Starting in January 2021, we’re making the process easier for participants. If you’re turning 50 or older and are eligible for catch-up, you’ll no longer need to make separate catch-up elections to your TSP account. To learn how to make these contributions next year, visit Catch-up contributions.
Bulletins
TSP bulletins provide guidance to TSP Agency and Service representatives for implementing the provisions of law, regulations, and procedures relating to the TSP.
The Thrift Savings Plan is happy to offer a free email subscription service. This service allows TSP representatives to receive automatic notifications by email when new or updated information is available in the "Agency and Service Representative resources" section of the TSP Web site.
Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan - UPDATE — Beginning January 1, 2021, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will implement a new method for catch-up contributions called the “spillover” method. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the end of 2020.) Spillover will apply to all active civilian and uniformed services members turning age 50 or older. It will help simplify our catch-up pr
Implementation of 5% Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — On October 1, 2020, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and Blended Retirement System (BRS) participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for BRS participants automatically re-
Subject: CARES Act Withdrawal — The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special withdrawal rules for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants affected by COVID-19. In accordance with this law, the TSP has added a CARES Act withdrawal to its withdrawal options. A CARES A
Default Investment Fund for Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On January 1, 2018, the default investment fund for newly enrolled uniformed services Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) members (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased uniformed services members) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund. This change went into effect for those service members who joined the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2
Retirement of the L 2020 Fund and the Launch of New L Funds — The Lifecycle (L) Funds are designed to provide participants with an easy, convenient way of investing their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts among the five individual TSP funds based on when the participants will need the money in retirement. One of the principal characteristics of the funds is that their investment mixes become progressively more conservative as they reach their target dates.
Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased civilian participants) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
This bulle
CARES Act: Impact to Thrift Savings Plan Loans — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to clarify eligibility requirements and to include the new record types agencies and services will see on the 19401 Report.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special loan rules for Thrift Savings Pl
Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation — TSP Bulletin for Agency and Service representatives
This bulletin explains how placement in nonpay status (i.e., leave without pay (LWOP)) affects an employee’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participation. It supersedes TSP Bulletin 12-20, Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation, dated August 16, 2012.
Note:
This bulletin does not apply to participants who are furloughed (or hav
2020 TSP contribution limits — 2020 TSP Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings
2020 TSP contribution limits — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts for the ca
New Rules and Processes for Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for financial hardship in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-14 and 12-U-12, Consolidation of Forms TSP
New Rules and Processes for Age-Based In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for age-based in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-13 and 12-U-11, Consolidation of Forms TSP-75, Age-
New Options and Processes for Changes to Installment Payments — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new options and processes for participants receiving installment payments (previously called monthly payments) as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-21 and 12-U-
New Options and Processes for Withdrawal Requests for Separated and Beneficiary Participants — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal options and processes for separated and beneficiary participants as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-16 and 12-U-14, Consolidation of Post-Separ
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools — Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools
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The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has created new forms and online tools and declared prior versions of old forms obsolete as a result of the changes to the TSP withdrawal options associated with the TSP Mode
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to include information about automatic re-enrollment.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for Blended Retirement System (B
Introduction of the Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), which administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), plans to switch to the “spillover” method for catch-up contributions beginning with the first pay period of 2021. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the final pay period of 2020.) Spillover, which is used by many retirement plans and is available under
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020. The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 grants us the authority for this change. This change will not affect the c
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Revision of Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has revised Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies. The revision clarifies to agency payroll officers the need to provide the full loan account number on the form when applicable. This bulletin, dated April 18, 2019, will supersede TSP Bulletin 12-11 and all prior versions of the TSP-19 form. A copy of this form, which agencies
Effect of the retroactive pay increase on the Thrift Savings Plan — On February 15, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed Public Law 116-6, “The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019”, which authorizes appropriations to fund the operation of a number of agencies in the federal government through September 30, 2019. This legislation mandates a 1.9 percent average pay increase for most federal civilian employees retroactive to January 1, 2019. President Trump signe
TSP Forfeitures and Forfeiture Restoration Procedures — The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agency Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) representatives with detailed instructions for requesting a forfeiture restoration, and to provide a revised version of the Form TSP-5-R, Request to Restore Forfeiture.
Background
Forfeitures of a participant’s Agency Automatic (1%) and/or Agency Matching Contributions, along with associated earnings, occasionally occurs
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher, TSP-U-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher, TSP-U-2-G, should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards.
The TSP has changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay awards must be calculated based on the participant’s contribution allocation on file for the “as of” date of the correction.
Services should stop using the TSP
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher TSP-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher TSP-2-G should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards or USERRA makeup contributions.
Back Pay Awards
In September 2015, with the beginning of the L Fund default investment for newly enrolled and rehired participants, the TSP changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay award
Revision to Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
2017 Thrift Savings Plan Payroll Office Reports for the Blended Retirement System — With the implementation of the Blended Retirement System (BRS) on January 1, 2018, the various reports that payroll offices receive from the Thrift Savings Plan recordkeeping system, as well as those reports that are available on an ad hoc basis through the web-based data submission and reports retrieval application (“web-based application”), will be updated to incorporate the BRS contributions an
Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Public Safety Employees’ Exemption to the Early Withdrawal Penalty — Public Law 114-26, the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act, was signed by the President on June 29, 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers (“public safety employees”) who separate from service during or after the year they turn age 5
New Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — Effective September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants and beneficiary participants changes from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014. The purpose of this bulletin is to d
Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Requirements and the TSP Service Computation Date — This bulletin explains the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) vesting requirement found in 5 CFR § 1603. It also discusses the TSP Vesting Code and TSP Service Computation Date, which are used to determine whether or not the vesting requirement has been met.
