How to access thrift savings plan?

If you have a thrift savings plan with your agency and you have been contributing part of your paycheck to the account, you may want to access your TSP account to track your savings. Generally, you can access your TSP account online on the TSP website or mobile app, but you have to remember the login information.

You can access your thrift savings plan by going to the TSP website on tsp.gov. On the upper right-hand side, click on the "log in" button and enter your username and password. You will receive a one-time passcode via text message or email that you must enter to authenticate your identity. If you have forgotten your username or password, the website provides options to find the username or reset the password.

How to access thrift savings plan

Follow these steps to access your TSP account:

Go to the TSP website at tsp.gov

On the homepage, click on the "Log in" button on the upper right-hand side to go to the My Account Login page.

Enter your username and password on the login page. If you had not set up login credentials before June 1, 2022, you will be required to complete the setup to create new login credentials.

To set up your account, you will create a username, password, and ThriftLine PIN that you can use to access your account. Follow the prompts to verify your identity, update your contact information, and set up account security.

If you do not know your username or password, you can reset these credentials online on the TSP website. To know your Username, go to the Find Username page, and enter your email and last name. If you have forgotten your password, you can go to the Reset Password page and request a reset link via email.

Once you find your username and set a new password, you can access your TSP account to manage your retirement savings. You can check the TSP account balance, allocate new contributions, request a TSP loan, make inter-fund transfers, request a hardship withdrawal, or download and print the account statement.

How to verify your identity on the TSP website

When accessing your TSP account online, TSP will send a one-time password to verify your identity. You will receive the passcode via text message or .mil email address for uniformed services members. You can also receive the one-time passcode via voice call or using the Okta Verify app.

Typically, passcodes sent via text message take minutes to arrive, but those sent via email may take longer to reach your inbox. If the passcode takes longer than usual to reach your email, check the spam or junk folder or contact your email service provider.

How to access your TSP account using the mobile app

You can download the TSP mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and use it to access your TSP account. You will be required to provide your username and password to log in to your account using the mobile app. You can also add a second security later such as fingerprints and biometrics to prevent unauthorized access.

When you log in to your TSP account, you can view your account summary, request in-service withdrawals, monitor your savings goals, update your profile, etc.

How to access your TSP account by phone

If you need help with your TSP account, you can call ThriftLine at 1-877-968-3778 toll-free or (404) 233-4400 if you are outside the US. ThriftLine is an automated service, and it allows users to access account information 24/7. For account-specific information, you can connect to a ThriftLine representative during business hours Monday to Friday from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm EST.  

You will be required to authenticate your access by providing your ThriftLine PIN, which you create when setting up My Account on the TSP website. If you have forgotten your ThriftLine PIN or you want to change the PIN, call ThriftLine. You will be required to provide certain information about your TSP account and Social Security to verify your identity.

How to access your TSP funds

Once you retire from federal service, you have several options for taking distributions from your TSP account. Here are the options you have:

Installment payments

You can take periodic or fixed dollar installments if you separate from federal service at age 55 and go into retirement. In this case, you can start taking installments without incurring an early withdrawal penalty. If you are Special Category Employee (SCE) such as a firefighter, border protection officer, or law enforcement officer, you can begin taking set withdrawals if you retire at 50.

When you take installment payments from a TSP account, you could owe taxes depending on the type of TSP plan you have. If you have a Roth TSP and you contributed post-tax dollars to the account, the distributions will be tax-free. However, if you have a traditional TSP, and you contributed pre-tax dollars, you will pay income taxes on the distributions you take.  

Partial/total distributions

You can take single withdrawals from the TSP plan at any time if the withdrawal amount is above $1,000. There is no limit on the number of distributions you can take after retirement, but TSP processing time limits you to no more than one distribution in any 30-day period.

You can also roll over a partial or total distribution to an IRA or other eligible retirement plan. If you have an IRA, check with the plan administrator to know if they accept such rollovers and the tax implications of the rollover. Generally, if you roll over a traditional TSP to a traditional IRA, you won't pay any taxes on the rollover.

Annuity purchases

You can use part of or all of your TSP balance to purchase an annuity with an external vendor that will pay you an income for life. Purchasing an annuity is an attractive option for retirees who want the security of regular periodic payments and are worried about running out of money in retirement.