1099-R
The tax form MTRS sends each January showing your pension paid (Box 1), the taxable part (Box 2a) and the after-tax money you can exclude (Box 5).
MTRS web page 'Taxation of your benefit', About your 1099-R tax formMore on this →These are the words you'll meet on MyTRS, in MTRS letters and on these pages. To put them to work, try the MTRS calculator, or start with Tier 1 or Tier 2 and the age factor formula.
Age factor
The percentage of your salary average you earn for each year of service, based on your age at your last birthday when you retire (Tier 1: up to 2.5% at 65; Tier 2: up to 2.5% at 67).
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 34More on this →Annuity savings account
Your own contributions plus interest; Option B pays any balance left at your death.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 34More on this →Closer age
Your age on whichever birthday, before or after your retirement date, is closer to it. It is used for Option C factors.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 36More on this →COLA base
The part of your yearly benefit a cost-of-living increase applies to. For MTRS it is the first $13,000.
MTRS web page 'Your benefit payment', Cost-of-living adjustmentsMore on this →Creditable service
The years and full months of service counted toward your benefit, including purchased service.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 5 and p. 32More on this →Member-survivor benefit
The monthly Option C-style benefit paid to a beneficiary when a member dies while still active.
MTRS web page 'Survivor benefits for active members'More on this →Membership tier
Tier 1 (joined before April 2, 2012) or Tier 2 (on or after). Your tier sets retirement age, age factors and the salary-average period.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 31More on this →NERB
Notice of Estimated Retirement Benefit, which MTRS sends about 3-4 months after you file your application.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 26More on this →PERAC
The Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, which oversees all Massachusetts public retirement systems.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 3 and p. 29More on this →Regular compensation
The pay that counts for contributions and benefits. It excludes one-time enhancements and payments tied to retiring.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 3More on this →Rehired annuitant
An IRS term for a retiree who goes back to work for a public employer. A rehired MTRS retiree in a Massachusetts public school pays no Social Security or MTRS contributions on that pay.
MTRS web page 'Working after retirement'More on this →Retired Municipal Teachers' (RMT) Program
The Group Insurance Commission's health program for retired teachers from participating districts. Other districts run their own retiree plans.
Ready for Retirement 2026 p. 9; MTRS web page 'Health insurance'More on this →RetirementPlus (R+)
An enhanced benefit for members contributing 11%: 2% more per year over 24 (Tier 1) or 23 (Tier 2) years, with 30 years of service and 20 of teaching.
Ready for Retirement 2026 pp. 31-34More on this →Salary average (final average salary)
The average of your highest 3 (Tier 1) or 5 (Tier 2) consecutive years of regular compensation, or the last 3 or 5 if greater.
MTRS web page 'Retiring from the MTRS'More on this →Simplified Method
The IRS method MTRS uses to spread the tax-free return of your after-tax contributions over your expected lifetime.
MTRS web page 'Taxation of your benefit'More on this →Superannuation
The technical name for a regular (age and service) retirement, under either the regular or the RetirementPlus formula.
MTRS web page 'Retiring from the MTRS'More on this →Termination retirement
For Tier 1 members with 20 years whose position is involuntarily ended: one-third of the salary average plus an annuity.
MTRS web page 'Retiring from the MTRS'More on this →W-4P
The federal form that tells MTRS how much income tax to withhold from your pension. Without one, MTRS withholds as if you are single with no allowances.
MTRS web page 'Taxation of your benefit'More on this →Source: MTRS Ready for Retirement reference guide, 2026, pp. 3, 5, 9, 26, 29, 31, 31-34, 32, 34, 36. Also: MTRS web pages 'Taxation of your benefit', 'Your benefit payment', 'Survivor benefits for active members', 'Working after retirement', 'Health insurance', 'Retiring from the MTRS'. Last reviewed .