The TSP Vesting Requirement
The term “vested” refers to the eligibility of participants in an employer-sponsored retirement plan to keep all the mon
Payroll Submission Process via IPAC — This bulletin explains an upcoming change in the way the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) collects and reconciles funds it receives from Federal Agencies for TSP contributions and loan payments.
The change only applies to departments and agencies that prepare and submit the monthly FMS 224, Statement of Transactions, to Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS). Those entiti
Phased Retirement and the TSP — Section 100121 of Public Law 112-141 added new provisions in 5 U.S.C. 8336a and 8412a that provide authority for a new phased retirement program. This bulletin provides information on the responsibilities and actions agencies must take regarding TSP eligibility and participation for their employees who transition to phased retirement status.
I. Eligibility
For TSP purposes, the employment status
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Service Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From the Uniformed Services — This bulletin discusses the actions that service representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from the uniformed services.
TSP participants are uniformed service members who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. If you cannot verify the existence of a TSP account by any other means, contact your Agency Technical Services (ATS) represent
Agency Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From Federal Service — This bulletin discusses the actions that agency representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from Federal service.
TSP participants are FERS and CSRS1 employees who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. FERS employees receive Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions, so all FERS employees are TSP participants. CSRS employees may or may not
Submitting New Retirement Codes to the Thrift Savings Plan — The “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013” (Pub. L. No. 113-67, § 401), signed by the president on December 26, 2013, amended the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Beginning January 1, 2014, new employees will make higher employee retirement contributions towards the FERS basic annuity. The new FERS employees will be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System as Further Revised Annu
Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form, and Form TSP-U-1-C, CatchUp Contribution Election Form, Revised for Roth Implementation of Army, Air Force, and Navy — On May 7, 2012, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) implemented Roth TSP and released the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-Up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by uniformed service members. Form TSP‑U-1 was revised in October 2012 to include the Roth election options for active duty members of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain Internal Revenue
Service criteria are met). To accommo
Elimination of Form TSP-U-50 — Effective the date of the implementation of the TSP Roth feature on May 7, 2012, Form TSP-U-50, Investment Allocation, will be obsolete. We are asking services to destroy (recycle) any copies of the form they may possess effective that date. The TSP will not honor a form received from either the participant or their service after the Roth implementation date.
Journal Voucher Submission Requirement after Implementation of Roth TSP and Notification by Services of Date They Are Ready to Receive Reports and Submit Contributions in the New Roth Format —
Consolidation of Form TSP-60, Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (Civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (Uniformed Services), and New Combined Form TSP-60-R, Request For A Roth Transfer Into The TSP — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has consolidated Form TSP-60,
Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (uniformed services)
into a single form, effective May 7, 2012. The combined form supersedes all prior versions
of Forms TSP-60 and TSP-U-60 with dates prior to April 2012. Previous versions of the form
must be immediately discarded (recycled), and
Implementation Date for Roth Thrift Savings Plan Contributions — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain criteria are met).
The Roth TSP feature is similar to
Relocation of Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Office — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (the Agency) moved its offices effective
March 16, 2012. The new address is:
77 K Street, NE
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20002
Included in this bulletin is current information available to service/payroll representatives to
assist them in implementing the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), including points of contact and
services available through the Agency
2011 Thrift Savings Plan Annual Participant Statements with Roth Introductory Information Enclosed — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, signed June 22, 2009, provided for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Roth feature. This bulletin contains copies of and information about the inserts the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) will enclose with 2011 annual participant statements to begin to educate participants about the new Roth feature. The statement mailing will begin th
Revision of Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form and Form TSP-U-1-C, Catch-up Contribution Election Form — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) has revised the Thrift Savings Plan
(TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by TSP members for the beginning of 2012. The TSP-U-1 is revised to reflect the increase to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) annual elective deferral limit to $17,000 in 2012. This revision also reflects
Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan - UPDATE — Beginning January 1, 2021, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will implement a new method for catch-up contributions called the “spillover” method. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the end of 2020.) Spillover will apply to all active civilian and uniformed services members turning age 50 or older. It will help simplify our catch-up pr
Implementation of 5% Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — On October 1, 2020, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and Blended Retirement System (BRS) participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for BRS participants automatically re-
Subject: CARES Act Withdrawal — The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special withdrawal rules for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants affected by COVID-19. In accordance with this law, the TSP has added a CARES Act withdrawal to its withdrawal options. A CARES A
Default Investment Fund for Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On January 1, 2018, the default investment fund for newly enrolled uniformed services Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) members (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased uniformed services members) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund. This change went into effect for those service members who joined the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2
Retirement of the L 2020 Fund and the Launch of New L Funds — The Lifecycle (L) Funds are designed to provide participants with an easy, convenient way of investing their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts among the five individual TSP funds based on when the participants will need the money in retirement. One of the principal characteristics of the funds is that their investment mixes become progressively more conservative as they reach their target dates.
Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased civilian participants) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
This bulle
CARES Act: Impact to Thrift Savings Plan Loans — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to clarify eligibility requirements and to include the new record types agencies and services will see on the 19401 Report.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special loan rules for Thrift Savings Pl
Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation — TSP Bulletin for Agency and Service representatives
This bulletin explains how placement in nonpay status (i.e., leave without pay (LWOP)) affects an employee’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participation. It supersedes TSP Bulletin 12-20, Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation, dated August 16, 2012.
Note:
This bulletin does not apply to participants who are furloughed (or hav
2020 TSP contribution limits — 2020 TSP Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings
2020 TSP contribution limits — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts for the ca
New Rules and Processes for Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for financial hardship in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-14 and 12-U-12, Consolidation of Forms TSP
New Rules and Processes for Age-Based In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for age-based in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-13 and 12-U-11, Consolidation of Forms TSP-75, Age-
New Options and Processes for Changes to Installment Payments — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new options and processes for participants receiving installment payments (previously called monthly payments) as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-21 and 12-U-
New Options and Processes for Withdrawal Requests for Separated and Beneficiary Participants — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal options and processes for separated and beneficiary participants as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-16 and 12-U-14, Consolidation of Post-Separ
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools — Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools
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The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has created new forms and online tools and declared prior versions of old forms obsolete as a result of the changes to the TSP withdrawal options associated with the TSP Mode
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to include information about automatic re-enrollment.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for Blended Retirement System (B
Introduction of the Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), which administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), plans to switch to the “spillover” method for catch-up contributions beginning with the first pay period of 2021. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the final pay period of 2020.) Spillover, which is used by many retirement plans and is available under
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020. The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 grants us the authority for this change. This change will not affect the c
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Revision of Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has revised Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies. The revision clarifies to agency payroll officers the need to provide the full loan account number on the form when applicable. This bulletin, dated April 18, 2019, will supersede TSP Bulletin 12-11 and all prior versions of the TSP-19 form. A copy of this form, which agencies
Effect of the retroactive pay increase on the Thrift Savings Plan — On February 15, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed Public Law 116-6, “The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019”, which authorizes appropriations to fund the operation of a number of agencies in the federal government through September 30, 2019. This legislation mandates a 1.9 percent average pay increase for most federal civilian employees retroactive to January 1, 2019. President Trump signe
TSP Forfeitures and Forfeiture Restoration Procedures — The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agency Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) representatives with detailed instructions for requesting a forfeiture restoration, and to provide a revised version of the Form TSP-5-R, Request to Restore Forfeiture.
Background
Forfeitures of a participant’s Agency Automatic (1%) and/or Agency Matching Contributions, along with associated earnings, occasionally occurs
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher, TSP-U-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher, TSP-U-2-G, should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards.
The TSP has changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay awards must be calculated based on the participant’s contribution allocation on file for the “as of” date of the correction.
Services should stop using the TSP
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher TSP-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher TSP-2-G should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards or USERRA makeup contributions.
Back Pay Awards
In September 2015, with the beginning of the L Fund default investment for newly enrolled and rehired participants, the TSP changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay award
Revision to Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
2017 Thrift Savings Plan Payroll Office Reports for the Blended Retirement System — With the implementation of the Blended Retirement System (BRS) on January 1, 2018, the various reports that payroll offices receive from the Thrift Savings Plan recordkeeping system, as well as those reports that are available on an ad hoc basis through the web-based data submission and reports retrieval application (“web-based application”), will be updated to incorporate the BRS contributions an
Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Public Safety Employees’ Exemption to the Early Withdrawal Penalty — Public Law 114-26, the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act, was signed by the President on June 29, 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers (“public safety employees”) who separate from service during or after the year they turn age 5
New Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — Effective September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants and beneficiary participants changes from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014. The purpose of this bulletin is to d
Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Requirements and the TSP Service Computation Date — This bulletin explains the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) vesting requirement found in 5 CFR § 1603. It also discusses the TSP Vesting Code and TSP Service Computation Date, which are used to determine whether or not the vesting requirement has been met.
The TSP Vesting Requirement
The term “vested” refers to the eligibility of participants in an employer-sponsored retirement plan to keep all the mon
Payroll Submission Process via IPAC — This bulletin explains an upcoming change in the way the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) collects and reconciles funds it receives from Federal Agencies for TSP contributions and loan payments.
The change only applies to departments and agencies that prepare and submit the monthly FMS 224, Statement of Transactions, to Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS). Those entiti
Phased Retirement and the TSP — Section 100121 of Public Law 112-141 added new provisions in 5 U.S.C. 8336a and 8412a that provide authority for a new phased retirement program. This bulletin provides information on the responsibilities and actions agencies must take regarding TSP eligibility and participation for their employees who transition to phased retirement status.
I. Eligibility
For TSP purposes, the employment status
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Service Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From the Uniformed Services — This bulletin discusses the actions that service representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from the uniformed services.
TSP participants are uniformed service members who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. If you cannot verify the existence of a TSP account by any other means, contact your Agency Technical Services (ATS) represent
Agency Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From Federal Service — This bulletin discusses the actions that agency representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from Federal service.
