# 5 CFR § 1690.12: Power of attorney

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.12

## Section

- **Citation:** 5 CFR § 1690.12
- **Heading:** Power of attorney
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 5—Administrative Personnel > CHAPTER VI—FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD > PART 1690—THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN > Subpart B—Miscellaneous

## Text

(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) and (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.
[87 FR 31695, May 24, 2022]

## Nearby sections

- [5 CFR § 1690.1 § 1690.1 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.1.md)
- [5 CFR § 1690.11 § 1690.11 Plan year.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.11.md)
- [5 CFR § 1690.12 § 1690.12 Power of attorney.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.12.md)
- [5 CFR § 1690.13 § 1690.13 Guardianship and conservatorship orders.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.13.md)
- [5 CFR § 1690.14 § 1690.14 Checks made payable to the Thrift Savings Plan.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.14.md)
- [5 CFR § 1690.15 § 1690.15 Freezing an account—administrative holds.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.15.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-5-1690.12. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.