BRS vs FERS: how the TSP match compares

Service members under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) and federal civilians under FERS get the same TSP formula: an automatic 1% of basic pay, plus matching of up to 4% more when they contribute 5%. The differences are in when it starts, when it stops, and how vesting works. Civilians get both from their first pay period; BRS members wait 60 days for the automatic 1% and until their 25th month of service for matching.

BRS vs TSP: not the same thing

The TSP is the account: the government's 401(k)-style savings plan. The Blended Retirement System is the military retirement system, and the TSP is one of its three parts, along with continuation pay (a one-time mid-career bonus) and a monthly pension for members with 20 or more years of service. Any service member can contribute to the TSP, but only BRS members get the automatic 1% and matching. Under the legacy High-3 system, the service doesn't contribute. For the pension side, see BRS vs High-3.

Side by side

	Military (BRS)	Federal civilian (FERS)
Automatic 1% starts	60 days after entering service	Right away
Matching starts	25th month of service	Right away
Maximum from the government	5% of basic pay	5% of basic pay
Match formula	100% of first 3%, 50% of next 2%	Same
Automatic 1% vests	After 2 years of service	After 3 years for most (2 for some positions)
Matching vests	Immediately	Immediately
Stops	After 26 years of service	Continues while employed under FERS
Automatic enrollment	5% of basic pay	5% of basic pay
Basic pay includes	Monthly basic pay (not allowances like BAH or BAS)	Salary including locality pay
Special pay and bonuses	Can contribute, not matched	Awards and bonuses usually aren't basic pay
Tax-exempt combat-zone pay	Can go above $24,500, up to $72,000 total	Not applicable

"Vests" means the money is yours to keep if you leave before that point.

What's the same

The formula. Contributing 5% of basic pay gets the full 5% from the government, for 10% in total.
Roth and traditional. Both are matched. The government's contributions always go into your traditional balance.
The 2026 limits. $24,500 of your own contributions, plus catch-up at 50 and older. See TSP contribution limits for 2026.
Reaching the limit early stops the match. Matching only happens in pay periods when you contribute.

What's different, in practice

A new service member gets the automatic 1% after 60 days, but no match until the start of year three. A new civilian gets both from day one.
Vesting. A service member who leaves before 2 years forfeits the automatic 1%, and a civilian who leaves before 3 years (2 for some positions) does too. Your own contributions and all matching are always yours.
At 26 years of service, BRS automatic and matching contributions stop. FERS contributions don't have a service limit.
Moving from military to civilian service means a new set of rules. The TSP keeps a separate civilian account alongside your uniformed services account, and agency contributions to it follow FERS rules. You can combine the two accounts.

See your numbers

Military TSP calculator: by grade and years of service, monthly like your LES
FERS TSP calculator: by GS grade, step and locality, per pay period

Common questions

Is BRS the same as the TSP?

No. The TSP is the savings account; BRS is the military retirement system that adds government contributions to it. BRS has three parts: the TSP (an automatic 1% of basic pay plus up to 4% matching), continuation pay, and a pension of 2% of your High-36 per year of service for members with 20 or more years. Service members outside BRS can still contribute to the TSP, but without government contributions.

Is the military TSP match the same as the federal employee match?

The formula is the same: an automatic 1% plus up to 4% matching, for up to 5% of basic pay. BRS members wait 60 days for the automatic 1% and until their 25th month of service for matching, while FERS employees get both right away.

When is the TSP automatic 1% vested?

After 2 years of service for BRS members, and after 3 years for most FERS employees (2 years for certain positions). Matching contributions are vested immediately in both systems.

Do BRS matching contributions stop?

Yes. BRS automatic and matching contributions stop after 26 years of service. FERS agency contributions don't have a service limit.

If I leave the military for a federal civilian job, what happens to my TSP?

The TSP opens a civilian account for you alongside your uniformed services account, and your agency's automatic and matching contributions follow FERS rules. You can move your uniformed services balance into the civilian account if you want them combined; check tsp.gov for your situation.

Sources

Educational information, not investment advice. Check tsp.gov or your HR or finance office for your situation.