The Thrift Savings Plan is the federal government's retirement savings and investment plan for military members and federal civilian employees. It works much like a private-sector 401(k): you contribute a portion of your pay, your contributions can grow tax-advantaged, and eligible participants receive government matching contributions. The TSP is known for offering some of the lowest investment fees available.
The Blended Retirement System (BRS) blends a smaller pension (2.0% per year of service × your High-3 average basic pay) with government matching contributions of up to 5% of pay. The legacy High-3 system pays a larger pension (2.5% per year) but provides no TSP match. Anyone who joined the military on or after January 1, 2018 is automatically under BRS. See our BRS vs. High-3 guide.
Under BRS and FERS, the government automatically contributes 1% of your basic pay whether or not you contribute. It then matches your contributions dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% and 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2%. Contribute at least 5% and you receive the full 5% government contribution on top of your own — an instant, guaranteed return. More in our TSP match guide.
They are the TSP's core funds. The G Fund holds special government securities and never loses value; the F Fund tracks a broad U.S. bond index; the C Fund tracks the S&P 500; the S Fund tracks small and mid-size U.S. companies; and the I Fund holds international stocks. The Lifecycle (L) funds automatically blend these by target date. See all funds with live returns.
Traditional contributions are pre-tax and taxed at withdrawal; Roth contributions are after-tax and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Roth often benefits those who expect a higher tax bracket later or who are earning tax-free combat pay; Traditional can benefit those in a high bracket now. Many service members use a mix. Compare with our Roth vs. Traditional guide.
Pension = retirement multiplier × years of service × High-3 average basic pay (the average of your highest 36 months). The multiplier is 2.0% per year under BRS and 2.5% per year under legacy High-3. The pension is paid for life and adjusted for inflation. Estimate yours with the calculator.
You can generally withdraw after you separate from service. Withdrawals before age 59½ may face a 10% early-withdrawal penalty, with some exceptions, and required minimum distributions begin at the age set by current IRS rules. For account-specific options, contact the TSP directly at tsp.gov.
No. CalculateTSP is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, DFAS, OPM, or the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. For official information and account actions, visit tsp.gov. Learn more about us.
Our tools use official sources, including Department of Defense pay charts and daily TSP share prices from tsp.gov, and fund returns are refreshed regularly. Results are simplified estimates for education and planning, not a guarantee of your actual benefit, which depends on your specific service record and plan details.
For 2026, you can contribute up to $24,500 of your own pay (combined Traditional and Roth). If you're 50 or older you can add an $8,000 catch-up, and those turning 60–63 in 2026 can add $11,250 under SECURE 2.0. The government match is on top of these limits. See our 2026 limits guide.
Yes. The TSP offers general-purpose loans (repaid over 1–5 years) and residential loans (up to 15 years) against your own contributions. The interest you pay goes back into your account, but the borrowed money misses out on market growth while it's out. See our TSP loans guide.
It's yours to keep. You can leave it in the TSP (which has very low fees), roll it into an IRA or new employer plan, or withdraw it — usually the most expensive option because of taxes and possible penalties. See your TSP after service.
No. The government match is calculated on your basic pay only. You can still contribute to the TSP from bonuses, special, and incentive pay, but those contributions don't generate additional match.