TSP participants are FERS and CSRS1 employees who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. FERS employees receive Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions, so all FERS employees are TSP participants. CSRS employees may or may not
Submitting New Retirement Codes to the Thrift Savings Plan — The “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013” (Pub. L. No. 113-67, § 401), signed by the president on December 26, 2013, amended the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Beginning January 1, 2014, new employees will make higher employee retirement contributions towards the FERS basic annuity. The new FERS employees will be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System as Further Revised Annu
Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form, and Form TSP-U-1-C, CatchUp Contribution Election Form, Revised for Roth Implementation of Army, Air Force, and Navy — On May 7, 2012, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) implemented Roth TSP and released the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-Up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by uniformed service members. Form TSP‑U-1 was revised in October 2012 to include the Roth election options for active duty members of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain Internal Revenue
Service criteria are met). To accommo
Elimination of Form TSP-U-50 — Effective the date of the implementation of the TSP Roth feature on May 7, 2012, Form TSP-U-50, Investment Allocation, will be obsolete. We are asking services to destroy (recycle) any copies of the form they may possess effective that date. The TSP will not honor a form received from either the participant or their service after the Roth implementation date.
Journal Voucher Submission Requirement after Implementation of Roth TSP and Notification by Services of Date They Are Ready to Receive Reports and Submit Contributions in the New Roth Format —
Consolidation of Form TSP-60, Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (Civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (Uniformed Services), and New Combined Form TSP-60-R, Request For A Roth Transfer Into The TSP — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has consolidated Form TSP-60,
Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (uniformed services)
into a single form, effective May 7, 2012. The combined form supersedes all prior versions
of Forms TSP-60 and TSP-U-60 with dates prior to April 2012. Previous versions of the form
must be immediately discarded (recycled), and
Implementation Date for Roth Thrift Savings Plan Contributions — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain criteria are met).
The Roth TSP feature is similar to
Relocation of Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Office — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (the Agency) moved its offices effective
March 16, 2012. The new address is:
77 K Street, NE
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20002
Included in this bulletin is current information available to service/payroll representatives to
assist them in implementing the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), including points of contact and
services available through the Agency
2011 Thrift Savings Plan Annual Participant Statements with Roth Introductory Information Enclosed — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, signed June 22, 2009, provided for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Roth feature. This bulletin contains copies of and information about the inserts the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) will enclose with 2011 annual participant statements to begin to educate participants about the new Roth feature. The statement mailing will begin th
Revision of Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form and Form TSP-U-1-C, Catch-up Contribution Election Form — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) has revised the Thrift Savings Plan
(TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by TSP members for the beginning of 2012. The TSP-U-1 is revised to reflect the increase to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) annual elective deferral limit to $17,000 in 2012. This revision also reflects
Default Investment Fund for Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On January 1, 2018, the default investment fund for newly enrolled uniformed services Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) members (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased uniformed services members) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund. This change went into effect for those service members who joined the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2
Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased civilian participants) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
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Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to include information about automatic re-enrollment.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for Blended Retirement System (B
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020. The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 grants us the authority for this change. This change will not affect the c
Revision of Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has revised Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies. The revision clarifies to agency payroll officers the need to provide the full loan account number on the form when applicable. This bulletin, dated April 18, 2019, will supersede TSP Bulletin 12-11 and all prior versions of the TSP-19 form. A copy of this form, which agencies
TSP Forfeitures and Forfeiture Restoration Procedures — The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agency Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) representatives with detailed instructions for requesting a forfeiture restoration, and to provide a revised version of the Form TSP-5-R, Request to Restore Forfeiture.
Background
Forfeitures of a participant’s Agency Automatic (1%) and/or Agency Matching Contributions, along with associated earnings, occasionally occurs
Default Investment Fund for Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On January 1, 2018, the default investment fund for newly enrolled uniformed services Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) members (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased uniformed services members) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund. This change went into effect for those service members who joined the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2
Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased civilian participants) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
This bulle
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to include information about automatic re-enrollment.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for Blended Retirement System (B
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020. The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 grants us the authority for this change. This change will not affect the c
Revision of Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has revised Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies. The revision clarifies to agency payroll officers the need to provide the full loan account number on the form when applicable. This bulletin, dated April 18, 2019, will supersede TSP Bulletin 12-11 and all prior versions of the TSP-19 form. A copy of this form, which agencies
TSP Forfeitures and Forfeiture Restoration Procedures — The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agency Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) representatives with detailed instructions for requesting a forfeiture restoration, and to provide a revised version of the Form TSP-5-R, Request to Restore Forfeiture.
Background
Forfeitures of a participant’s Agency Automatic (1%) and/or Agency Matching Contributions, along with associated earnings, occasionally occurs
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Thrift Savings Plan Death Benefits — This bulletin contains information about Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) death benefits. It consolidates and supersedes several bulletins detailing various death benefits topics, including the statutory order of precedence, Beneficiary Participant Accounts for spousal beneficiaries, payment options for non-spousal beneficiaries, Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary, and Form TSP-17, Information Relati
Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan - UPDATE — Beginning January 1, 2021, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will implement a new method for catch-up contributions called the “spillover” method. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the end of 2020.) Spillover will apply to all active civilian and uniformed services members turning age 50 or older. It will help simplify our catch-up pr
Default Investment Fund for Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On January 1, 2018, the default investment fund for newly enrolled uniformed services Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) members (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased uniformed services members) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund. This change went into effect for those service members who joined the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2
Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased civilian participants) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
This bulle
CARES Act: Impact to Thrift Savings Plan Loans — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to clarify eligibility requirements and to include the new record types agencies and services will see on the 19401 Report.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special loan rules for Thrift Savings Pl
Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation — TSP Bulletin for Agency and Service representatives
This bulletin explains how placement in nonpay status (i.e., leave without pay (LWOP)) affects an employee’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participation. It supersedes TSP Bulletin 12-20, Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation, dated August 16, 2012.
