Numerous federal retirees have been waiting for several weeks to receive important tax documents and are unable to reach OPM for assistance. A group of House members has urged OPM to address the issue more…
CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System)
CSRS / FERS Lump Sum Annuity Option (And How It is Taxed)
If eligible, a retiring CSRS or FERS employee may elect to receive the alternative form of a CSRS or FERS annuity, receiving a lump sum payment equal to the employee’s contributions to the CSRS or FERS Retirement and Disability Fund. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the specific eligibility requirements, the calculation of the lump sum payment and reduced CSRS and FERS annuity, and the tax liabilities more…
How CSRS / FERS Survivor Annuities Are Taxed
Ed Zurndorfer what portion of a CSRS or FERS survivor annuity (full or partial) is federally taxable under several common scenarios (examples included) and provides an important caution CSRS and FERS annuitants and survivor annuitants regarding information on on CSA 1099-Rs and CSF 1099-Rs from OPM’s Retirement’s Office more…
How CSRS and FERS Retirement Annuities Are Taxed
Ed Zurndorfer explains how the IRS taxes CSRS and FERS non-disability annuities when a federal employee retires from federal service. Worksheet and practical example are included more…
How to Get Your 1099-R for CSRS/FERS Annuity and TSP
If you are missing an IRS form 1099-R from either your CSRS/FERS annuity or your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account, here are the instructions to get them more…
Federal Retirees Report Error in December 2025 Annuity Statements
Many federal retirees have reported errors on their December 2025 annuity statements related to next year’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Here’s what you can do if you are affected… more…
When Will Federal Retirees Receive the 2026 COLA Increase?
Due to recent years of surging inflation and public discussion of the affordability for the cost of living for seniors, there are increasing questions among many federal retirees as to the amount of the future cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that CSRS and FERS annuitants will receive, and when they will receive it more…
Senate Democrats Propose to Expand Social Security Benefits in 2026
If passed, the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act would increase benefits by $200 per month for six months more…
The Strategy of the Survivor Benefit Plan
Chris Kowalik explains the the difference between active employee pay raises and retiree cost-of-living adjustments — and why, when and how they are applied — as well as current projections for 2026’s anticipated pay raises and how newly announced COLAs will be implemented in retirement more…
Your Survivor Benefit Plan vs. Life Insurance
Your federal Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is an excellent way to protect a portion of your income for your spouse when you die. But that is all it protects, just a portion. You may want to seek out other solutions to fill in the gaps to meet your retirement goals. Chris Kowalik gives understanding on how the SBP and life insurance work so you can develop a comprehensive strategy for utilizing both, providing you and your spouse with the ultimate income protection. more…