TSP Contribution Limits in 2026: What You Can Put In and the Catch-Up Rules

Every year the IRS adjusts contribution limits for tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and the TSP follows those limits. If you're a federal employee or active-duty service member trying to maximize your retirement savings, knowing exactly what you're allowed to contribute — and the special rules that let some people contribute more — is money-in-pocket information.

The 2026 Elective Deferral Limit

The standard TSP contribution limit for 2026 is $23,500. This is the maximum amount you can contribute from your own pay across both traditional (pre-tax) and Roth TSP combined. It does not include agency matching contributions, which don't count against your personal limit.

If you're a FERS employee getting the full 5% agency match, your total annual TSP contribution (your money plus agency contributions) could reach $25,175 on a $33,500 salary — but practically speaking, most FERS employees at GS-9 and above have agency contributions that add on top of their $23,500 personal limit.

The Standard Catch-Up Limit for Age 50 and Older

Federal employees and service members who are 50 or older by December 31 of the contribution year can make additional catch-up contributions beyond the standard limit. For 2026, the catch-up contribution limit is $7,500, bringing the total possible contribution to $31,000.

You don't need to do anything special to elect catch-up contributions in myPay or Employee Express — the TSP now uses an "spillover" method where your contributions automatically continue as catch-up once you hit the standard limit, provided you've made the election. Confirm your contribution elections are set correctly early in the calendar year.

The SECURE 2.0 Super Catch-Up for Ages 60–63

The SECURE 2.0 Act introduced a higher catch-up limit for participants who are ages 60, 61, 62, or 63. For 2026, this enhanced catch-up limit is $11,250 instead of the standard $7,500. That brings the total contribution ceiling to $34,750 for this age group.

This is not a typo. If you're in that four-year window, you can contribute $11,250 more than the standard limit — $3,750 more than the regular 50+ catch-up. If you're approaching 60 and ramping up for retirement, this window is worth planning around.

At age 64, you revert to the standard $7,500 catch-up. The enhanced amount is specifically for the 60–63 window.

Roth TSP vs Traditional TSP — The Limit Is Shared

Whether you contribute to traditional TSP, Roth TSP, or split between both, your total contributions cannot exceed $23,500 (plus applicable catch-up). The limit is per person, not per account type. Many federal employees in their peak earning years benefit from contributing to Roth TSP — you pay taxes now at your current rate, and qualified distributions in retirement are tax-free, including decades of investment growth.

The decision between traditional and Roth depends on whether you expect to be in a higher or lower tax bracket in retirement. For federal employees with a FERS pension plus Social Security plus TSP distributions, it's common to have a meaningful taxable income in retirement — which makes the Roth TSP more attractive than many people assume.

Combat Zone Contributions for Active Duty

Service members serving in a designated combat zone can contribute significantly more to their TSP. Combat zone contributions are not subject to the standard elective deferral limit. The ceiling rises to the annual additions limit — for 2026, that's $70,000 total (including all sources). This is relevant for deployed service members who want to aggressively fund their TSP with tax-exempt combat pay.

What To Do If You Over-Contribute

If you accidentally exceed the $23,500 limit across multiple accounts (for example, TSP plus a 401(k) from a second job), you must withdraw the excess by April 15 of the following year. The TSP itself will not allow you to exceed limits within the TSP, but it has no visibility into what you contributed to a private employer plan. Tracking across accounts is your responsibility. Excess contributions that aren't withdrawn are taxed twice — once in the year contributed and again when withdrawn.

How to Update Your Contribution Amount

Federal civilians update TSP contributions through Employee Express or their agency's equivalent HR portal. Active-duty members use myPay. Changes generally take effect the following pay period. Set a calendar reminder each January to verify your election is set to where you want it for the year.

Trying to figure out what TSP balance you need by retirement? We break down target numbers by retirement age and expected FERS pension in a separate guide.