Calculator
TSP calculator
Your contributions, agency automatic and matching contributions, the IRS limit for your age, and growth.
TSP balance at 62$969,390$497,685 in today’s dollars · about $3,231/mo at a 4% withdrawal
- Your contributions + today’s balance
- Employer
- Investment growth
| Balance today | $60,000 |
|---|---|
| You contribute (27 years) | $150,213 |
| Agency automatic + matching | $150,213 |
| Investment growth | $608,964 |
| Balance at 62 | $969,390 |
| 2026 limit at your age | $24,500 |
| This year: you + employer | $4,250 + $4,250 |
Limits stay at the 2026 amounts and pay grows 2% a year; returns of 6% a year are an assumption, not a forecast. Catch-up contributions start the year you turn 50, and the larger age 60–63 catch-up applies in the years you turn 60, 61, 62 and 63.
The link keeps your inputs, so you can save or share this scenario.
How the TSP calculator works
The TSP calculator adds three streams each year: your own contributions, the Agency Automatic (1%) Contribution and Agency Matching Contributions. FERS employees and eligible BRS members get the 1% even if they save nothing; the match is dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of pay you contribute and 50 cents on the dollar on the next 2%[tspmatch]. Saving 5% therefore brings in 5% from the agency, 10% in total.
| You contribute | Automatic 1% | Agency match | Total going in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| 2% | 1% | 2% | 5% |
| 3% | 1% | 3% | 7% |
| 4% | 1% | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| 5% | 1% | 4% | 10% |
Your contributions stop at the IRS limit for your age; contributions then compound monthly at your rate of return. BRS members receive matching after two years of service, and CSRS employees get no agency contributions[tspmatch].
TSP contribution limits for 2026 and 2027
The TSP uses the same IRS elective deferral limit as a 401(k): $24,500 for 2026 and $25,500 for 2027[n2567][n2667]. Catch-up contributions start in the year you turn 50, with a larger amount in the years you turn 60 through 63[tsplim].
| Limit | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Elective deferral (traditional + Roth) | $24,500 | $25,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 or older | $8,000 | $8,500 |
| Catch-up in the years you turn 60–63 | $11,250 | $11,750 |
| Annual additions (you + agency, 415(c)) | $72,000 | $75,000 |
| Catch-up must be Roth if prior-year wages exceeded | $150,000 | $155,000 |
For 2026, tsp.gov lists the catch-up by birth year: $8,000 if born 1962 or earlier, $11,250 if born 1963–1966 and $8,000 if born 1967–1976[tsplim]. Catch-up contributions also qualify for the agency match up to 5% of pay.
Worked example: $70,000, saving 5% from age 30
A FERS employee earning $70,000 who saves 5% puts in $3,500 a year; the agency adds $3,500 ($700 automatic and $2,800 matching). At 6% a year with no raises, the account reaches $568,466 at 60, of which $105,000 came from the agency.
| You save | Agency adds a year | Balance at 60 |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $700 | $56,847 |
| 3% | $2,800 | $397,926 |
| 5% | $3,500 | $568,466 |
TSP fund returns, 2016–2025
Past returns of the five individual TSP funds show how different the assumption can be: over 2016–2025 the G Fund never lost money while the C, S and I Funds had both 30% years and double-digit losses[tsprates].
| Year | G Fund | F Fund | C Fund | S Fund | I Fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1.82% | 2.91% | 12.01% | 16.35% | 2.10% |
| 2017 | 2.33% | 3.82% | 21.82% | 18.22% | 25.42% |
| 2018 | 2.91% | 0.15% | -4.41% | -9.26% | -13.43% |
| 2019 | 2.24% | 8.68% | 31.45% | 27.97% | 22.47% |
| 2020 | 0.97% | 7.50% | 18.31% | 31.85% | 8.17% |
| 2021 | 1.38% | -1.46% | 28.68% | 12.45% | 11.45% |
| 2022 | 2.98% | -12.83% | -18.13% | -26.26% | -13.94% |
| 2023 | 4.22% | 5.58% | 26.25% | 25.30% | 18.38% |
| 2024 | 4.40% | 1.33% | 24.96% | 16.93% | 4.27% |
| 2025 | 4.44% | 7.21% | 17.85% | 11.38% | 32.45% |
Past performance does not predict future returns. The calculator uses one steady rate; enter a lower one for a mostly G Fund allocation.
Common mistakes
- Saving less than 5%. Below 5% you give up part of the 4% match; at 0% you keep only the 1%.
- Reaching the limit too early. If your contributions stop before the last pay period, the match stops too. Spread contributions so they last all year.
- Missing the Roth catch-up rule. From 2026, catch-up contributions must be Roth if your prior-year federal wages were over $150,000[tsplim].
- Forgetting the annuity. The TSP is one part of FERS; the FERS retirement calculator estimates the basic annuity.
Compare and planPrivate-sector plan? Use the 401k calculator. The full 2026 limit rules are on the 401(k) limit page, and the early retirement calculator tests whether savings last. TSP balances are subject to RMDs from 73 or 75: see the RMD calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my TSP be worth at retirement?
Saving 5% of $85,000 with the 5% agency contribution, starting at 35 with $60,000, grows to about $969,390 by 62 at 6% a year. Enter your own pay, rate and return in the TSP calculator.
What is the TSP contribution limit for 2026?
$24,500 for 2026 ($25,500 for 2027), plus $8,000 catch-up at 50 or older, or $11,250 in the years you turn 60 to 63. Agency contributions do not count against the $24,500.
How does the TSP match work?
FERS agencies contribute 1% of basic pay automatically, match your first 3% dollar for dollar and the next 2% at 50 cents per dollar. Contribute 5% and the agency adds 5%.
What return should I use in a TSP calculator?
It depends on your funds. From 2016 to 2025 the G Fund returned between 0.97% and 4.44% a year, while the C Fund ranged from −18.13% to 31.45%. A lower rate gives a more cautious projection.
Sources
- Agency/service contributions (automatic 1% and matching)
- Rates of return
- Notice 2025-67, 2026 Amounts Relating to Retirement Plans and IRAs
- Notice 2026-66, 2027 Amounts Relating to Retirement Plans and IRAs, as Adjusted for Changes in Cost-of-Living
- Contribution limits (including the age 60–63 catch-up and the Roth catch-up rule)