TSP contribution limits for 2026
In 2026 you can contribute up to $24,500 of your own pay to the TSP. If you're 50 or older you can add $8,000 in catch-up contributions ($32,500 total). If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during 2026, the catch-up is $11,250 instead ($35,750 total). Government automatic and matching contributions don't count toward these limits.
2026 limits at a glance
| Limit | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Your contributions (traditional + Roth combined) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | + $8,000 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 (instead of $8,000) | + $11,250 |
| Total from all sources (the "annual additions" limit, which matters for combat-zone pay) | $72,000 |
Sources: IRS Notice 2025-67 and TSP Bulletin 25-3.
TSP contribution limits for 2027: not announced yet
As of November 8, 2026, the IRS hasn't published the 2027 limits; its list of inflation-adjusted items by tax year still stops at 2026. It usually announces them between late October and mid-November. Based on the September 2026 inflation data, benefits consultant Milliman's final estimate (October 15, 2026) is:
| Limit | 2026 (official) | 2027 (Milliman estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Your contributions (traditional + Roth combined) | $24,500 | $25,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | + $8,000 | + $8,500 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | + $11,250 | + $11,750 |
| Total from all sources | $72,000 | $75,000 |
| Prior-year wages that make catch-up Roth-only | over $150,000 (2025 wages) | over $155,000 (2026 wages) |
These are estimates, not official limits. The official 2027 numbers will come in an IRS notice and a TSP bulletin, and a dollar-amount election doesn't change on its own when the limit does. We'll update this page when they're out.
Who gets the higher catch-up at 60 to 63
The larger catch-up applies in the calendar years you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63. In the year you turn 64 it drops back to the regular $8,000 catch-up. Catch-up amounts come out of your pay automatically once your regular contributions reach $24,500; you don't file a separate election.
New in 2026: some catch-up contributions must be Roth
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, if your 2025 FICA wages from your federal or military employer were more than $150,000, any catch-up contributions you make in 2026 must go to your Roth TSP balance. Box 5 of your 2025 W-2 (Medicare wages) is the figure that's checked. Your regular $24,500 can still be traditional, Roth or a mix. If your wages were $150,000 or less, you can make catch-up contributions either way.
Combat-zone pay can go above $24,500
Pay you earn in a combat zone tax exclusion area is tax-exempt. Tax-exempt contributions from that pay go into your traditional balance and don't count toward the $24,500 limit. Instead, the overall limit on everything added to your account in 2026 is $72,000, including your service's automatic and matching contributions. Roth contributions still stop at $24,500.
How to keep your match while contributing a lot
Matching only happens in pay periods when you contribute. If you reach $24,500 in October, your contributions stop for November and December, and so does your match for those months. Your agency or service's automatic 1% continues. That's why people who plan to reach the limit often spread contributions so they reach it in the last pay period of the year.
| Paid | Pay periods in 2026 | To spread $24,500 evenly |
|---|---|---|
| Military (twice a month) | 24 | about $1,020.83 per paycheck |
| Federal civilians (every two weeks) | 26 | about $942.31 per paycheck |
The free TSP calculator warns you when your contribution rate would reach the limit before December.
Common questions
What is the TSP contribution limit for 2026?
$24,500 of your own contributions, traditional and Roth combined. People 50 and older can add $8,000 in catch-up contributions, or $11,250 if they turn 60 to 63 during 2026.
What will the TSP contribution limit be in 2027?
As of November 8, 2026, the IRS hasn't announced it; it usually does between late October and mid-November. Milliman's final estimate, based on September 2026 inflation data, is $25,500, with an $8,500 catch-up at 50 and older and $11,750 at ages 60 to 63. These are estimates until the official IRS notice.
Do matching contributions count toward the $24,500 limit?
No. Agency and service automatic and matching contributions don't count toward the $24,500 limit. They do count toward the $72,000 overall limit on all additions to your account.
Do I have to sign up separately for TSP catch-up contributions?
No. Since 2022 the TSP applies catch-up automatically once your regular contributions reach the annual limit, as long as you're eligible by age.
Do TSP catch-up contributions have to be Roth in 2026?
Only if your 2025 FICA wages from the employer that pays your TSP contributions were more than $150,000. In that case your 2026 catch-up contributions must be Roth.
Can I contribute more than $24,500 in a combat zone?
Yes. Tax-exempt pay earned in a combat zone can go into your traditional TSP balance above $24,500, up to the $72,000 overall 2026 limit. Roth contributions are still limited to $24,500.
Sources
- IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026
- IRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 retirement plan limits)
- TSP Bulletin 25-3: 2026 TSP contribution limits
- Milliman: 2027 IRS limits, final estimates (October 15, 2026; estimates, not official)
Educational information, not investment or tax advice. Check tsp.gov or a tax professional for your situation.