2026 TSP Contribution Limits, Explained

Each year the IRS sets how much you can put into the Thrift Savings Plan, and the numbers usually rise a little with inflation. Knowing the 2026 limits matters because contributing enough to capture the full government match is one of the best financial moves a service member or federal employee can make. Here's what the limits are and how to use them.

The 2026 limits at a glance

The elective deferral limit ($24,500 for 2026) is the cap on the money you personally defer from your paycheck into the TSP across Traditional and Roth combined. It does not include the government's automatic and matching contributions.

Catch-up contributions

If you are age 50 or older, you can contribute extra "catch-up" money — an additional $8,000 in 2026. Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, there's a special higher catch-up for the years you are age 60, 61, 62, or 63, which is $11,250 in 2026. The year you turn 64, you drop back to the standard catch-up amount. You no longer have to file a separate catch-up election; once you hit the regular limit, eligible contributions roll into the catch-up automatically.

The government match doesn't count against your limit

Under the Blended Retirement System and FERS, the government's automatic 1% and matching contributions are on top of your elective deferral limit. So if you defer the full $24,500 and also receive a 5% match, your total going into the TSP is higher than $24,500. There is a separate, much larger overall "annual additions" cap that combines your contributions plus agency contributions; almost no one hits it through normal payroll, but you can confirm the current figure at tsp.gov.

How to actually max it out

• Spread it evenly. The match is calculated each pay period, so if you hit the annual limit too early in the year, you can miss match in the remaining months. To max out without losing match, divide the limit across all your pay periods.
• Tax-free combat pay. While deployed in a combat zone, special rules let you contribute even more (toward the annual additions limit), and Roth contributions made from tax-free pay can be especially powerful.
• Roth vs. Traditional. Your elective deferral limit is shared across both; decide the split based on your tax situation — see Roth vs. Traditional TSP.

Want to see how different contribution rates change your balance at retirement? Plug your numbers into the TSP calculator and watch the projection update.