---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 1690.12"
title: "5"
number: "1690.12"
heading: "Power of attorney."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/1690.12"
---

# §1690.12. Power of attorney.

- (a) A participant or beneficiary can appoint an agent to conduct business with the TSP on his or her behalf by using a power of attorney (POA). The agent is called an attorney-in-fact. The TSP record keeper must approve a POA before the agent can conduct business with the TSP; however, the TSP record keeper will accept a document that was signed by the agent before the TSP record keeper approved the POA. The TSP record keeper will approve a POA if it meets the following conditions:
  - (1) The POA must give the agent either general or specific powers, as explained in paragraphs [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) of this section;
  - (2) The POA must be signed by the participant;
  - (3) The POA must provide the names and addresses of the participant and the agent;
  - (4) The POA must meet the state law requirements of the participant's state of domicile as determined by the address on file with the TSP record keeper;
  - (5) The POA must be a complete document; and
  - (6) The POA must be submitted to the TSP record keeper for approval.
- (b) A general POA gives an agent unlimited authority to conduct business with the TSP, including the authority to sign any TSP-related document. Additional information regarding general powers of attorney can be accessed at https://www.tsp.gov.
- (c) **A specific power of attorney gives an agent the authority to conduct specific TSP transactions.** A specific POA must expressly describe the authority it grants. Additional information regarding specifical powers of attorney, as well as a sample form, can be accessed at https://www.tsp.gov.

## Notes

### Amendments

[87 FR 31695, May 24, 2022]

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8474.

### Source

Source: 68 FR 35519, June 13, 2003, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[87 FR 31695, May 24, 2022]