TRS begins sending 1099-R forms in late January each year. This form tells you how much TRS distributed to you during the previous tax year. From the time TRS sends this form until April 15, we receive numerous requests for duplicate copies.
Due to confidentiality, we are unable to provide information over the phone, and we cannot fax the information. All we can do is mail the information, and often that isn't fast enough. However, there is a way that this information can be at your fingertips any time you want it – online!
If you are a retiree or payment beneficiary and have registered for MyTRS, you can view and print a copy of your 1099-R form. If you are a retiree or payment beneficiary, you will not only have access to your 1099-R form each year, but you can access other personal information about your file.
For example, you can:
- View and change your address on file with TRS.
- View verification of monthly annuities.
- View current income tax withholding choices and calculate the effect of changes to those choices.
- View a summary of health benefit premiums you paid in the prior two years.
If you have questions about your 1099-R form, see Information about the 1099-R form (pdf) for explanations of the boxes or call 1-800-223-8778 between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time.
1099-R Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Form 1099-R is a tax document that TRS uses to report the payment of retirement benefits that an individual receives from TRS to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
If you are a retiree, beneficiary or a former member who received payments (such as annuity payments, death benefits or a refund) from TRS in the previous tax year, you will receive a mailed Form 1099-R from TRS.
TRS will mail all Form 1099-Rs by Jan. 31.
- Yes. If you are a retiree or payment beneficiary and have registered for MyTRS, you can view and print a copy of your Form 1099-R. Visit MyTRS.
- Enter your login credentials if you already have a MyTRS account, or click “Register Now” and follow the registration instructions if you do not have an online account.
You can log in to MyTRS to view and print your Form 1099-R for the tax year that just ended. If you need a copy of your Form 1099-R prior to the current year, please contact TRS at 1-800-223-8778. We will mail you a duplicate form.
No, your Form 1099-R cannot be faxed or emailed. However, you can view and print your form by logging in to your MyTRS account. See question 4 for steps to print your form.
Box 1 = Total gross amount paid to you by TRS during the year, before any deductions.
Box 2a = Taxable amount paid to you by TRS during the year (Box 1 value minus Box 5 value).
Box 2b = This box will be blank for annuity recipients. It will include an “x” if a total distribution (such as refund of a member’s accumulated contributions) was issued.
Box 4 = Total amount of federal income tax withholding deducted from your payments during the year.
Box 5 = Non-taxable portion of the payments issued to you during the year (the difference in Box 1 and Box 2a). This box shows the amount you received from TRS for which you have already paid taxes.
TRS must report your gross earnings to the IRS. This is the amount before any deductions are taken, such as taxes, insurance premiums and garnishment deductions.
- The net amount (amount remaining after deductions) paid to you during the year is not reported on the form, only the gross amount.
- Please contact us if you think your Form 1099-R is incorrect.
If you were overpaid a benefit during the previous tax year and you repaid that amount as a lump sum during the same year, then the amount you repaid will not be included as income on your Form 1099-R.
However, if you received an overpayment of benefits in a tax year prior to the previous tax year and the overpayment was repaid in the previous tax year, the overpaid amount is included on the Form 1099-R for the year the overpayment was made, and the amount repaid to TRS in the previous tax year will not reduce your Form 1099-R.
To comply with federal regulations, TRS will not change a prior year Form 1099-R to reflect amounts repaid in a later tax year. So, for example, TRS could not change your 2023 Form 1099-R to reflect the amounts repaid to TRS in 2024. You may wish to consult a tax professional regarding the treatment of the repayments when filing your tax return.
You probably have different IRS distribution codes (listed in Box 7 on each form). The IRS requires only one distribution code per Form 1099-R. Different types of payments (annuity, retirement account withdrawals, partial lump-sum options, etc.) require different IRS distribution codes.
A complete list of the distribution codes can be found on the back of your Form 1099-R.
TRS does not issue a tax document (Form W-2) for your TRS-covered employer. This document is provided by your employer.
You may get a Form 1099-R from TRS if you received one or more of the following payments from TRS during the previous tax year:
- Monthly or one-time benefit payment as a retiree or beneficiary
- Accumulated contributions withdrawal paid directly to you or as a rollover
- Partial refund of a service purchase payment
Form 1042-S Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you are not a U.S. citizen or resident alien of the U.S., TRS will provide you with and report your payment(s) to the IRS on a 1042-S form instead of on a 1099-R form. Recipients use this form to report to the IRS any distributions paid by TRS during the prior calendar year.
Forms are distributed from January until March 15. If you didn’t receive your 1042-S or need to request a duplicate copy, please contact TRS Member Services to request your form be mailed to you. Due to confidentiality requirements, TRS cannot provide the information over the phone or by fax. 1042-S forms will be available online in MyTRS after the IRS deadline of March 15 each year.
No, payees (retiree or beneficiary) with foreign addresses are not able to change withholding on MyTRS. If you are not a U.S. citizen or resident alien of the U.S., TRS is required to withhold 30% for federal income tax unless you qualify for benefits under a U.S. tax treaty. If so, you must notify TRS of your eligibility for reduced withholding or exemption from withholding and provide TRS with the required documentation.
If eligible for a tax treaty benefit, you must notify TRS of your eligibility for reduced withholding or exemption from withholding and provide a completed W8BEN form. The W8BEN can be found on the IRS website. TRS will review your W8BEN form to determine if you are eligible for a reduced rate of withholding.