CSRS VCP: Voluntary Contribution Program – Part IV of IV by Ed Zurndorfer

FEDZONE Ed Zurndorfer


Edward Zurndorfer-

This last of four columns discussing the CSRS Voluntary Contribution Program (VCP) examines how the VCP annuity is taxed. As discussed in a previous column, one withdrawal option for a VCP account is a VCP annuity.

Those CSRS or CSRS Offset employees who receive their VCP account in the form of a VCP annuity will have their VCP annuity treated separately from their regular CSRS annuity. Each year, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sends CSRS annuitants a Civil Service Annuitant (CSA) 1099-R, showing how much of the annuitant’s CSRS annuity comes from the regular CSRS annuity and how much comes from the VCP annuity. The taxable and tax-free portions of the annuities are calculated according to the IRS’ Simplified Rule. The Simplified Rule worksheet is presented below. Note in the worksheet:

Line 2. “Cost in the plan” is the VCP annuitant’s total contributions to the VCP, all of which have been taxed.

Line 3: “Age at the annuity starting date” is the VCP annuitant’s age on the first VCP annuity payment date for a self-only annuity, as shown in Table 1. The “combined ages” are the ages of the VCP annuitant and the survivor VCP annuitant on the first VCP annuity payment date when a survivor annuity has been chosen, as shown in Table 2.

Line 3: Once the monthly “recovery of cost” is calculated (the number of monthly payments it takes to recoup the VCP participant to recover the total contributions made to the VCP), that number never changes.

The following example illustrates this:

During her 37 years of federal service, Carol contributed $75,000 to the VCP. When she retired on May 31, 2019, at age 60, Carol elected to receive a VCP annuity of $6,000 per year, or $500 per month. For 2019, Carol received six payments of $500 each for a total of $3,000. She wants to determine how much of her $3,000 payment is taxable. She uses the Simplified Method:

Annual tax-free portion: $1,452 (line 5)

Annual taxable portion: $1,548 (line 9).

SIMPLIFIED METHOD WORKSHEET (SOURCE: IRS PUBLICATION 721, which may be downloaded here)

1. Enter the total pension or annuity payments received this year. Also, add this amount to the total for Form 1040, line 16a; Form 1040A, line 12a; or Form 1040NR, line 17a1.________
2. Enter your cost in the plan at the annuity starting date.2.________
3. Enter the appropriate number from Table 1 below. But if the payments are for your life and that of your survivor annuitant, enter the appropriate number from Table 2 below.3.________
4. Divide line 2 by the number on line 34.________
5. Multiply line 4 by the number of months for which this year’s payments were made. If your annuity starting date was before1987, enter this amount on line 8 below and skip lines 6, 7, 10, and 11. Otherwise, go to line 65.________
6. Enter any amounts previously recovered tax free in years after 1986. This is the amount shown on line 10 of your worksheet for last year6.________
7. Subtract line 6 from line 27.________
8. Enter the smaller of line 5 or line 78.________
9. Taxable amount for year. Subtract line 8 from line 1. Enter the result, but not less than zero.9.________
10. Add lines 6 and 8.10.________
11. Balance of cost to be recovered. Subtract line 10 from line 2.11.________

Table 1 for Line 3 Above

If your age on your annuity starting date wasThen enter on line 3
55 or under360
56–60310
61–65260
66–70210
71 or over160

Table 2 for Line 3 Above

If the annuitant’s and survivor annuitant’s combined ages on your annuity starting date wereThen enter on line 3
110 or under410
111–120360
121–130310
131–140260
141 or over210
1. Enter the total pension or annuity payments received this year. Also, add this amount to the total for Form 1040, line 16a; Form 1040A, line 12a; or Form 1040NR, line 17a1. $3,000
2. Enter your cost in the plan at the annuity starting date.2. $75,000
3. Enter the appropriate number from Table 13. 310
4. Divide line 2 by the number on line 34. $242
5. Multiply line 4 by the number of months for which this year’s payments were made. If your annuity starting date was before 1987, enter this amount on line 8 below and skip lines 6, 7, 10, and 11. Otherwise, go to line 65. $1,452
6. Enter any amounts previously recovered tax free in years after 1986. This is the amount shown on line 10 of your worksheet for last year6. 0
7. Subtract line 6 from line 27. $75,000
8. Enter the smaller of line 5 or line 78. $1,452
9. Taxable amount for year. Subtract line 8 from line 1. Enter the result, but not less than zero.9. $1,548
10. Add lines 6 and 8.10. $1,452
11. Balance of cost to be recovered. Subtract line 10 from line 2.11. $73,548
CSRS VCP

CSRS VCP

Edward A. Zurndorfer is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant, Certified Employees Benefits Specialist and IRS Enrolled Agent in Silver Spring, MD. Tax planning, Federal employee benefits, retirement and insurance consulting services offered through EZ Accounting and Financial Services, and EZ Federal Benefits Seminars, located at 833 Bromley Street – Suite A, Silver Spring, MD 20902-3019 and telephone number 301-681-1652. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Edward A. Zurndorfer or EZ Accounting and Financial Services. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.