When you retire, your TDA account will remain with TRS unchanged. This is sometimes called “TDA Deferral Status.” If you separate from service before retirement, you can file a form to elect TDA Deferral Status. TDA Deferral Status means that your TDA funds will remain invested with TRS. This status enables you to avoid paying taxes on your funds and any future investment return until a later date. A further benefit is that you may maintain an existing TDA loan and may be eligible to take out a new TDA loan.

You may be eligible for a TDA loan under the following conditions:

a) if you have participated in the TDA Program for at least one year;
b) if you are an in-service member, or you are on a leave of absence, or you have TDA Deferral status; and
c) if you are not in default on an existing TDA loan.

You may learn whether you are currently eligible to take a loan by logging in to the secure section of our website.

You may be eligible for a TDA loan under the following conditions: a) if you have participated in the TDA Program for at least one year; b) if you are an in-service member, or you are on a leave of absence, or you have TDA Deferral status; and c) if you are not in default on an existing TDA loan. You may learn whether you are currently eligible to take a loan by logging in to the secure section of our website.

If the member was retired, three types of TDA benefits may be payable: A one-time lump-sum payment of the TDA balance (if the member had maintained a TDA account through TDA Deferral status); a continuing monthly benefit based on the retirement payment option chosen by the member (if the member had annuitized the TDA account); and a fractional payment representing a portion of the TDA annuity payment for the month in which the member died (as long as the death did not occur on the last day of the month).

If the member was not retired, the one-time lump-sum benefit payable would equal the member’s TDA balance as of one day prior to the date of death. For more information, please see the Guide to Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Retired Members or the Guide to Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Non-Retired Members.

In most cases, the unit values used would be the unit values in effect for the month after TRS' receipt of your TDA Withdrawal Application (code TD32) or online equivalent.

In-service members may enroll in the TDA Program at any time by accessing the secure section of our website. The TDA Program offers a traditional (pre-tax) option and a Roth (after-tax) option, and each has a separate enrollment process. Each option also allows you to name beneficiaries for your account; we recommend that you do so as soon as you enroll.

No. In general, the only way to deposit funds into your TDA account is by making contributions through regular payroll deductions.

Note: In some situations, members who have a 403(b) Plan account at the Board of Education Retirement System may be able to transfer funds from that account into their TRS TDA account.

No. You can continue to maintain your TDA account past age 75. But you would need to begin receiving an RMD that is based on your entire TDA balance.

Yes. TDA contribution limits are established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year. For 2026, the general contribution limit is $24,500. (However, you may be eligible to make additional “catch-up” contributions. (See What are 'catch-up' contributions? FAQ below.) Your individual TDA contribution limit for the calendar year is shown online in the secure section of our website.

Please note that the annual limit applies to traditional TDA contributions and Roth contributions combined. In addition, IRS limits are applied cumulatively to contributions made to Section 403(b) Plans (like TRS' TDA Program) and Section 401(k) Plans. Therefore, if you also contribute to other Section 403(b) and 401(k) Plans, you are responsible for ensuring that your aggregate contributions do not exceed the IRS limits.

In-service TDA participants, members with TDA Deferral status, and TDA annuitants may change their TDA investment elections four times a year. Investment election changes take place on the following conversion dates: January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

In-service TDA participants may change their investment elections for their future TDA contributions and/or past TDA accumulations by logging in to the secure section of our website or by filing a paper TDA Investment Election Change Form (code TD45) at any time; their elections would take effect on the next conversion date that occurs at least 30 days after TRS receives their form or online request.

Members with TDA Deferral status may change their investment elections for their TDA accumulations by logging in to the secure section of our website or by filing a paper TDA Investment Election Change Form (code TD45) at any time; their elections would take effect on the next conversion date that occurs at least 30 days after TRS receives their form or online request.

TDA annuitants may change their investment elections for their TDA accumulations by filing a paper TDA Annuitant's Investment Election Change Form (code RP9) at any time; their elections would take effect on the next conversion date that occurs at least 60 days after TRS receives their form.