We estimate that this form takes an average of 30 minutes to complete, including the
time for reviewing instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing the completed
form. Send comments regarding our estimate or any other aspect of this form,
including suggestions for reducing completion time, to the Office of Personnel
Management, Retirement Services Publications Team (3206-0170), Washington,
D.C. 20415-3430. The OMB Number 3206-0170 is currently valid. OPM may not
collect this information, and you are not required to respond, unless this number is
displayed.
You must complete Question 13 on the refund application, instructing us
how to pay any refund you may be due to receive. Since we cannot tell you
how much your refund will be until we receive your application and
complete the calculation, you can instruct us to prepare an election form
telling you the amount you can roll over (if it is over $200) after we
compute the benefit. If you ask for this detailed information, your case will
be held until we send and receive your written election, usually a delay of
payment of at least 30 days.
Instructions For Completion of Your Application For Refund of Retirement Deductions
Privacy Act Statement
Solicitation of this information is authorized by the Civil Service Retirement law
(Chapter 83, title 5, U.S. Code) and the Federal Employees Retirement law (Chapter
84, title 5, U.S. Code). The information you furnish will be used to identify records
properly associated with your application for Federal benefits, to obtain additional
information if necessary, to determine and allow present or future benefits, and to
maintain a uniquely identifiable claim file. The information may be shared and is
subject to verification, via paper, electronic media, or through the use of computer
matching programs, with national, state, local or other charitable or social security
administrative agencies in order to determine benefits under their programs, to obtain
information necessary for determination or continuation of benefits under this
program, or to report income for tax purposes. It may also be shared and verified, as
noted above, with law enforcement agencies when they are investigating a violation
or potential violation of civil or criminal law.
Where to File Your Application
1. If you have been separated 30 days or less, this application should be
forwarded to the office in which you were last employed. If you need to
check on the status of your application, first verify that your former
agency has sent it, along with your records, to OPM.
2. If you have been separated more than 30 days, forward this application
to the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Employees Retirement
System, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017-0045.
3. If you want to withdraw your Thrift Savings Plan account balance, ask
your agency for information. This is not the form you would use.
Public Burden Statement
If your refund is less than $200, we are not required to withhold 20% of the
interest for Federal income tax and we cannot roll over any of the amount.
You can still roll over an amount equal to the refund personally after we
send the payment to you.
Executive Order 9397 (November 22, 1943) authorizes use of the Social Security
Number to distinguish between you and people with similar names. Failure to furnish
the requested data may result in our inability to determine your eligibility to receive a
refund of retirement deductions.
If you elect to roll over any portion of the refund into an IRA or eligible
employer plan, your financial institution or employer plan must complete
the certification found in this package, before we can process your election.
Two certification forms are provided, since you can roll your refund over to
two different institutions. If you elect to roll over less than 100% of your
retirement deductions, the total amount you roll over to any one
organization must be at least $500.
More information is given in the Special Tax Notice Regarding Rollovers,
found in this package. Consult a qualified tax advisor or the Internal
Revenue Service if you need more information on tax matters. OPM
cannot provide you with tax publications or tax advice. You should be
aware that distributions made from the plan to which the rollover is made
may be subject to different restrictions and tax consequences than those that
apply to distributions from OPM.
If you do not complete an election, and your refund is $200 or more, we
will pay your refund directly to you and will withhold 20% of any interest
payable for Federal income tax. You have the option to roll over part or all
of the refund yourself within 60 days after you receive the payment. If
your refund is less than $200, we will pay your refund directly to you and
no tax will be withheld.
SF 3106 Instructions (page 1)
Revised September 2013
If you want to roll your whole refund into an eligible employer plan, you
are responsible for selecting a plan that accounts separately for the taxable
and non-taxable portions. Please note that the Federal Retirement Thrift
Savings Plan will accept the taxable portion of your refund (interest
portion), but will not accept the non-taxable portion (actual retirement
contributions).
You must complete questions 1 through 14 on the refund application.
Additionally, your financial institution(s) must complete the Certification
by Financial Institution or Eligible Employer Plan found in this package,
if you elect to roll over the refund into an individual retirement arrange-
ment (IRA) or eligible employer plan. Your current and/or living former
spouse(s) must each complete a separate SF 3106A to document notifica-
tion of your application if you are or have been married.
1.
2.
Special Information for Applicant
Transfers to FERS
Federal Tax Information
Applicants are permitted to roll over their refund of retirement contributions
to an IRA or an eligible employer plan. The actual retirement contributions
are not taxable. However, any interest paid on the contributions is taxable.
If OPM pays the interest to you, 20% Federal income tax must be withheld.
If the taxable portion is rolled over, we will not withhold any Federal income
tax, unless it is rolled over to a Roth IRA and you elect to have 20% tax
withheld on this form. If you roll your whole refund into an IRA, you are
responsible for accounting separately for the taxable and non-taxable portions.
If you have deductions creditable under CSRS and receive a refund, you can
pay back the amount of the CSRS deductions plus interest if you are later
reemployed in the Federal government. The CSRS service can be used in
determining length of service for annuity eligibility even if you do not repay
the money. If you want only a refund of your CSRS deductions and not
your FERS deductions, attach a signed statement to your completed
application.
Completion of this application will authorize OPM to refund all retirement
deductions to your credit under both FERS and CSRS. Any interest payable
is computed using the rules for the retirement system under which the
deductions are credited.
For additional information, see the FERS Transfer Handbook (RI 90-3)
which is available from your agency and on our website at
www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms.
If you were employed under the Federal Employees Retirement System
(FERS) on or after October 28, 2009, you must repay any refund you
receive of your FERS deductions in order to receive credit for the service
in the computation of your annuity. If you do not repay the refund, the
service will be excluded from your annuity computation, but it will still
be used to determine your length of service for annuity eligibility
purposes.
A refund of retirement deductions cannot be paid prior to 31 days after
the date of separation from a position subject to FERS or the Civil
Service Retirement System (CSRS) or within 31 days before the earliest
commencing date of any annuity for which you are eligible, including an
annuity which must be reduced for age.
For additional information about your benefits if you decide not to apply
for this refund, see the booklet FERS (RI 90-1), which is available from
your agency.
3.
4.
5.
6.
If you were not employed under FERS on or after October 28, 2009,
payment of a refund of your FERS deductions will permanently eliminate
your retirement rights for the period(s) of FERS service which the
refund covers. This includes a refund of any deposit you have paid for
military service performed after 1956. You will not be permitted to pay
the money back, even if you are later reemployed in the government.
The service involved cannot be used in computing annuity benefits that
you may later become entitled to receive under FERS nor can it be used
in determining length of service for annuity eligibility purposes.
Payment of the refund will end eligibility any former spouse(s) may
have to coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Payment of the refund does not, however, affect credit for leave or other
non-retirement purposes.
Interest will be paid on your FERS refund at the same rate earned by
government securities if the period(s) of service which the refund covers
totals more than one year.
Do not offer this application to a person or a financial institution as
collateral or security for a loan. A former employee must apply for a
refund personally and payment must be made directly to him or her
(except direct rollovers, as described in the Federal Tax Information
section). However, outstanding debts to the U.S. Government can, at the
Government’s request, be withheld from a refund, provided all legal
requirements are met.
Payment of a refund is prohibited if you are currently employed in a
position subject to FERS or CSRS deductions or will be eligible to retire
within 31 days from the date of OPM’s receipt of the refund application.