Tax Planning

OPM 1099-R Crisis: Get Your Form Before April 15

OPM stopped mailing paper 1099-Rs automatically. Get your federal annuity tax form online before April 15, or file for an extension.

By FedTools TeamApril 8, 20269 min read

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OPM 1099-R Crisis: Get Your Form Before April 15

Last Updated: April 8, 2026 Reading Time: 5 min

April 15 is seven days away, and thousands of federal retirees are still waiting on Form 1099-R from OPM.

This isn't a normal delay. OPM changed how it delivers tax forms in 2026, and many retirees didn't know until their forms never arrived. Here's what happened, how to get your form right now, and what to do if you can't get it in time.

Key Takeaways

OPM stopped automatically mailing paper 1099-R forms to retirees who have an email address on file
You can get your form online in minutes using OPM's no-login tool at servicesonline.opm.gov/1099-request
If you can't get the form before April 15, file IRS Form 4868 for a free automatic six-month extension
The extension covers filing only. If you owe taxes, you still need to pay an estimate by April 15
Your OPM 1099-R covers your pension. Your TSP 1099-R is a separate form from a separate system

What OPM Changed in 2026

For decades, OPM automatically mailed a paper 1099-R to every federal retiree each January. That changed this year.

OPM's new policy: if you have an email address linked to your Retirement Services Online account, you get a digital 1099-R by default. Paper mail is now opt-in, not automatic.

OPM says it announced the change. Many retirees say they never saw it.

Many annuitants waited weeks for a paper form that was never coming. By the time they figured it out, phone lines were jammed. NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, said it was inundated with calls from members who couldn't get their forms or reach anyone at OPM.

OPM's own inspector general had already flagged Retirement Services customer service as a top management challenge for fiscal 2026. The reason: roughly 100 retirement personnel left under the deferred resignation program, gutting the team handling annuitant support.

In early March, nine House members led by Representatives James Walkinshaw and Frank Pallone sent a formal letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor. They wanted to know how many forms were still unmailed, what call wait times looked like, and what OPM was doing to fix it. Senators have since raised the same complaints from their constituents.

OPM confirmed in mid-March that remaining paper copies were being mailed. But with April 15 now a week out, some retirees still haven't received anything.

How to Get Your OPM 1099-R Online Right Now

You have two options. Both take under 10 minutes.

You do not need a password or PIN.

Go to servicesonline.opm.gov/1099-request
Enter your zip code and claim number
- Your claim number is on your annuity statement, your retirement card, or last year's 1099-R
- It typically starts with "CSA" (CSRS) or "CSF" (survivor) followed by 7 digits
Submit the request
Check your email for a secure download link from OPM
Click the link, re-enter your information, and download your 1099-R

This tool sends the form to the email address on file with OPM. If you've changed emails and OPM's records are outdated, use Option 2.

Option 2: Log In to Retirement Services Online

Go to servicesonline.opm.gov
Log in with your username and password
Select "1099-R Tax Form" from the menu
Choose the tax year (2025 for this filing season)
Download or print the PDF

If you've forgotten your login credentials, use the "Forgot Username" or "Forgot Password" links on the login page. OPM will send a reset to your email on file.

If You Can't Log In and Don't Have Your Email

Call OPM Retirement Services at 1-888-767-6738.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Avoid calling between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Eastern. That's peak volume. Call first thing in the morning for shorter wait times. You can also email requests@opm.gov with your name, claim number, and date of birth.

If You Can't Get Your Form Before April 15

Filing without your 1099-R is risky. Guessing the numbers and getting them wrong means amending your return later. A better path: buy yourself time.

File IRS Form 4868 for an Automatic Six-Month Extension

Form 4868 gives you until October 15, 2026 to file your federal return. No reason required. No approval needed. It's automatic.