Note:
This bulletin does not apply to participants who are furloughed (or hav
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to include information about automatic re-enrollment.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for Blended Retirement System (B
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020. The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 grants us the authority for this change. This change will not affect the c
Revision of Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has revised Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies. The revision clarifies to agency payroll officers the need to provide the full loan account number on the form when applicable. This bulletin, dated April 18, 2019, will supersede TSP Bulletin 12-11 and all prior versions of the TSP-19 form. A copy of this form, which agencies
Effect of the retroactive pay increase on the Thrift Savings Plan — On February 15, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed Public Law 116-6, “The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019”, which authorizes appropriations to fund the operation of a number of agencies in the federal government through September 30, 2019. This legislation mandates a 1.9 percent average pay increase for most federal civilian employees retroactive to January 1, 2019. President Trump signe
2017 Thrift Savings Plan Payroll Office Reports for the Blended Retirement System — With the implementation of the Blended Retirement System (BRS) on January 1, 2018, the various reports that payroll offices receive from the Thrift Savings Plan recordkeeping system, as well as those reports that are available on an ad hoc basis through the web-based data submission and reports retrieval application (“web-based application”), will be updated to incorporate the BRS contributions an
Phased Retirement and the TSP — Section 100121 of Public Law 112-141 added new provisions in 5 U.S.C. 8336a and 8412a that provide authority for a new phased retirement program. This bulletin provides information on the responsibilities and actions agencies must take regarding TSP eligibility and participation for their employees who transition to phased retirement status.
I. Eligibility
For TSP purposes, the employment status
Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan - UPDATE — Beginning January 1, 2021, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will implement a new method for catch-up contributions called the “spillover” method. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the end of 2020.) Spillover will apply to all active civilian and uniformed services members turning age 50 or older. It will help simplify our catch-up pr
Default Investment Fund for Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On January 1, 2018, the default investment fund for newly enrolled uniformed services Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) members (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased uniformed services members) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund. This change went into effect for those service members who joined the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2
Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — On September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants (and spouse beneficiaries of deceased civilian participants) changed from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014.
This bulle
CARES Act: Impact to Thrift Savings Plan Loans — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to clarify eligibility requirements and to include the new record types agencies and services will see on the 19401 Report.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special loan rules for Thrift Savings Pl
Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation — TSP Bulletin for Agency and Service representatives
This bulletin explains how placement in nonpay status (i.e., leave without pay (LWOP)) affects an employee’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participation. It supersedes TSP Bulletin 12-20, Effect of Nonpay Status on Thrift Savings Plan Participation, dated August 16, 2012.
Note:
This bulletin does not apply to participants who are furloughed (or hav
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — UPDATE — This bulletin has been updated to include information about automatic re-enrollment.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for Blended Retirement System (B
Announcement of Upcoming Change to the Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), the agency that administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020. The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 grants us the authority for this change. This change will not affect the c
Revision of Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has revised Form TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies. The revision clarifies to agency payroll officers the need to provide the full loan account number on the form when applicable. This bulletin, dated April 18, 2019, will supersede TSP Bulletin 12-11 and all prior versions of the TSP-19 form. A copy of this form, which agencies
Effect of the retroactive pay increase on the Thrift Savings Plan — On February 15, 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed Public Law 116-6, “The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019”, which authorizes appropriations to fund the operation of a number of agencies in the federal government through September 30, 2019. This legislation mandates a 1.9 percent average pay increase for most federal civilian employees retroactive to January 1, 2019. President Trump signe
2017 Thrift Savings Plan Payroll Office Reports for the Blended Retirement System — With the implementation of the Blended Retirement System (BRS) on January 1, 2018, the various reports that payroll offices receive from the Thrift Savings Plan recordkeeping system, as well as those reports that are available on an ad hoc basis through the web-based data submission and reports retrieval application (“web-based application”), will be updated to incorporate the BRS contributions an
Phased Retirement and the TSP — Section 100121 of Public Law 112-141 added new provisions in 5 U.S.C. 8336a and 8412a that provide authority for a new phased retirement program. This bulletin provides information on the responsibilities and actions agencies must take regarding TSP eligibility and participation for their employees who transition to phased retirement status.
I. Eligibility
For TSP purposes, the employment status
Revision to Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Revision to Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan - UPDATE — Beginning January 1, 2021, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will implement a new method for catch-up contributions called the “spillover” method. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the end of 2020.) Spillover will apply to all active civilian and uniformed services members turning age 50 or older. It will help simplify our catch-up pr
Implementation of 5% Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — On October 1, 2020, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and Blended Retirement System (BRS) participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for BRS participants automatically re-
Subject: CARES Act Withdrawal — The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special withdrawal rules for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants affected by COVID-19. In accordance with this law, the TSP has added a CARES Act withdrawal to its withdrawal options. A CARES A
Retirement of the L 2020 Fund and the Launch of New L Funds — The Lifecycle (L) Funds are designed to provide participants with an easy, convenient way of investing their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts among the five individual TSP funds based on when the participants will need the money in retirement. One of the principal characteristics of the funds is that their investment mixes become progressively more conservative as they reach their target dates.
