PARTICIPATION OF TAX COURT JUDGES IN THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN.

SEC. 853. PARTICIPATION OF TAX COURT JUDGES IN THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN.(a) In General.—Section 7447 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to retirement of judges) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(j) Thrift Savings Plan.—“(1) Election to contribute.—“(A) In general.—A judge of the Tax Court may elect to contribute to the Thrift Savings Fund established by section 8437 of title 5, United States Code.“(B) Period of election.—An election may be made under this paragraph only during a period provided under section 8432(b) of title 5, United States Code, for individuals subject to chapter 84 of such title.“(2) Applicability of title 5 provisions.—Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the provisions of subchapters III and VII of chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a judge who makes an election under paragraph (1).“(3) Special rules.—120 STAT. 1017“(A) Amount contributed.—The amount contributed by a judge to the Thrift Savings Fund in any pay period shall not exceed the maximum percentage of such judge’s basic pay for such period as allowable under section 8440f of title 5, United States Code. Basic pay does not include any retired pay paid pursuant to this section.“(B) Contributions for benefit of judge.—No contributions may be made for the benefit of a judge under section 8432(c) of title 5, United States Code.“(C) Applicability of section 8433(b) of title 5 whether or not judge retires.—Section 8433(b) of title 5, United States Code, applies with respect to a judge who makes an election under paragraph (1) and who either—“(i) retires under subsection (b), or“(ii) ceases to serve as a judge of the Tax Court but does not retire under subsection (b).Retirement under subsection (b) is a separation from service for purposes of subchapters III and VII of chapter 84 of that title.“(D) Applicability of section 8351(b)(5) of title 5.—The provisions of section 8351(b)(5) of title 5, United States Code, shall apply with respect to a judge who makes an election under paragraph (1).“(E) Exception.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (C), if any judge retires under this section, or resigns without having met the age and service requirements set forth under subsection (b)(2), and such judge’s nonforfeitable account balance is less than an amount that the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board prescribes by regulation, the Executive Director shall pay the nonforfeitable account balance to the participant in a single payment.”.(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, except that United States Tax Court judges may only begin to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan at the next open season beginning after such date.