The Thrift Financial savings Plan (TSP) introduced formally final week that starting in January 2026 TSP members will have the ability to convert their cash in conventional TSP (pre-tax) steadiness to a Roth TSP (after-tax) steadiness, referred to as a “TSP Roth in-plan conversion.”
Contributors who don’t have a TSP Roth steadiness their TSP account can create one.
“In case you’re contemplating doing a Roth in-plan conversion, we strongly suggest that you simply seek the advice of a tax advisor to begin planning how it could have an effect on your taxable earnings and estimate how a lot chances are you’ll must pay in taxes,” the TSP wrote within the announcement.
“If you convert pre-tax cash out of your conventional TSP steadiness, your Roth in-plan conversion quantity will turn into a part of your taxable earnings for the yr,” the TSP stated. “Because of this you’ll pay earnings tax on the conversion quantity primarily based in your earnings tax charge. You have to pay the earnings tax on the conversion quantity utilizing private funds from one other supply, similar to a financial savings account. You can not use a part of the conversion quantity in your TSP account to pay taxes.”
The TSP is additionally growing a calculator that can traders estimate the consequences of changing conventional funds to Roth funds in a TSP account.
Further useful sources on the TSP Roth possibility:
Roth vs. Conventional TSP: Which One Ought to You Select? by Ed Zurndorfer
Exploring the TSP Roth Conversion Technique Cut back Your Tax Obligation in Retirement (video from Chris Kowalik)
Conventional and Roth TSP contributions (info on TSP.gov)
Abstract of the Thrift Financial savings Plan (booklet)
Tax Guidelines about TSP Funds (booklet)
