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Level 2
posted Feb 3, 2020 7:47:43 PM

Software keeps changing my selection

I am a retired air traffic controller.  As such, I am allowed to use the public safety officer retirement rules when filing my taxes.  the program keeps changing my selection to say I'm not a retired public safety officer.

0 3 505
3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 3, 2020 8:13:01 PM

Apparently you are a Public Safety Employee, not Officer.

 

"Public Safety Officer and Public Safety Employee have two completely different definitions and apply to two completely different tax deductions. No provisions carried over from one group to the other. "Public Safety Officer" deals with health insurance premium deduction and "Public Safety Employee" deals with 10% early withdrawal penalty exemption. The only recent change has been to add the professions below to the Employee list.  
Expanded exception to the tax on early distributions from a governmental plan for qualified public safety employees. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2015, in addition to those employees described in Qualified public safety employees under Tax on Early Distributions in Pub. 575, Pension and Annuity Income, the definition is expanded to include the following.
Federal law enforcement officers.
Federal customs and border protection officers.
Federal firefighters.
Air traffic controllers.
Nuclear materials couriers.
Members of the United States Capitol Police.
Members of the Supreme Court Police.
Diplomatic security special agents of the United
States Department of State."

 

Original answer

Level 2
Feb 7, 2020 6:54:22 AM

Still doesn't answer why the software is making the change.  I know the rules and I've been abiding by them since I started getting my annuity.  I've made the same selection every year and this year, it keeps changing it. 

New Member
Jul 6, 2020 12:03:37 PM

My husband is a retired air traffic controller.  On his 1099-R from the TSP in Box 7, they have the number 1 listed.  I do not believe this is correct.  Shouldn't this be a number 2?  What have other ATC folks been using in Box 7?