Q. I retired at age 52 from the Postal Service. When can I fully withdraw my money without a penalty? If I decide to receive monthly checks, when can I begin receiving them without any penalties? A. Unless you qualify for one of the exceptions listed on Page 7 of the notice at https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tsp-536.pdf, you’ll have to wait until you reach age 59½ to avoid the early withdrawal penalty.
Browsing: early withdrawal penalty
Q. My wife retired under a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority in August 2011. Her 1099-R displays a “1” as the distribution code in Block 7 of the form, “no known exceptions.” For years 2011 and 2012, we paid a 10 percent tax penalty for early withdrawal from her Thrift Savings Plan. I know the tax is usually levied unless the person is 59½ years of age, but at what age will the code on the 1099-R change for my wife so we won’t have to pay this tax? Will she benefit at some point because her retirement was a VERA, and at…
Q. I am a letter carrier, age 52, started in 1985 and have 28 years of creditable service. If I understand what I’ve gleaned from the posts here and the Postal Service were to offer me a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority this year, 1. Would I begin my annuity immediately? 2. Would I have no reductions in calculations of my annuity? (average high-3 x 1 percent x 28) 3. Would I receive credit for half of my sick leave and all of my annual leave? (How are these applied?) 4. Would I receive the special retirement supplement beginning at age…
Q. I spent 22 years with the Postal Service and quit in 2010 to take another career. I was under FERS. Do I get a pension from the Postal Service, or is that what the Thrift Savings Plan is? And can I collect it at 55? A. Mike: If you left FERS service before the calendar year in which you reach age 55, you will be subject to the early withdrawal penalty rules. Reg: If you didn’t take a refund of your retirement contributions when you left, you can apply to the Office of Personnel Management for a deferred annuity…
Q. I was approved for disability retirement in November under FERS due to my diagnosis of a malignant, incurable brain cancer (my life expectancy is six to nine months). I withdrew my Thrift Savings Plan in lump sum ($29,000) to pay my medical and living expenses. I am including my TSP distributions in my tax return. If I understand correctly, my TSP money should be added to my earned income (for example, if I earned $50,000 + $29,000 TSP =$79,000 total year of 2012 income) and it will be taxed as ordinary income. Is there any way for a terminally…
Q. I am retiring soon (four months) under MRA+10. Will I be penalized for a Thrift Savings Plan withdrawal at my retirement? I will be 56 at the time of retirement. I am moving from my present location to another state and plan to use the better part of it as a down payment on a home. A. As long as you retire during or after the calendar year in which you reach age 55, your TSP withdrawal will not be subject to the early withdrawal penalty.
Q. I am retiring in six months with 30 years under FERS at age 57 (my minimum retirement age). I am planning on using my Thrift Savings Plan to buy a house with equal payments for five years. The payments will start one or two months after retirement. Will I be penalized for early withdrawal because I am not 59½ ? I was under the impression that TSP was considered one-third of my retirement, and that at time of retirement, I would be eligible to withdraw. Is this correct? A. Since you are retiring during or after the calendar year in which…
Q. I am 22 years old with four years of service and would like to withdraw early from my Thrift Savings Plan. I know I will be charged 10 percent in early withdrawal fees, but how much will the “applicable taxes” be? I am an Alaska resident, if that makes any difference. A. The only way to know what you’ll ultimately pay in taxes is to prepare your tax return for the year of the withdrawal.
Q. I am working, waiting for approval of disability retirement under FERS. Will I be penalized 20 percent if I withdraw my Thrift Savings Plan in lump sum when I am approved for disability? I was diagnosed with Stage II multiple myeloma in May. A. The exemption from the early withdrawal penalty to which you are referring is for a distribution taken as a result of a total and permanent disability. The TSP cannot certify that you qualify for this exemption and it is up you, or your tax preparer, to demonstrate that you meet this exemption.
Q. What is the definition for the Thrift Savings Plan early distribution exclusion “made as a result of total and permanent disability”? Does this mean that a retired military member with a Veterans Affairs Department-certified disability who is under age 55 is excluded from the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty? Specifically, I would like to withdraw my TSP in full upon military retirement at age 42 and will most likely have a portion of VA-certified disability based on injuries sustained on active duty. What justification is needed to report to the Internal Revenue Service when you file your taxes? A. I…