2020 TSP contribution limits — 2020 TSP Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings
2020 TSP contribution limits — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts for the ca
New Rules and Processes for Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for financial hardship in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-14 and 12-U-12, Consolidation of Forms TSP
New Rules and Processes for Age-Based In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for age-based in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-13 and 12-U-11, Consolidation of Forms TSP-75, Age-
New Options and Processes for Changes to Installment Payments — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new options and processes for participants receiving installment payments (previously called monthly payments) as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-21 and 12-U-
New Options and Processes for Withdrawal Requests for Separated and Beneficiary Participants — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal options and processes for separated and beneficiary participants as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-16 and 12-U-14, Consolidation of Post-Separ
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools — Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools
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The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has created new forms and online tools and declared prior versions of old forms obsolete as a result of the changes to the TSP withdrawal options associated with the TSP Mode
Introduction of the Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), which administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), plans to switch to the “spillover” method for catch-up contributions beginning with the first pay period of 2021. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the final pay period of 2020.) Spillover, which is used by many retirement plans and is available under
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher, TSP-U-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher, TSP-U-2-G, should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards.
The TSP has changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay awards must be calculated based on the participant’s contribution allocation on file for the “as of” date of the correction.
Services should stop using the TSP
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher TSP-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher TSP-2-G should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards or USERRA makeup contributions.
Back Pay Awards
In September 2015, with the beginning of the L Fund default investment for newly enrolled and rehired participants, the TSP changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay award
Revision to Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
New Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — Effective September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants and beneficiary participants changes from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014. The purpose of this bulletin is to d
Payroll Submission Process via IPAC — This bulletin explains an upcoming change in the way the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) collects and reconciles funds it receives from Federal Agencies for TSP contributions and loan payments.
The change only applies to departments and agencies that prepare and submit the monthly FMS 224, Statement of Transactions, to Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS). Those entiti
Submitting New Retirement Codes to the Thrift Savings Plan — The “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013” (Pub. L. No. 113-67, § 401), signed by the president on December 26, 2013, amended the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Beginning January 1, 2014, new employees will make higher employee retirement contributions towards the FERS basic annuity. The new FERS employees will be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System as Further Revised Annu
Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form, and Form TSP-U-1-C, CatchUp Contribution Election Form, Revised for Roth Implementation of Army, Air Force, and Navy — On May 7, 2012, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) implemented Roth TSP and released the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-Up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by uniformed service members. Form TSP‑U-1 was revised in October 2012 to include the Roth election options for active duty members of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain Internal Revenue
Service criteria are met). To accommo
Elimination of Form TSP-U-50 — Effective the date of the implementation of the TSP Roth feature on May 7, 2012, Form TSP-U-50, Investment Allocation, will be obsolete. We are asking services to destroy (recycle) any copies of the form they may possess effective that date. The TSP will not honor a form received from either the participant or their service after the Roth implementation date.
Journal Voucher Submission Requirement after Implementation of Roth TSP and Notification by Services of Date They Are Ready to Receive Reports and Submit Contributions in the New Roth Format —
Consolidation of Form TSP-60, Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (Civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (Uniformed Services), and New Combined Form TSP-60-R, Request For A Roth Transfer Into The TSP — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has consolidated Form TSP-60,
Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (uniformed services)
into a single form, effective May 7, 2012. The combined form supersedes all prior versions
of Forms TSP-60 and TSP-U-60 with dates prior to April 2012. Previous versions of the form
must be immediately discarded (recycled), and
Implementation Date for Roth Thrift Savings Plan Contributions — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain criteria are met).
The Roth TSP feature is similar to
Relocation of Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Office — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (the Agency) moved its offices effective
March 16, 2012. The new address is:
77 K Street, NE
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20002
Included in this bulletin is current information available to service/payroll representatives to
assist them in implementing the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), including points of contact and
services available through the Agency
2011 Thrift Savings Plan Annual Participant Statements with Roth Introductory Information Enclosed — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, signed June 22, 2009, provided for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Roth feature. This bulletin contains copies of and information about the inserts the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) will enclose with 2011 annual participant statements to begin to educate participants about the new Roth feature. The statement mailing will begin th
Revision of Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form and Form TSP-U-1-C, Catch-up Contribution Election Form — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) has revised the Thrift Savings Plan
(TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by TSP members for the beginning of 2012. The TSP-U-1 is revised to reflect the increase to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) annual elective deferral limit to $17,000 in 2012. This revision also reflects
Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan - UPDATE — Beginning January 1, 2021, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will implement a new method for catch-up contributions called the “spillover” method. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the end of 2020.) Spillover will apply to all active civilian and uniformed services members turning age 50 or older. It will help simplify our catch-up pr
Implementation of 5% Automatic Enrollment Percentage for Thrift Savings Plan Participants — On October 1, 2020, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) will increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3% to 5% of pay for all Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and Blended Retirement System (BRS) participants who are automatically enrolled in the TSP on or after October 1, 2020, and for BRS participants automatically re-
Subject: CARES Act Withdrawal — The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act became law on March 27, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-136). The CARES Act allows the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) to create special withdrawal rules for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants affected by COVID-19. In accordance with this law, the TSP has added a CARES Act withdrawal to its withdrawal options. A CARES A
Retirement of the L 2020 Fund and the Launch of New L Funds — The Lifecycle (L) Funds are designed to provide participants with an easy, convenient way of investing their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts among the five individual TSP funds based on when the participants will need the money in retirement. One of the principal characteristics of the funds is that their investment mixes become progressively more conservative as they reach their target dates.
