Q. I am a current federal employee. My agency has advised that there will be 27 pay periods in 2018 and suggested adjusting our TSP to ensure that employees do not miss out on any matching. However, I have looked at the NFC Pay Period calendar and while there are in fact 27 2018 EFT dates, there are only 26 official pay dates in 2018. The first check to be received in the calendar year is PP25 from 2017 and the official pay date is Mon., January 4, 2018. The last check to be received in the calendar year is Pay Period 25 of 2018, which has an official pay date of December 20. Pay Period 26 for 2018 has an official pay date of January 3, 2019 (with an EFT date of December 31, 2018). As best I can tell, TSP contributions are based on official pay dates and not EFT dates. I believe that my agency was in error in advising employees to adjust TSP contributions to account for 27 pay periods. Are TSP contribution limits based on the EFT date or the official pay date?
A. The limits are based on official pay dates.
