TSP Calculator
BRS applies to military who joined on/after Jan 1, 2018. Legacy High-3 has no TSP match.
Enter $0 if you are just starting.
Contribute at least 5% to capture the full BRS employer match.
Used to estimate after-tax Traditional TSP value.
Enter Your TSP Details
Fill in your salary, contribution rate, and years to retirement to see your projected TSP balance, BRS match totals, and year-by-year growth chart.
How to Use the TSP Calculator
Select Your Retirement System
Choose BRS (Blended Retirement System) if you joined the military on or after January 1, 2018 — this unlocks the 1% automatic + up to 4% matching formula. Choose Legacy High-3 if you joined before 2018 (no TSP employer match). Choose 'No Match' for non-matched civilian accounts.
Enter Your Salary and Contribution Rate
Enter your current annual basic pay or salary. Then set your contribution as either a percentage of pay or a fixed dollar amount. To capture the full BRS match, contribute at least 5% of basic pay. The calculator will also show you the exact monthly amount to contribute so you hit the $24,500 annual limit evenly in December without losing monthly match.
Configure Fund Allocation
Expand the fund allocation section to distribute your investments across the G, F, C, S, I, and L Funds. The calculator blends their historical return rates into a weighted average and uses that for projections. For long-term growth, many advisors recommend a C/S/I-heavy mix. Lifecycle (L) Funds automatically balance risk for you.
Review Results and Export
View your projected balance, BRS match totals, investment growth breakdown, 4% rule income estimate, and year-by-year chart. Enable the BRS vs Legacy High-3 comparison to see estimated pension values side by side. Export your full year-by-year projection as a CSV file for budget planning or financial review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 TSP contribution limit?
For 2026, the standard elective deferral limit is $24,500. Service members and federal employees who are age 50 or older (but not 60–63) can contribute an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution for a total of $32,500. Those between ages 60 and 63 benefit from the SECURE Act 2.0 super catch-up of $11,250 instead of $8,000, allowing $35,750 total. Combat zone deployments allow contributions up to the annual additions limit of $72,000, which bypasses the standard $24,500 elective deferral cap. All limits reset on January 1 of each year.
How does BRS matching work exactly?
The Blended Retirement System provides three layers of TSP contributions: First, a 1% automatic contribution of your basic pay starting after 60 days of service — you receive this even if you contribute nothing yourself. Second, a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 3% of basic pay you contribute. Third, a 50-cent match on each dollar of the next 2% you contribute. Combined, if you contribute 5% of your basic pay, the government contributes another 5%, for a total of 10% of basic pay going into your TSP each pay period. The 1% automatic contribution vests after 2 years; matching contributions vest immediately on the first day of matching eligibility (24 months of service).
Why might I lose BRS matching if I max out TSP too early?
BRS agency matching is paid each pay period — not as a lump sum at year end. If you contribute too much early in the year and hit the $24,500 limit in, say, October, you stop making contributions for November and December. Since the match is paid only when you contribute, you receive no matching for those final months. To avoid this, spread contributions evenly across all 12 months: $24,500 ÷ 12 ≈ $2,042/month. Our calculator displays this exact recommended monthly amount so you can preserve every dollar of matching through December.
What is the difference between Traditional and Roth TSP?
Traditional TSP contributions are pre-tax — they reduce your taxable income today, and you pay income tax when you withdraw in retirement. This is best if you expect your tax rate in retirement to be lower than today. Roth TSP contributions are after-tax — you pay tax now, but qualified withdrawals (account open 5+ years, age 59½+) are completely tax-free, including all growth. This is best if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement. Importantly, all government and agency matching contributions always go into a Traditional TSP account regardless of your Roth election. In a combat zone, Roth contributions from tax-exempt combat pay achieve a triple tax benefit: no tax on income, growth, or withdrawal.
Which TSP fund should I choose?
The answer depends on your time horizon and risk tolerance. The C Fund (S&P 500 index, ~10.4% historical return) and S Fund (small-cap, ~9.6%) have generated the highest long-term returns but with more volatility. The I Fund (international stocks, ~6.2%) provides diversification. The G Fund (Treasury securities, ~4.1%) offers capital preservation with no credit or market risk — ideal near retirement. The F Fund (bond market, ~5.8%) sits between stocks and G Fund in risk/return. Lifecycle (L) Funds automatically shift from stock-heavy to conservative as you approach your target retirement year and are a sensible default. Many advisors suggest C/S/I-heavy allocations for those with 15+ years to retirement.
Should I choose BRS or stay in the Legacy High-3 system?
Service members who entered before January 1, 2018 and were eligible to opt into BRS during the 2018–2020 opt-in window had to weigh the choice: Legacy High-3 provides a higher pension multiplier (2.5% vs. BRS's 2%) but no TSP employer match. BRS provides a lower pension but adds the TSP match and continuation pay. For those who serve fewer than 20 years (the vast majority), BRS is almost always superior because Legacy High-3 pays nothing at separation before 20 years, while BRS provides vested TSP assets. For career 20-year service members, Legacy can result in a higher lifetime pension — but the TSP match often closes the gap. Use our comparison mode to estimate both side by side.