2020 TSP contribution limits — 2020 TSP Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings
2020 TSP contribution limits — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the contribution limits for 2020:
Limit NameIRC2020 Limit2019 Limit
Elective Deferral Limit
§ 402(g)
$19,500
$19,000
Catch-up Contribution Limit
§ 414(v)
$6,500
$6,000
Annual Addition Limit
§ 415(c)
$57,000
$56,000
These limits affect the amount of contributions that can be made to individual Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts for the ca
New Rules and Processes for Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for financial hardship in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-14 and 12-U-12, Consolidation of Forms TSP
New Rules and Processes for Age-Based In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for age-based in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-13 and 12-U-11, Consolidation of Forms TSP-75, Age-
New Options and Processes for Changes to Installment Payments — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new options and processes for participants receiving installment payments (previously called monthly payments) as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-21 and 12-U-
New Options and Processes for Withdrawal Requests for Separated and Beneficiary Participants — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal options and processes for separated and beneficiary participants as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-16 and 12-U-14, Consolidation of Post-Separ
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools — Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms and New Online Tools
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The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has created new forms and online tools and declared prior versions of old forms obsolete as a result of the changes to the TSP withdrawal options associated with the TSP Mode
Introduction of the Spillover Method for Catch-Up Contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), which administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), plans to switch to the “spillover” method for catch-up contributions beginning with the first pay period of 2021. (Participants will continue using the TSP’s current catch-up program through the final pay period of 2020.) Spillover, which is used by many retirement plans and is available under
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher, TSP-U-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher, TSP-U-2-G, should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards.
The TSP has changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay awards must be calculated based on the participant’s contribution allocation on file for the “as of” date of the correction.
Services should stop using the TSP
New Guidance on the Use of Journal Voucher TSP-2-G — Effective immediately, the journal voucher TSP-2-G should no longer be used to submit records for back pay awards or USERRA makeup contributions.
Back Pay Awards
In September 2015, with the beginning of the L Fund default investment for newly enrolled and rehired participants, the TSP changed its regulations regarding the calculation of breakage on back pay awards. All breakage for back pay award
Revision to Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
Implementation of the Blended Retirement System — The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Public Law 114-92, signed into law November 25, 2015, authorized the uniformed services1 to change their traditional retirement plan from one that relied primarily on a cliff-vested defined benefit to one that blends a reduced defined benefit with enhanced Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, continuation pay, and retention bonuses paid a
New Default Investment Fund for Civilian and Beneficiary TSP Participants — Effective September 5, 2015, the default investment fund for newly enrolled civilian Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants and beneficiary participants changes from the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund to an age-appropriate Lifecycle (L) Fund, in accordance with the Smart Savings Act, Public Law 113-255, which was signed into law on December 18, 2014. The purpose of this bulletin is to d
Payroll Submission Process via IPAC — This bulletin explains an upcoming change in the way the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) collects and reconciles funds it receives from Federal Agencies for TSP contributions and loan payments.
The change only applies to departments and agencies that prepare and submit the monthly FMS 224, Statement of Transactions, to Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS). Those entiti
Submitting New Retirement Codes to the Thrift Savings Plan — The “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013” (Pub. L. No. 113-67, § 401), signed by the president on December 26, 2013, amended the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Beginning January 1, 2014, new employees will make higher employee retirement contributions towards the FERS basic annuity. The new FERS employees will be covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System as Further Revised Annu
Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form, and Form TSP-U-1-C, CatchUp Contribution Election Form, Revised for Roth Implementation of Army, Air Force, and Navy — On May 7, 2012, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) implemented Roth TSP and released the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-Up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by uniformed service members. Form TSP‑U-1 was revised in October 2012 to include the Roth election options for active duty members of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
Consolidated List of Obsolete, Replacement, and Combined TSP Forms — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain Internal Revenue
Service criteria are met). To accommo
Elimination of Form TSP-U-50 — Effective the date of the implementation of the TSP Roth feature on May 7, 2012, Form TSP-U-50, Investment Allocation, will be obsolete. We are asking services to destroy (recycle) any copies of the form they may possess effective that date. The TSP will not honor a form received from either the participant or their service after the Roth implementation date.
Journal Voucher Submission Requirement after Implementation of Roth TSP and Notification by Services of Date They Are Ready to Receive Reports and Submit Contributions in the New Roth Format —
Consolidation of Form TSP-60, Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (Civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (Uniformed Services), and New Combined Form TSP-60-R, Request For A Roth Transfer Into The TSP — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) has consolidated Form TSP-60,
Request For A Transfer Into The TSP (civilian) and Form TSP-U-60 (uniformed services)
into a single form, effective May 7, 2012. The combined form supersedes all prior versions
of Forms TSP-60 and TSP-U-60 with dates prior to April 2012. Previous versions of the form
must be immediately discarded (recycled), and
Implementation Date for Roth Thrift Savings Plan Contributions — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, Public Law 111-31, signed into law on
June 22, 2009, authorized the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to add a Roth feature to the plan.
