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Next Benefit Payment Date April 30

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Refund Your Account

During your employment with a TMRS participating city, you contribute into a TMRS account, and each year TMRS applies 5% interest to your account balance. When you stop working for a TMRS participating city, you can either:

  • leave your account balance with TMRS, where it will continue to earn interest, or
  • refund your personal contributions and the interest credited to your account. Your refund does not include any city matching funds.

By law, you cannot borrow from your Member account, or use it as collateral for a loan.

Things to Consider

Refunding is an option, not a requirement.

If you are not vested, you can leave your contributions in your TMRS account for up to five years, and your account balance will continue to earn 5% interest each year. After five years, you must refund your account, and your TMRS membership will terminate.

If you are vested, you can leave your contributions in your TMRS account, and they will continue to earn 5% interest each year until you retire. Then, when you retire, your account balance will be matched by your former employing city, and you will receive a monthly retirement benefit for life and possibly the life of any designated beneficiaries.

If you are vested and refund your TMRS account balance, the refund will not include any city matching funds, and you will forfeit forever the opportunity to receive a lifetime retirement benefit.

Given the ramifications of the decision to refund your TMRS account balance, you should consult with a financial or tax advisor before you decide to do so.

How to Refund

You can refund your account online using MyTMRS or by mailing or faxing the refund application to TMRS. 

Refund Process

TMRS cannot issue a refund until we receive your final TMRS city contribution, which can take up to eight weeks. If you return to work for a TMRS participating city before your refund is issued, your refund application will be cancelled.

Refund Status

You can check your refund status online 24/7 using MyTMRS or by contacting the TMRS Member Service Center at 800-924-8677.

How Refunds are Taxed

You can defer paying income tax on your refund by rolling it into an IRA or other qualified plan. If you don’t, the IRS requires TMRS to withhold 20% of your refund. Depending on your age at the time you end employment and receive your refund, the IRS may assess an additional 10% early withdrawal tax when you file your taxes. See the Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments attached to the Refund Application for more information.

This information is also available as a fact sheet.