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Member Benefits

Welcome! You are now a Member of one of the strongest retirement systems in the country – the Texas Municipal Retiremet System.

Since 1948, over 900 cities across Texas have joined TMRS to provide retirement benefits to hundreds of thousands of employees like you. Your city has partnered with TMRS to provide you with a secure retirement. As a Member, you can receive a monthly retirement benefit for life.

Apply for Retirement

When you are ready to retire and begin receiving your monthly benefit, follow these simple steps.

Estimate your monthly retirement benefit

Using the Estimates tool on MyTMRS, you can compare estimates for various retirement dates and TMRS retirement benefit options. Your age and your birthdate impact the amount of your monthly retirement benefit, so always run an estimate for your next birthday.

Choose your retirement date

Your retirement date must be the last day of the month and cannot precede the termination of your city employment.

Complete your retirement packet

Download the TMRS Service Retirement Packet that contains all the forms you need to complete to retire. Your completed forms must be received by TMRS no later than your retirement date.

Receive your retirement confirmation

TMRS will send you a letter confirming your retirement and monthly benefit amount after processing your application.

Please note that if you are planning to work for another TMRS participating city immediately after you retire, you cannot start working at that city until after your TMRS retirement date.

Calendar Year 2023

January31
February28
March31
April28
May31
June30
July31
August31
September29
October31
November30
December29

Fact Sheets

Fact Sheets explain common TMRS benefits. Contact TMRS if you have any questions about these or any other benefits.

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Forms

For a list of all of our current forms for Members, click here.

If you have any questions about how to use the forms, don't hesitate to call our Member Services Center at 800-924-8677.

Forms for Members

Refunding Your Account

During your employment with a TMRS participating city, you contribute into a TMRS account, and each year TMRS applies 5% interest to the account balance. When you stop working for a TMRS participating city, you can either:

  • leave your account balance with TMRS to continue to earn interest, or
  • withdraw (refund) your personal contributions and the interest credited to your account. Your refund does not include any city matching funds.

Things to Consider

Refunding is an option, not a requirement.

If you are not vested, you can leave your contributions in your TMRS account for up to five years, and your account balance will continue to earn 5% interest each year. After five years, you must refund your account, and your TMRS membership will terminate.

If you are vested, you can leave your contributions in your TMRS account, and they will continue to earn 5% interest each year until you retire. Then, when you retire, your account balance will be matched by your former employing city, and you will receive a monthly retirement benefit for life and possibly the life of any designated beneficiaries.

If you are vested and refund your TMRS account balance, the refund will not include any city matching funds, and you will forfeit forever the opportunity to receive a lifetime retirement benefit.

Given the ramifications of the decision to refund your TMRS account balance, you should consult with a financial or tax advisor before you decide to do so.

How to Refund

If you do decide to obtain a refund, you must complete the Refund Application, which requires a signature from your last employing city.

Refund Process

TMRS cannot issue a refund until we receive your final TMRS city contribution, which can take up to eight weeks. If you return to work for a TMRS participating city before your refund is issued, your refund application will be cancelled.

Refund Status

You can check your refund status online 24/7 using MyTMRS or by contacting the TMRS Member Service Center at 800-924-8677.

How Refunds are Taxed

You can defer paying income tax at the time TMRS issues your refund by rolling your funds over into an IRA or other qualified plan. If you don’t, the IRS requires TMRS to withhold 20% of your refund. Depending on your age at the time you end employment and receive your refund, the IRS may assess an additional 10% early withdrawal tax when you file your taxes. See the Special Tax Notice Regarding Plan Payments attached to the Refund Application for more information.

This information is also available as a fact sheet.

Schedule a Counseling Session

You can schedule a counseling session with a TMRS representative to answer your questions about your TMRS benefits, estimate your monthly retirement benefit, or discuss your retirement options.

We offer both in-person counseling in our office and online counseling from the privacy of your home or anywhere. For online counseling, all you need is a computer or mobile device. A webcam or phone camera is not required but will allow you to see your representative and any documentation they share with you.

Your family members and financial advisor are welcome to attend.

Click the button below to schedule your counseling session today.

Schedule a Counseling Session

Attend a Webinar

Learn more about TMRS by attending a webinar.

Attend a Webinar