You have three ways to file:

Go to IRS.gov and file electronically through Free File or your tax software. You'll get an immediate confirmation number.
Use TurboTax, H&R Block, or similar software. Form 4868 is built in. Just check the extension box.
Download Form 4868 from IRS.gov, fill it out, and postmark it by April 15.

The extension covers filing, not payment

Most people miss this part.

Form 4868 moves your filing deadline to October 15. Your payment deadline stays April 15. If you owe taxes and don't pay by April 15, interest and penalties start running, extension or not.

To estimate what you owe: pull your monthly annuity payments from bank records or OPM statements, add them up for the year, and apply your tax bracket. Pay that estimate by April 15. If you overpay, the IRS refunds the difference when you file the actual return.

OPM 1099-R vs. TSP 1099-R: Know the Difference

If you're retired, you may be waiting on two different 1099-R forms from two different systems.

Form Source	What It Covers	Where to Get It
OPM	Your FERS or CSRS pension (monthly annuity payments)	servicesonline.opm.gov
TSP	Withdrawals from your Thrift Savings Plan account	tsp.gov

OPM does not know what TSP sent you. TSP does not know what OPM sent you. They're separate systems. If you got income from both, you need both forms to file accurately.

For TSP 1099-R issues, see our TSP 1099-R Mailing Schedule guide.

Congress got involved

After retirees spent weeks unable to get forms or reach anyone by phone, lawmakers stepped in.

Nine House members wrote OPM in early March. Senators followed with their own constituent complaints. NARFE went public, calling out OPM's failure directly. OPM confirmed in mid-March that the remaining paper forms were in the mail.

Whether they arrived is another question. Some retirees are reporting as of April that they still haven't gotten anything.

The deeper problem hasn't gone away. An agency down roughly 100 retirement staff, trying to execute a policy change it apparently didn't explain, is going to keep having trouble. The OPM inspector general flagged this before the 1099-R fiasco. It's worth remembering that next open season or whenever OPM announces another "modernization."

But April 15 doesn't care about any of that. You have to act now.

Calculate Your Retirement Estimate

Use the free FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your annual annuity and see how different withholding amounts affect your monthly take-home pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't I get my OPM 1099-R in the mail this year?

OPM changed its policy in 2026. If you have an email address on file with your Retirement Services Online account, OPM now sends your 1099-R digitally by default instead of mailing a paper copy. You must log in to Retirement Services Online or use OPM's no-login email request tool to download your form.

How do I get my OPM 1099-R online without logging in?

Go to servicesonline.opm.gov/1099-request. Enter your zip code and claim number (found on your annuity statement or last year's 1099-R), then OPM emails you a secure download link. No login or PIN is required.

What is the OPM customer service phone number for 1099-R questions?

Call OPM Retirement Services at 1-888-767-6738, Monday through Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Avoid calling between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Eastern, which is the busiest window. You can also email requests@opm.gov.

What if I can't get my OPM 1099-R before April 15?

File IRS Form 4868 by April 15 to get an automatic six-month extension to October 15. The extension is free and extends your filing deadline, not your payment deadline. If you owe taxes, estimate and pay what you can by April 15 to minimize interest and penalties.

How is the OPM 1099-R different from the TSP 1099-R?

Your OPM 1099-R covers your FERS or CSRS pension payments. Your TSP 1099-R covers withdrawals from your Thrift Savings Plan account. These are separate systems. If you receive both, you need both forms to file accurately.

Can I estimate my pension income if I don't have my OPM 1099-R yet?

Yes. Add up your monthly annuity payments from your OPM statements or bank records for the full year. This gives you an estimate you can use to file Form 4868 or make an estimated tax payment. You'll still need the actual form to file your full return.

TSP 1099-R Mailing Schedule 2026: When TSP sends forms and how to access them online
Tax Planning for Federal Retirees 2026: Year-round strategies to reduce your tax burden
FERS Retirement Calculator: Estimate your pension and plan for taxes in retirement
First Year Federal Retirement Guide: What to expect in your first year as a federal retiree