This benefit allows participants to contribute on an after-tax basis to their TSP accounts and
receive tax-free earnings when they withdraw the funds (assuming certain criteria are met).
The Roth TSP feature is similar to
Relocation of Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Office — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (the Agency) moved its offices effective
March 16, 2012. The new address is:
77 K Street, NE
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20002
Included in this bulletin is current information available to service/payroll representatives to
assist them in implementing the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), including points of contact and
services available through the Agency
2011 Thrift Savings Plan Annual Participant Statements with Roth Introductory Information Enclosed — The Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009, signed June 22, 2009, provided for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Roth feature. This bulletin contains copies of and information about the inserts the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) will enclose with 2011 annual participant statements to begin to educate participants about the new Roth feature. The statement mailing will begin th
Revision of Form TSP-U-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form and Form TSP-U-1-C, Catch-up Contribution Election Form — The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Board) has revised the Thrift Savings Plan
(TSP) Election Form (TSP-U-1) and Catch-up Contribution Election Form (TSP-U-1-C) for elections submitted by TSP members for the beginning of 2012. The TSP-U-1 is revised to reflect the increase to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) annual elective deferral limit to $17,000 in 2012. This revision also reflects
Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Requirements and the TSP Service Computation Date — This bulletin explains the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) vesting requirement found in 5 CFR § 1603. It also discusses the TSP Vesting Code and TSP Service Computation Date, which are used to determine whether or not the vesting requirement has been met.
The TSP Vesting Requirement
The term “vested” refers to the eligibility of participants in an employer-sponsored retirement plan to keep all the mon
Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Requirements and the TSP Service Computation Date — This bulletin explains the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) vesting requirement found in 5 CFR § 1603. It also discusses the TSP Vesting Code and TSP Service Computation Date, which are used to determine whether or not the vesting requirement has been met.
The TSP Vesting Requirement
The term “vested” refers to the eligibility of participants in an employer-sponsored retirement plan to keep all the mon
New Rules and Processes for Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for financial hardship in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-14 and 12-U-12, Consolidation of Forms TSP
New Rules and Processes for Age-Based In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for age-based in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-13 and 12-U-11, Consolidation of Forms TSP-75, Age-
New Options and Processes for Changes to Installment Payments — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new options and processes for participants receiving installment payments (previously called monthly payments) as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-21 and 12-U-
New Options and Processes for Withdrawal Requests for Separated and Beneficiary Participants — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal options and processes for separated and beneficiary participants as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-16 and 12-U-14, Consolidation of Post-Separ
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Public Safety Employees’ Exemption to the Early Withdrawal Penalty — Public Law 114-26, the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act, was signed by the President on June 29, 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers (“public safety employees”) who separate from service during or after the year they turn age 5
Service Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From the Uniformed Services — This bulletin discusses the actions that service representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from the uniformed services.
TSP participants are uniformed service members who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. If you cannot verify the existence of a TSP account by any other means, contact your Agency Technical Services (ATS) represent
Agency Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From Federal Service — This bulletin discusses the actions that agency representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from Federal service.
TSP participants are FERS and CSRS1 employees who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. FERS employees receive Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions, so all FERS employees are TSP participants. CSRS employees may or may not
New Rules and Processes for Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for financial hardship in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-14 and 12-U-12, Consolidation of Forms TSP
New Rules and Processes for Age-Based In-Service Withdrawals — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal rules and processes for age-based in-service withdrawals as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-13 and 12-U-11, Consolidation of Forms TSP-75, Age-
New Options and Processes for Changes to Installment Payments — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new options and processes for participants receiving installment payments (previously called monthly payments) as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-21 and 12-U-
New Options and Processes for Withdrawal Requests for Separated and Beneficiary Participants — The purpose of this bulletin is to notify agencies/services that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has implemented new withdrawal options and processes for separated and beneficiary participants as a result of the TSP Modernization Act of 2017. These changes take effect on September 15, 2019.
This bulletin supersedes TSP Bulletins 12-16 and 12-U-14, Consolidation of Post-Separ
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Upcoming Change to Eliminate Financial Hardship In-Service Withdrawal Six-Month Suspension Rule — The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) will soon eliminate the six-month suspension of TSP contributions for participants who have taken a financial hardship in-service withdrawal. Implementation of this rule change will occur on September 15, 2019, at the same time that withdrawal changes related to the TSP Modernization Act of 2017 take effect. Legislation to allow this change came under the Bipartisan B
Public Safety Employees’ Exemption to the Early Withdrawal Penalty — Public Law 114-26, the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act, was signed by the President on June 29, 2015. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers (“public safety employees”) who separate from service during or after the year they turn age 5
Service Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From the Uniformed Services — This bulletin discusses the actions that service representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from the uniformed services.
TSP participants are uniformed service members who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. If you cannot verify the existence of a TSP account by any other means, contact your Agency Technical Services (ATS) represent
Agency Responsibilities When Thrift Savings Plan Participants Separate From Federal Service — This bulletin discusses the actions that agency representatives must take when a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant separates from Federal service.
TSP participants are FERS and CSRS1 employees who have TSP accounts, even if they are not currently contributing. FERS employees receive Agency Automatic (1%) Contributions, so all FERS employees are TSP participants. CSRS employees may or may not
