Veteran Field Manual
Max Out Your TSP in 2026: Catch-Ups and the Military Bucket
The 2026 TSP elective deferral limit is $24,500. The catch-ups are $8,000 - and one special $11,250 bucket most members never hear about.
The facts
- 012026 elective deferral limit: $24,500 across all your TSP contributions for the year (IRS 402(g) limit, IRS Notice 2025-67).
- 02Age-50 catch-up: +$8,000 (total $32,500). Age 60-63 super catch-up: +$11,250 (total $35,750) - the SECURE 2.0 enhanced catch-up, in effect since 2025.
- 03The government match: 1% automatic plus up to 4% matching on your contributions - contribute at least 5% or you donate the free 4% back.
- 04The catch-up change since 2025: catch-up contributions are Roth-only by law (SECURE 2.0) - you no longer make traditional catch-ups; plan the tax hit.
- 05Two-bucket note for dual-status (military + federal civilian) members: the 402(g) limit is shared across both TSP accounts, but each also gets employer contributions toward the separate 415(c) cap (~$72,000 range for 2026, exact figure in the IRS COLA notice).
Sources
- IRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 402(g) limits)
- SECURE 2.0 Act Section 109 (Roth catch-up + age 60-63 enhancement)
- TSP: contribution limits page (tsp.gov)
Reference
TSP contribution limits 2026 (the reference) →Educational content only — not tax, legal, investment, or VA-benefits advice. Figures verified against the cited sources for 2026; confirm your own situation with a qualified professional before acting.
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