Retirement

Voluntary Retirement Plans

Thin Decorative Blue Line

UTA offers two voluntary retirement savings options through the University of Texas System — the UTSaver 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) and the UTSaver 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP). These plans allow all employees to save additional money for retirement through pre-tax or Roth after-tax payroll contributions, giving you flexibility in how and when you save.

You may participate in one or both plans, adjust contributions at any time, and choose from UT System–approved investment providers such as Fidelity, TIAA, Corebridge (AIG), Voya, and Lincoln Financial. During enrollment and when using UT Retirement Manager, these plans are referred to as the 403(b) TSA and the 457(b) DCP.

Your Future, Your Choice

Saving through a voluntary plan helps you build additional retirement income on top of your main plan (TRS or ORP). The UT System offers two powerful savings vehicles designed for flexibility and tax advantages.

UTSaver 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA)
UTSaver 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)

You may participate in one or both programs at the same time and change your contribution amount whenever you wish.

Learn More about UTSaver TSA Learn More about UTSaver DCP

About UTSaver

Learn more about the UTSaver Voluntary Programs and how they work, the contribution limits, selecting advisors and accessing your investments.

How the Plans Work

Both plans allow you to save directly from your paycheck, with your contributions and any investment earnings growing tax-deferred. You decide how much to save, where to invest, and when to make changes.

Feature	UTSaver 403(b)	UTSaver 457(b)
Eligibility	All UTA employees	All UTA employees
Contribution Type	Pre-tax or Roth (after-tax)	Pre-tax or Roth (after-tax)
Withdrawal Rules	Available after age 59½, separation, or hardship	Available after separation (no early-withdrawal penalty)
Catch-Up Contributions	Age 50+ and 15-year service options	Age 50+ option
Loan/Hardship Access	Permitted under IRS limits	Hardship only, no loans
Portability	May roll over to another employer’s plan or IRA	Fully portable upon leaving UTA

Compare UTSaver Programs

Contribution Limits

For 2026, the IRS allows employees to contribute the following maximum amounts to their voluntary retirement plans:

Annual Limit: $24,500 per plan (403(b) and 457(b))
Age 50+ Catch-Up: Additional $8,000 per plan
Super Catch-Up (Ages 60–63): Up to $11,250 for eligible participants

If you have 15 or more years of service with UTA or another UT System institution, you may qualify for the 403(b) 15-Year Service Catch-Up, which allows an extra contribution of up to $3,000 per year, up to a lifetime maximum of $15,000.

Employees can contribute to both plans simultaneously, effectively doubling their savings potential.

IRS Annual Contribution Limits