2025 TSP Contribution Limits
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program, offering military service members one of the best retirement savings vehicles available. Understanding contribution limits helps you maximize your retirement savings while taking full advantage of military-specific benefits like the BRS match and combat zone contribution rules.
2025 TSP Contribution Limits at a Glance
| Limit Type | 2025 Amount | 2024 Amount | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective Deferral Limit | $23,500 | $23,000 | +$500 |
| Catch-Up (Age 50+) | $7,500 | $7,500 | No change |
| Super Catch-Up (Ages 60-63) | $11,250 | N/A (new) | New benefit |
| Annual Addition Limit | $70,000 | $69,000 | +$1,000 |
| Maximum with Catch-Up | $81,250 | $76,500 | +$4,750 |
Understanding Each Limit
Elective Deferral Limit: $23,500
This is the maximum amount you can contribute from your regular pay (basic pay, special pays, and bonuses) to your TSP in 2025. The limit applies to the combined total of your Traditional TSP and Roth TSP contributions.
Key point: This limit applies to your contributions only—it does not include the government’s matching contributions.
Catch-Up Contributions: $7,500 (Age 50+)
If you turn 50 or older during 2025, you can contribute an additional $7,500 beyond the elective deferral limit. This brings your maximum personal contribution to $31,000.
NEW: Super Catch-Up: $11,250 (Ages 60-63)
Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, service members turning ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2025 can make enhanced catch-up contributions of $11,250 instead of the standard $7,500. This brings the maximum personal contribution for this age group to $34,750.
Annual Addition Limit: $70,000
The annual addition limit caps the total that can go into your TSP from ALL sources combined:
- Your elective deferrals
- Government automatic (1%) contributions
- Government matching contributions (up to 4%)
- Tax-exempt contributions from combat zone pay
Military BRS Matching Contributions
If you’re under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), the military provides matching contributions:
| Your Contribution | Government Match | Total Government Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% automatic | 1% |
| 1% | 1% auto + 1% match | 2% |
| 2% | 1% auto + 2% match | 3% |
| 3% | 1% auto + 3% match | 4% |
| 4% | 1% auto + 3.5% match | 4.5% |
| 5%+ | 1% auto + 4% match | 5% |
Important: Always contribute at least 5% to get the full government match. Anything less means you’re leaving free money on the table.
Combat Zone TSP Contributions
Military members deployed to combat zones have unique TSP advantages:
Tax-Exempt Contributions
Combat zone pay that’s excluded from federal income tax can be contributed to your TSP as tax-exempt money. When withdrawn in retirement, only the earnings on this money are taxed—not the original contribution.
Higher Effective Limits
During combat deployments, you can potentially contribute up to the full $70,000 annual addition limit (or $81,250 with catch-up), including:
- Regular contributions from taxable pay
- Tax-exempt contributions from combat pay
- Contributions from special pays and bonuses
Combat Zone Roth Rule
If you’re contributing catch-up contributions while receiving tax-exempt combat pay, those catch-up contributions must go to your Roth TSP, not Traditional TSP.
Traditional vs. Roth TSP
| Feature | Traditional TSP | Roth TSP |
|---|---|---|
| Tax on contributions | Not taxed now | Taxed now |
| Tax on withdrawals | Fully taxed | Tax-free (if qualified) |
| Government match goes to | Traditional TSP | Traditional TSP |
| Best for | Higher tax bracket now | Lower tax bracket now |
Military advantage: Since military members often have lower taxable income (due to tax-free allowances), Roth TSP is frequently the better choice—you pay low taxes now and withdraw tax-free in retirement.
How to Maximize Your TSP in 2025
Calculate Your Monthly Contribution
To max out the $23,500 limit:
- Monthly: $1,958.33
- Per paycheck (semi-monthly): $979.17
Use Percentage vs. Dollar Amount
Contributing a percentage of pay ensures you capture contributions from special pays and bonuses. A fixed dollar amount might miss these opportunities.
Don’t Forget Bonuses
Reenlistment bonuses, special duty pays, and other bonuses can be contributed to your TSP. Configure your elections to capture these.
New 2026 Rule for High Earners
Starting January 1, 2026: If you earned more than $150,000 in 2025 and are 50 or older, all catch-up contributions must be made to Roth TSP. This affects senior officers and E-9s with significant longevity.
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