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 up to 5% employer matching. Five core funds include the unique G Fund (principal-guaranteed government securities).
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Profile: 2026 Limits, Funds and Rules
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 Rev. Proc. 2024-40; 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 EAFE Index | International stocks (Europe, Australasia, Far East) |
| 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). 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 Rev. Proc. 2024-40; 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 EAFE 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).