Q. I have to retire in 18 months. I plan on taking a lump sum and monthly allotment from my Thrift Savings Plan at retirement. I understand both of these will be taxed at 20 percent. I am thinking of taking a TSP loan for the amount I had planned on requesting as my lump sum prior to my retirement date, with the understanding that I won’t have the time to pay it back in full and that the amount I don’t pay back will be considered disbursed income. My reasoning is that having the funds now will allow me to…
Browsing: early withdrawal penalty
Q. I’m a 57-year-old FERS employee with 21 years of service. My human resources benefits adviser said I will be eligible to retire on unreduced immediate annuity at 60 years old with 24 years of service. Would I be eligible for the special retirement supplement when I retire at 60 years old? The HR benefits adviser also said I can retire now on MRA+10 provisions, but my annuity will be reduced by 5 percent for every year I’m under 62. If I retire now, since I’m over 55 years old, would I be able to withdraw my Thrift Savings Plan…
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 56 years old and I work for the Department of Justice. I expect to retire in the next year under CSRS. I have approximately $300,000 in the Thrift Savings Plan. I would like to withdraw $100,000 when I retire at age 57 to pay off a mortgage, and keep the remaining funds in TSP until I am 70. Is there any way to withdraw $100,000 before I am 59½ without sustaining a tax penalty? A. Yes. If you separate from service during or after the calendar year in which you reach age 55, your TSP withdrawals will be…
Q. I will be retiring under FERS at age 56 (born 1959) with 31 years of service with the Postal Service. If I withdraw my total Thrift Savings Plan account ($500,000) the day I retire, will I be charged an early withdrawal penalty and/or other penalty fees I’m not aware of? A. No.
Q. I have $100,000 in my Thrift Savings Plan account. What will I receive, after early withdrawal penalties, if I close the account? A. The minimum federal tax withholding is 20 percent, but you can elect a higher rate, so the maximum you’ll receive is $80,000. The early withdrawal penalty won’t be due, along with whatever tax you actually owe on the withdrawal, until you file your taxes in April of the year following the year of the withdrawal. See the notice at https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tsp-536.pdf for details.
Q. I retired in 2005 with 30 years in the military. I am 58 years old. If I want to make a full withdrawal now, how much will I pay in taxes? If I wait until I’m 59½, will I pay less? A. TSP withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. The amount of income tax you pay will depend upon your tax return for the year in which you take the withdrawal. If you withdraw the money before you reach age 59½, you will likely also have to pay the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. You’ll avoid this penalty by…
Q. I am expecting to receive a payment from a pension plan for which I am expecting to be charged the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. What is the best method to pay that penalty and avoid any additional penalties for not withholding sufficient taxes when I file my annual returns in April? Can I send the money to the Internal Revenue Service ahead of my regular tax filing? If so, what form do I use to remit it? A. This is a question for your tax preparer.
Q. I am a FERS employee with 29½ years of service. I am 54 years old. If they offer an early-out this year, could I take it without being penalized for the years before age 56? Would I be able to collect the special retirement supplement? Also, will I have a problem if I remove the money I have in my Thrift Savings Plan account? A. Mike: If you separate from service before the calendar year in which you’ll reach age 55, your TSP withdrawals may be subject to the IRS early withdrawal penalty, but otherwise, you’ll have access to…
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…