---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 1600.33"
title: "5"
number: "1600.33"
heading: "Combining uniformed services accounts and civilian accounts."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/1600.33"
---

# §1600.33. Combining uniformed services accounts and civilian accounts.


Uniformed services TSP account balances and civilian TSP account balances may be combined (thus producing one account), subject to [paragraphs (a) through (g)](#a..g) of this section:

- (a) An account balance can be combined with another once the TSP record keeper is informed (by the participant's employing agency) that the participant has separated from Government service.
- (b) Tax-exempt contributions may not be transferred from a uniformed services TSP account to a civilian TSP account.
- (c) **A traditional balance and a Roth balance cannot be combined.**
- (d) Funds transferred to the gaining account will be allocated among the TSP core funds according to the investment election in effect for the account into which the funds are transferred.
- (e) Funds transferred to the gaining account will be treated as employee contributions and otherwise invested as described at [5 CFR part 1600](/cfr/5/part1600.md).
- (f) A uniformed service member must obtain the consent of his or her spouse before combining a uniformed services TSP account balance with his or her civilian account, even if the civilian account is not subject to FERS spousal rights. A request for an exception to the spousal consent requirement will be evaluated under the rules explained in [5 CFR part 1650](/cfr/5/part1650.md).
- (g) **A loan cannot be transferred between accounts.** Before the accounts can be combined, any outstanding loans from the losing account must be closed as described in [5 CFR part 1655](/cfr/5/part1655.md).

## Notes

### Source

Source: 87 FR 31672, May 24, 2022, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8351, 8432(a), 8432(b), 8432(c), 8432(j), 8432d, 8474(b)(5) and (c)(1), and 8440e.

### Source

Source: 66 FR 22089, May 2, 2001, unless otherwise noted.