Q. I work for the Department of Interior and I have accepted a VERA Early Out. I would like to take my whole TSP account and rollover to an IRA. Some say there is not a 10 percent penalty for simply rolling over to an IRA and some say there will be one. I am age 50. I do understand if I make withdrawals from the IRA, they are subject to the 10 percent penalty.
A. The early withdrawal penalty only applies to withdrawals. A rollover is not considered a withdrawal, and so won’t trigger the penalty.