Retirement letter template
A retirement letter to your employer with your retirement date, years of service, a thank-you and a question about benefits and the handover.
- ๐บ๐ธ US format ยท Letter size
- Free
This is a sample form. Check that the terms and pay match federal and state labor rules and your company policy.
Fill in what you need. The preview updates as you type.
What you type is not saved on our server.
Check timing with HR and your plan first
Pension and 401(k) rules, health coverage end dates and Medicare enrollment windows can make one retirement date much better than another a few weeks away. Talk to HR and your plan administrator before you fix the date in the letter.
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Retirement Letter
Sam Park
Senior Accountant
88 Pecan Dr
Austin, TX 78731
(555) 010-0000, sam.park@example.com
October 12, 2026
Taylor Kim
Chief Financial Officer, Acme Inc.
500 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
Dear Taylor Kim:
I am writing to let you know that I have decided to retire from my position as Senior Accountant at Acme Inc. My last day of work will be January 29, 2027.
After 17 years 10 months with the company, since March 16, 2009, this was not an easy letter to write. I am grateful for the chance to build the close process from a spreadsheet into a team of four, and the patience everyone showed while I learned the new system last year. I have enjoyed the work, and even more the people I have done it with.
Before my last day I would like to go over the paperwork for my pension or 401(k), my health coverage and any other benefits, so please let me know who I should talk to and when we can meet.
I want the transition to go smoothly. I am glad to document my responsibilities and help train whoever takes over, and I will be reachable for questions after I leave.
Thank you for everything. I wish you and everyone at Acme Inc. the very best.
Sincerely,
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ย
Sam Park
Senior Accountant
How to use it
Fill in your details and your manager's, your retirement date and the date you started. The letter works out your years of service and writes it into the thank-you paragraph. Add one thing you are grateful for, as a phrase that follows I am grateful for: a project you built, a person who taught you, a team you led. The letter then asks who to see about pension, 401(k) and health coverage paperwork, offers to help with the handover, and closes warmly.
Give the letter to your manager in person if you can, then send the same text by email so HR has a dated copy. One to three months before your last day is usual.
Things to watch
Pin the date down with HR before you send the letter, because retirement plan rules and coverage end dates can make the first of a month better than the last. If you plan to come back part-time or as a consultant, say so in the transition paragraph rather than leaving it to a later conversation. A retirement letter goes in your file, so keep it kind even if the last years were hard.
Calculators that go with this
Frequently asked questions
How much notice should I give for retirement?
More than for a normal resignation: one to three months is common, and six months is not unusual for senior roles. The company needs time to hire or promote, and you need time to settle pension, 401(k) and health coverage paperwork.
Do I have to mention my pension or 401(k) in the letter?
No, but asking who to talk to is a practical way to start the process. The letter does not ask for figures or elections; those belong in the meeting with HR or the plan administrator.
Can I offer to keep working part-time?
Yes. Add it to the transition paragraph by typing your own sentence into the gratitude box or editing the DOCX. Be specific: how many days a week, for how long, and whether as an employee or a contractor.
Is what I type saved anywhere?
No. Everything stays in your browser and nothing is sent to our server. If you refresh the page it is gone, so print, save a PDF or download the DOCX when you are done.