Recent Calculations
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is one of the most powerful retirement tools available to Federal employees and members of the uniformed services. It offers two key advantages: your contributions and earnings grow tax-deferred, meaning you pay no taxes until you withdraw the money — and your agency matches a portion of what you contribute, accelerating your savings from day one. Together, these benefits make the TSP a retirement opportunity you cannot afford to pass up.
This is the percentage of your annual salary you contribute to your TSP plan each year.
This is your annual salary from before taxes and other benefit deductions. Since your contribution and company match are based on the salary paid to you through your employing government agency, do not include any income you may receive from other sources.
Your total contribution for one year is based on your annual salary times the percent you contribute. However, your annual contribution to your TSP account is also subject to certain maximum total contributions per year. **401K_ANNUAL_LIMITS** **CATCHUP_CONTRIBUTION_NOTES** Agency contributions do not affect an employee's maximum annual contribution limit.
It is important to note that some employees are subject to another form of contribution limitations. Employees classified as 'Highly Compensated' may be subject to contribution limits based on their agency's overall TSP participation. **401k_HIGHLY_COMPENSATED**
Your current age.
Age you wish to retire. This calculator assumes that the year you retire, you do not make any contributions to your TSP. For example, if you retire at age 65, your last contribution occurs when you are actually 64.
The starting balance or current amount you have invested or saved in your TSP.
The annual rate of return for your TSP account. This calculator assumes that your return is compounded annually and your deposits are made monthly. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. The Standard & Poor's 500® (S&P 500®) for the 10 years ending December 31st 2025, had an annual compounded rate of return of 14.8%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1, 1970 to December 31st 2025, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500®, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 11.3% (source: www.spglobal.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a financial institution pay less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.
It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that investment funds and/or investment companies may charge.
The annual percentage you expect your salary to increase. The tool assumes that your salary will continue to increase at this rate until you retire.
Federal agencies automatically contribute 1% of your basic pay to your TSP each pay period, regardless of whether you contribute anything yourself.
On top of that, if you contribute to your TSP, the agency matches your contributions on the first 5% of basic pay you put in — dollar-for-dollar on the first 3%, and 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2%.
Example: An employee earning $1,000 per paycheck who contributes 10% ($100):
A few things to keep in mind: agency contributions don't count against your annual IRS contribution limit. Matching contributions are generally subject to a two-year vesting schedule under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) — check your plan details for specifics.