How Do I Get A Refund?

Sometimes TRSL members leave the teaching profession, change to positions that are not eligible for TRSL membership, or move out of state. Upon permanent termination of employment in any eligible position covered by TRSL, a member may request a refund of the retirement contributions he or she made to TRSL.

  Taking a Refund of Your Contributions

What you need to know

• Refunds include only member contributions, not employer contributions or interest.
• Refunds must be for the total amount of member contributions. Partial withdrawals are not allowed, and a refund cannot be borrowed or pledged against debt.
• Once a refund is made, membership in TRSL is terminated and service credit is canceled.
• Once TRSL receives all refund paperwork, it is typically processed within two weeks. Refunds are issued twice a month on the 5th and the 20th.
• Refunds of member contributions are subject to applicable IRS rules and regulations. For more information, see the Special Tax Notice Regarding TRSL Payments. 

Members with less than five years of service credit

• Complete an Application for Refund (Form 7) and submit it to your former employer. By law, the former employer cannot certify the refund application until 90 days after the date of resignation or termination. The application is then forwarded to TRSL for payment.
• If you would like a direct deposit of your refund, please submit a Direct Deposit for Refund of Contributions (Form 7D).

Members with five or more years of service credit

NOTE: Members with at least five years of service credit can terminate their positions, leave their contributions with TRSL, and on the first of the month after their 60th birthday (62nd birthday for those with membership on or after July 1, 2015) be eligible to apply for a TRSL retirement benefit based on their total years, including unused sick leave. For more information, visit the our section on Inactive Members.

• Complete an Application for Refund (Form 7), making sure to include your current mailing address, and submit it to your former employer. By law, the former employer cannot certify the refund application until 90 days after the date of resignation or termination. The application is then forwarded to TRSL for payment.
• Once your Application for Refund is received, TRSL will mail you a Request for Refund Rather than Retirement Benefit (Form 7E). This form will include an estimate of the lifetime benefit you would be eligible to receive if you do not refund your member contributions. Please allow one to two weeks to receive Form 7E, which will be mailed to the address we have on file for you.  
• If you would like a direct deposit of your refund, please submit a Direct Deposit for Refund of Contributions (Form 7D).

Re-employed retirees

• Complete and submit a Retiree Refund Application (Form 7A). Although there is no required 90-day waiting period, the retiree refund will be made only after re-employment ends and all employer contributions reports have been received by TRSL.
• If you would like a direct deposit of your refund, please submit a Direct Deposit for Refund of Contributions (Form 7D).

Former members who have been out of service for at least five years

Former members who have been out of service for at least five years and are due a refund should contact TRSL and provide the name they taught under, their Social Security number, and the employer for whom they worked. 

If you need more information about refunds, please contact us or call 225-925-6446 or toll free at 1-877-ASK-TRSL (1-877-275-8775) if you are calling outside the Baton Rouge area.
 

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Need more information?

  Taking a Refund of Your Contributions
  Special Tax Notice Regarding TRSL Payments
  Application for Refund (Form 7)
  Retiree Refund Application (Form 7A)
  Direct Deposit for Refund of Contributions (Form 7D)
  Refunds Due (lists members who left their contributions at TRSL over five years ago)