Military TSP CalculatorThrift Savings Plan Growth With BRS Matching and 2026 Limits
Your military TSP grows from your contributions, the BRS government 1% plus up to 4% match, and compounding returns; in 2026 you can put in up to $24,500 of your own pay. Enter your age, grade, contribution and plans to see your balance when you leave the service, at retirement, and how much of it came from the government.
Limits from TSP.gov and IRS Notice 2025-67; pay from the DFAS 2026 tables.
Milestones
How the military TSP grows
Your Thrift Savings Plan balance grows from three sources: your own contributions (a percentage of basic pay, plus special pays and bonuses if you elect), the government’s automatic 1% and matching of up to 4% if you are under the Blended Retirement System, and investment returns compounding over time. In 2026 you can contribute up to $24,500 of your own money.
Traditional TSP lowers your taxable income now; Roth TSP is taxed now and withdrawn tax-free later. Contributions from combat-zone tax-exempt pay go in tax-free and come out tax-free, and they do not count toward the $24,500 limit.
2026 TSP contribution limits
| 2026 TSP limit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Elective deferral (traditional + Roth) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 or older | +$8,000 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | +$11,250 |
| Annual additions (all sources, incl. government) | $72,000 |
| Roth catch-up rule | Catch-up must be Roth if prior-year FICA wages exceeded $150,000 |
IRS Notice 2025-67 and TSP.gov. BRS matching continues on catch-up contributions up to 5% of basic pay.
The projection
The 4% rule is a common planning shorthand for a sustainable first-year withdrawal, not a guarantee. TSP’s own L Funds and G Fund carry very different risk and return.
TSP moves that matter most
Under BRS, 5% of basic pay unlocks 4% matching. Less than that leaves free money behind.
If you hit $24,500 early in the year, your contributions stop and so does the match for the rest of the year.
Tax-exempt combat-zone pay in a Roth or traditional TSP is never taxed, and it does not count toward the $24,500.
TSP expense ratios are a fraction of most 401(k) plans, so leaving money in after you separate is often sensible.
How to use this military TSP calculator
- Enter your age and balanceYour current TSP balance from TSP.gov.
- Pick grade, years and contributionBasic pay comes from the 2026 table and rises with years of service.
- Choose BRS or legacyBRS adds the 1% automatic and up to 4% matching.
- Set when you leave and when you retireSee the balance at both points and the income it could pay.
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Military TSP FAQ
$24,500 of your own contributions, plus an $8,000 catch-up at 50 or older or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63. The total including government contributions is capped at $72,000.
Under BRS, 1% automatic plus up to 4% matching, for a total of 5% of basic pay when you contribute at least 5%. Legacy High-3 members get no match.
Junior members in low tax brackets often favor Roth, since tax-free allowances keep taxable income low. Both count toward the same $24,500 limit.
Yes. You can elect separate percentages for special pay, incentive pay and bonuses. BRS matching applies to basic pay only.
It stays yours. You can leave it invested, roll it into another plan or IRA, or take withdrawals subject to the usual rules and penalties.
Tax-exempt contributions from combat-zone pay do not count toward the $24,500 elective deferral limit, but they count toward the $72,000 total.
It depends on your contribution rate, BRS match, time and returns. An E-4 at 24 putting in 10% under BRS for 16 more years (staying an E-4 on the 2026 table with 3% yearly raises) reaches about $266,000 when leaving at 40 and roughly $1 million in nominal dollars by 60 at a 7% return; the calculator shows your own figure.
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Manzoor Ahmad
Calculator developer & web designer · 13+ years in web development and SEO
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026I am a pharmacist turned tech geek, and I design, code and test every calculator on DexoCalc myself. I have not served in the military, so this tool does not run on opinion: the 2026 limits come from IRS Notice 2025-67 as published on TSP.gov, the match schedule from DoD’s BRS rules, and pay from the DFAS 2026 tables.
Spot a result that does not match an official source? Tell me and I will re-check it.
Sources
- TSP: Contribution limits
- Military Compensation: Blended Retirement System
- DFAS: Military pay tables 2026
Disclaimer: DexoCalc is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Defense (Department of War), the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. Results are educational estimates; official records and your chain of command decide.
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