in TSP into a Roth IRA held at another institution (from an IRA as I see no method to do that while the funds…
Q. I am a federal law enforcement officer. I recently read an article that discussed the downside of the Roth TSP for federal law enforcement officers and firefighters. Is this true? ************* Many of you are probably unaware of the serious pitfalls you will encounter if you opt to contribute to the Roth TSP. For a federal law enforcement officer or firefighter, the Roth TSP is a poor choice. It wasn’t until this week that a reader posed a question to me that caused me to realize what a bad idea the Roth TSP is for many of us. The idea behind…
Q. I am 49 years old and have 24 years of service with the Bureau of Prisons. If I retire at age 51 with 26 years of service and elect a life expectancy withdrawal from my Thrift Savings Plan account, would I be able to change to a specified amount at age 55 without a 10 percent penalty, or will I have to wait until age 59½ to change my withdrawal option to avoid the 10 percent penalty? A. To meet the 72(t) exemption to the early withdrawal penalty, your series of payments cannot change until it has been completed —…
Q. I’m a Defense Department firefighter (special category). At what can I withdraw my Thrift Savings Plan without incurring any penalties? A. If you’ll settle for specific monthly payments, you can withdraw it any time after you separate from service without penalty. If you want a lump sum or monthly payments that don’t fall within the limits imposed by Internal Revenue Code section 72(t), then you’ll have to wait until you reach age 59½ unless you separate from federal service during or after the calendar year in which you reach age 55. In the latter case, any withdrawal you make…
Q. 1. I am retired at 52. If I take a life expectancy withdrawal through the Thrift Savings Plan from now until I reach 59½, can I then roll over the balance of my account to a privately held traditional TSP such as Vanguard? Or does taking the life expectancy withdrawal through the TSP commit me to them for life? 2. If I receive life expectancy withdrawals now through the TSP, can I still take a partial withdrawal (amount of my choosing) when I am 59½ without the 10 percent penalty? 3. If I roll over my entire TSP account now to a…
Q. I am a 50-year-old 6(c). I am eligible to retire on an immediate unreduced annuity this year and plan to do so. I plan to eventually access my Thrift Savings Plan funds, and I understand that I am able to do 72(t)-type withdrawals and avoid early withdrawal penalties. But I’m not interested in 72(t) systematic payments. I also know I could roll over the account to an IRA, but that is not my desired intention. Since I am retiring at age 50, what is the first date that I could begin to access my TSP via lump sum or monthly withdrawals without…
Q. I was downsized when I was 46 and rolled over everything into a 72(t). I am currently withdrawing from it monthly as I cannot find a job that pays enough to live off of. I am in a situation now where I need some extra money to clear off some debt and buy a new car. Can I take a one-time withdrawal from my 72(t), in addition to my monthly? If so, what are the tax implications? A. You may not change the annual withdrawal scheme as calculated and required under 72(t). If you do, the 72(t) exception to the…