Direct Answer
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined contribution retirement plan for federal civilian employees and members of the uniformed services, administered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500 (same as 401(k)), with age 50+ catch-up of $8,000 and ages 60-63 catch-up of $11,250. FERS employees receive a 1% automatic agency contribution plus matching of up to 4% of pay, for up to 5% in total. Five core funds include the unique G Fund (principal-guaranteed government securities).
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Profile: 2026 Limits, Funds and Rules
This profile cites IRS and TSP.gov primary sources. It does not provide personalized retirement planning advice. TSP rules for uniformed services (BRS) differ in some respects from civilian FERS/CSRS rules; verify your specific plan with TSP.gov.
2026 Contribution Limits
| Category | 2026 Limit |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferral (traditional + Roth combined) | $24,500 |
| Age 50+ catch-up (standard) | $8,000 additional (total $32,500) |
| Ages 60-63 higher catch-up (SECURE 2.0) | $11,250 additional (total $35,750) |
| FERS agency automatic contribution | 1% of basic pay (all FERS employees) |
| FERS agency matching | Dollar-for-dollar on first 3% + 50 cents on next 2% (5% total if employee contributes 5%) |
| Total annual additions limit (§415) | $72,000 |
CSRS employees do not receive an agency match. Uniformed services members under BRS (Blended Retirement System) receive a 1% automatic plus matching similar to FERS. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67; TSP.gov.
TSP Investment Funds
| Fund | Benchmark | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G Fund | Short-term U.S. Treasuries (special) | Principal guaranteed by U.S. government; unique to TSP; no other plan offers this |
| F Fund | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | Broad U.S. investment-grade bond exposure |
| C Fund | S&P 500 | Large-cap U.S. stocks |
| S Fund | Dow Jones U.S. Completion TSM Index | U.S. stocks not in the S&P 500 (mid/small-cap) |
| I Fund | MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Kong Index | International stocks of large, medium and small companies in more than 40 developed and emerging market countries, excluding the U.S., China and Hong Kong |
| L Funds | Blend of G/F/C/S/I | Target-date lifecycle funds (L Income, L 2025-L 2065) |
TSP expense ratios are among the lowest of any retirement plan (typically 3-6 basis points). The G Fund's principal guarantee is a unique feature unavailable in private-sector 401(k) plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the TSP contribution limit for 2026?
- The 2026 TSP employee contribution limit is $24,500 (traditional and Roth combined). Age 50+ catch-up is $8,000 (total $32,500); ages 60-63 catch-up is $11,250 (total $35,750). For 2026, catch-up contributions must be Roth if the participant earned more than $150,000 in 2025. FERS employees receive 1% automatic agency contribution plus up to 4% matching (5% total). CSRS employees receive no match. Total annual additions limit is $72,000. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67; TSP.gov.
- What are the TSP investment funds?
- TSP offers five core funds: G Fund (principal-guaranteed government securities), F Fund (Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index), C Fund (S&P 500), S Fund (Dow Jones U.S. Completion Index / non-S&P 500 stocks), and I Fund (MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Kong Index, international). Lifecycle (L) Funds blend these automatically by target retirement year. G Fund principal guarantee is unique to the TSP. Source: TSP.gov.
- Can TSP funds be rolled over to an IRA?
- Yes. Traditional TSP may roll to a Traditional IRA or eligible qualified plan; Roth TSP may roll to a Roth IRA. Available upon separation from service, retirement, or age 59½ while still employed. Rolling out of the TSP forfeits access to the G Fund, very low TSP expense ratios, and TSP loan access (if still employed). These advantages are worth considering before rolling out. Source: TSP.gov; IRC Section 402(c).