Refunds and Rollovers

To start an application for a refund or rollover, please contact us by calling (800) 877-7896.

Early 2010 Important Annuitant Reminders

Expect arrival of 1099-R

If you received a TRS benefit in 2009, the Office of the Comptroller will mail an IRS Form 1099-R to you by January 31, 2010. This form will report your income received from TRS during 2009.

The amount shown in Box 5 on the 1099-R form represents the non-taxable portion of TRS retirement benefits paid to you for the year and is the difference between Boxes 1 and 2a.

Box 9B will only have a value if 2009 was the first year that you received a benefit from TRS.

If you do not receive a 1099-R form or you need a duplicate copy sent to you, please call us at (800) 877-7896 or e-mail us at members@trs.illinois.gov.

Withholding tables changed Jan. 1

Revised federal withholding tables went into effect on January 1, 2010. As a result, the federal taxes withheld from your January 1, 2010 annuity payment may increase or decrease based on your filing status.

TRS is not in the position to give tax advice. You may wish to contact a qualified tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040 to ensure that you have adequate federal withholding for the 2010 tax year. If you are underwithholding, there could be a negative consequence at tax time.

If you would like to change your withholding election, you must complete a new Form W4-P. You can obtain a new form by calling us at (800) 877-7896 and pressing “2” for our 24-hour Forms Order Line, by downloading it at this link, or by calling your local Internal Revenue Service office. A new Form W4-P replaces any former version on file with TRS.

Private School Service Credit Information

On August 17, House Bill 1148 became Public Act 96-0546. The law allows up to two years of optional service credit for private school teaching for members who apply for it between August 1, 2009-2012. A TRS member pays the full cost.

Here is a link to an optional service page with further details about purchasing the credit.

Here is a link to the recognized Illinois private school database (PDF). Please call Member Services at (800) 877-7896 or e-mail us at members@trs.illlinois.gov regarding any omissions from the list.

Online Security Increases in Member Account Access Area

Click here for more information.

Personalized Retirement Planning

A new benefit estimate feature in Member Account Access will take information from your TRS record and use it to help you calculate your retirement income. Click here for more on the Personalized Benefit Estimate.

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