TSP Calculator United States
Use this TSP calculator to estimate your balance and agency automatic and matching contributions, and see why contributing at least 5% gets the full match.
What it does
The TSP Calculator estimates your federal Thrift Savings Plan balance over time and shows the agency automatic and matching contributions a FERS employee earns on top of their own deferral.
Data sources & parameters
The figures below drive this calculator. We keep them aligned with the latest official guidance, and each result recalculates automatically whenever a value changes.
| Parameter | Value | Source | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective deferral limit (IRC 402(g)(1)); the same dollar amount applies by statute to 403(b) deferrals and to 457(b) deferrals under IRC 457(e)(15) | 24,500 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| Elective deferral limit plus the age-50 catch-up (IRC 402(g)(1) with 414(v)(2)(B)(i)) | 32,500 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01 |
| TSP agency automatic contribution rate | 0.01 | tsp.gov | Effective 2026-01-01TSP agency automatic (1%) contribution |
| TSP agency matching schedule [tier width of salary, match rate] | Rate schedule | tsp.gov | Effective 2026-01-01TSP/FERS agency matching schedule [employee_pct_band, match_rate] (100% first 3%, 50% next 2%) |
| Catch-up age bands: the standard catch-up opens at age 50 (IRC 414(v)(2)(B)) and the higher SECURE 2.0 catch-up applies for ages 60 to 63 (IRC 414(v)(2)(E)) | Rate schedule | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Seeded from the IRS catch-up rules: age 50 for the standard catch-up, ages 60-63 for the higher SECURE 2.0 catch-up; previously hardcoded in catch-up-contribution-us and 401k-calculator-us. Values unchanged. |
| Catch-up contribution limit for ages 60 to 63, applicable employer plans other than SIMPLE (IRC 414(v)(2)(E)(i)) | 11,250 | irs.gov | Effective 2026-01-01Verified 2026-09-06 against the IRS 2026 retirement limits release: the ages 60-63 catch-up remains $11,250 instead of $8,000. |
We always strive to use the latest data for every variable so our results and reports are as accurate as possible. Even so, errors are possible — you should not rely on this tool or its report alone, and we accept no liability for any decision made based on it.
The formula
Agency = 1% automatic + 100% on first 3% + 50% on next 2%; balance grows each year at the expected return
How it works
It caps your elective deferral at the IRS limit, adds the 1% agency automatic contribution and the tiered agency match, then compounds the total at your assumed return over the years you set.
Where it is used
- Estimating a future TSP balance
- Seeing how much free agency money a contribution rate captures
- Checking that you contribute at least 5% for the full match
Worked example
On $80,000.00 contributing 5%, your annual deferral is … and the agency adds … — projected over the period to ….
What the TSP calculator does
The calculator estimates the future value of your Thrift Savings Plan account and shows where the money comes from: your own contributions, your agency's automatic and matching contributions, and investment growth. Enter your annual salary, the percentage of pay you contribute, your age, your current balance, the number of years to project and an assumed rate of return.
The Thrift Savings Plan is the defined-contribution retirement plan for federal civilian employees and members of the uniformed services. For employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), it is one of three sources of retirement income, along with the FERS basic annuity and Social Security.
How the agency contribution works
For FERS employees the agency pays in two ways, and the calculator models both using stored rates. First, it deposits an automatic contribution of 1% of your basic pay every pay period, whether or not you contribute. Second, it matches your own contributions dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of pay and 50 cents on the dollar on the next 2%.
An employee who contributes at least 5% of pay therefore receives the full agency contribution: 1% automatic plus 4% matching, 5% of salary in total, before any investment growth.
Why 5% is the key number
The match only applies to the percentage you contribute, so contributing less than 5% leaves agency money unclaimed. At exactly 5% you get all of it. Above 5% you keep building your balance with the same tax advantages, but there is no further agency money. A 5% personal contribution becomes 10% of pay once the agency money is added, which is why advice for federal employees so often starts with contributing at least 5%.
Contribution limits and catch-up
Your own contributions are subject to the IRS elective deferral limit, shared across the TSP and any similar workplace plan. The calculator reads the limit from stored parameters. At age 50 or older a higher limit including the catch-up applies; in the years you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 the larger SECURE 2.0 catch-up applies, and from the year you turn 64 it returns to the regular catch-up. The tool picks the right limit from the age you enter.
Agency automatic and matching contributions do not count against your personal deferral limit, so the total going into your account each year can exceed that limit. The calculator adds the agency money on top of your capped deferral.
How the projection is built
Each year the calculator applies your expected return to the existing balance and adds that year's total contribution, crediting new contributions part-way through the year so they earn a partial year of growth. If you enter a salary growth rate, your pay and contributions rise each year, subject to the deferral limit.
Real returns vary from year to year, so the projection is a planning estimate, not a promise. Use it to compare scenarios: a higher contribution rate, a longer horizon or a different return. Early in a federal career, the number of years matters most, because decades of compounding on your contributions and the agency match make up much of the final balance.
Reading your result
The output shows the projected balance, then your annual contribution, the agency automatic contribution, the agency match and the total investment growth. If you contribute less than 5%, it shows how much agency money you are giving up. If you contribute 5% or more, focus on the return assumption and time horizon to see the range of outcomes. Revisit the estimate when your salary, contribution rate or plans change.
This is general information only and not financial advice.
About This TSP Calculator
Use this TSP calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official IRS guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.
Tax year 2026
Frequently asked questions
What does this TSP calculator do?
How does the TSP agency match work?
What is the contribution limit?
Does the agency match count toward my contribution limit?
Should I contribute more than 5%?
Is my data private?
About the author
