WHAT IS YOUR TSP MATCH WORTH?
Under the Blended Retirement System the government puts up to 5 percent of your basic pay into your TSP. Contribute less than 5 percent and you receive less than 5 percent. This works out what that difference becomes.
The match, in one paragraph
BRS members get an automatic 1 percent of basic pay whether they contribute or not. On top of that, the government matches what you put in: dollar for dollar on your first 3 percent, then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2 percent. Contribute 5 percent and the government adds 5 percent. Contribute 2 percent and it adds 3. The difference is not a penalty, it is simply money you did not claim, and it compounds for as long as you serve.
Matching does not begin until the start of your third year of service, and government contributions stop after your 26th year. Legacy High-3 members receive neither the automatic 1 percent nor any match.
Run your own numbers
Your contribution percentage is printed in the TSP block of your LES. Not sure which number it is? Our TSP deduction and AGCY-MATCH guides show you where to look.
Do not have your numbers handy?
Upload your LES and we will read your grade, years of service and contribution straight off the statement, then tell you whether any match is going unclaimed right now.
What this assumes
- These are illustrations, not predictions. The three rates are round numbers chosen to show a range of outcomes. They are not any particular TSP fund's past performance, and nothing here recommends a fund. Real returns will be none of these three numbers.
- Basic pay is the verified 2026 table figure for the grade and years of service you entered, grown by 2 percent a year afterwards to stand in for raises and longevity steps. Promotions are not modelled, so a career that promotes on time will beat these figures.
- Government contributions follow the BRS rules exactly: the automatic 1 percent, matching that starts at the beginning of your third year of service, dollar for dollar on the first 3 percent and 50 cents on the next 2, ending after your 26th year.
- Only basic pay counts. BAH, BAS and special pays are not matched and are excluded.
- Nothing you type here is stored. The numbers go into the page URL, are used to draw the result, and that is the end of it.
This is educational, not financial advice. For your actual balance and elections, myPay and tsp.gov are the authorities.