TSP Contribution Optimizer 2026
Find the exact per-pay-period election to hit your TSP limit by year end, see how much agency match you are capturing versus leaving behind, and get warned if you are on track to front-load and lose match.
The match question no other calculator answers
Age 60–63 qualifies for the SECURE 2.0 “super catch-up” ($11,250 vs $8,000). At 64+, the limit reverts to the standard $8,000 catch-up.
Most federal employees have 26 pay periods in 2026. If your agency issues 27 paychecks, update this field accordingly.
Full-year targets assuming contributions start PP1. Adjust “periods elapsed” to calculate your current mid-year target.
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2026 TSP contribution limits by age
Verified against IRS IR-2025-111 and IRS Notice 2025-67 (published November 2025). The super catch-up for ages 60–63 is a SECURE 2.0 provision effective since 2025.
| Age Bracket | Elective Deferral | Catch-Up | Annual Total | Per PP (÷26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | — | $24,500 | $942.31 |
| 50–59 | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 | $1,250.00 |
| 60–63 (SECURE 2.0) | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 | $1,375.00 |
| 64+ | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 | $1,250.00 |
How the FERS agency match works
The FERS match is calculated per pay period, based on your contribution that period as a percentage of that period's basic pay. If you contribute nothing in a period (because you already hit your annual limit), the agency contributes only the automatic 1% — the 4% matching is permanently lost for that period.
| You contribute | Agency auto 1% | Agency matching | Total agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
| 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| 3% | 1% | 3% | 4% |
| 4% | 1% | 3.5% | 4.5% |
| 5%+ | 1% | 4% | 5% (max) |
The formula in plain English: the agency always deposits 1% of your basic pay whether or not you contribute. On top of that, it matches 100% of the first 3% you contribute, then 50% of the next 2%. Anything above 5% receives no additional match. So the magic number is 5% — at $100,000 salary that is $192/PP, and it captures the full $5,000/year in agency contributions.
Why front-loading can cost you thousands
Some employees front-load their TSP — setting a high election to reach the annual limit as early as possible, believing it maximizes compound growth. For employees under age 50, this is a costly mistake. Once the $24,500 limit is reached, TSP contributions stop automatically. For every period you contribute $0, the agency matching portion (4%) is suspended — only the automatic 1% continues.
Employees age 50 and older are protected by the TSP spillover method: once regular contributions hit $24,500, the system automatically routes additional contributions to the catch-up bucket. Contributions never stop, so match is preserved all 26 periods — as long as total contributions stay under the combined limit.
How to calculate a mid-year TSP adjustment
If you are already several pay periods into the year, the even-spread target changes. The formula:
This is why the calculator asks for periods elapsed — the full-year even-spread of $942/PP only applies if you start from PP1. A mid-year course-correction requires a higher per-period election for the remaining periods. Enter your actual periods elapsed above for your personalized target.