The IRS announced plans to issue automatic payments to eligible individuals who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on their 2021 federal income tax returns. For individuals who, for one reason or another, did not file a 2021 federal income tax return, they may be eligible for a refund if they file and claim the RRC more…
How to Avoid IRS Penalties and Interest Charges for Late Filing
Ed Zurndorfer discusses late filing and late payment penalties and what individuals can do to minimize or avoid these penalties more…
Understanding TSP Vesting Requirements and TSP Service Computation Date
There are federal employees who are losing their federal jobs due to reductions-in-force (RIFs) or elimination of job positions. Most of these employees are not eligible to immediately retire from federal service. A question that these employees may be asking: What happens to their Thrift Savings Plan accounts? Ed Zurndorfer discusses vesting the TSP requirements more…
What Happens to Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) in Early or Deferred Retirement?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what happens to a federal employee’s health, dental and vision benefits when the employee leaves federal service before normal retirement age more…
What Happens to Life (FEGLI) and Long-Term Care Insurance (FLTCIP) in Early or Deferred Retirement?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what happens to federal employee life insurance and federal long-term care insurance benefits when a employee retires or leaves federal service before normal retirement age more…
Pre-Age 55 Penalty-Free TSP Withdrawals: Partial Rollover of a Traditional TSP Account to a Traditional IRA
With perhaps thousands of federal employees having to leave federal service as a result of reductions-in-force (RIFs), the question becomes for many: How to access their Thrift Savings Plan accounts? In column one of a two-part series, Ed Zurndorfer discusses how separated federal employees younger than age 55 can make penalty-free TSP withdrawals. Presented in this column is the partial rollover of a traditional TSP account to a traditional IRA more…
Retroactive Payments to Begin from Repeal of Social Security’s WEP, GPO
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that starting the week of February 24, 2025, it will begin to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payment to individuals whose monthly Social Security benefits have been affected by the Windfall Government Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Ed Zurndorfer outlines what actions an eligible individual should take, and provides details of the implementation more…
Pre-Age 55 Penalty-Free TSP Withdrawals: TSP Annuity and TSP Monthly Payments Based on Life Expectancy
With perhaps thousands of federal employees having to leave federal service as a result of reductions-in-force (RIFs), the question becomes for many: How to access their Thrift Savings Plan accounts? In column one of a two-part series, Ed Zurndorfer discusses how separated federal employees younger than age 55 can make penalty-free TSP withdrawals. Presented in this column is the TSP annuity and TSP monthly payments based on life expectancy more…
Some Separating Federal Employees May Qualify for Discontinued Service Retirement
Over the last several weeks, there have been thousands of federal employees who have received notice that they are or will be involuntarily separated from federal service. Those employees who have 20 or more years of creditable federal service may be eligible for a discontinued service retirement (DSR). A discontinued service retirement means that an employee is eligible to retire and be able to immediately start collecting their CSRS or FERS annuity. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the DSR option and rules for CSRS and FERS employees more…
Homeownership Can Shelter Federal Employees and Retirees from Income Taxes
Ed Zurndorfer outlines some key tax deductions and tax exclusions associated with homeownership that federal employees and retirees should be aware of when it comes to owning, buying and selling a home more…





