[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 5, Volume 3] [Revised as of January 1, 2007] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 5CFR1690.12] [Page 296] TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL CHAPTER VI--FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD PART 1690_THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN--Table of Contents Subpart B_Miscellaneous Sec. 1690.12 Power of attorney. (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 must approve a POA before the agent can conduct business with the TSP; however, the TSP will accept a document that was signed by the agent before the TSP approved the POA. The TSP 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) A notary public or other official authorized by law to administer oaths or affirmations must authenticate, attest, acknowledge, or certify the participant's or beneficiary's signature on the POA; and (3) The POA must be submitted to the TSP recordkeeper for approval. (b) General power of attorney. A general POA gives an agent unlimited authority to conduct business with the TSP, including the authority to sign any TSP-related document. By way of example, a POA grants such authority by authorizing the agent to act on behalf of the participant or beneficiary with respect to ``all matters,'' ``personal property,'' ``Federal Government retirement benefits,'' or ``business transactions.'' (c) Specific power of attorney. 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. By way of example, a specific POA may authorize an agent to ``obtain information about my TSP account'' or ``borrow or withdraw funds from my TSP account.'' [69 FR 29852, May 26, 2004]