What CTS is and why it matters if you work in Peru
If you are on a Peruvian payroll — for example, as an expat with a local private-sector contract — you are probably entitled to CTS (Compensación por Tiempo de Servicios). Think of it as a mandatory severance savings account: your employer deposits money in a bank of your choice twice a year, and the fund cushions you if you lose your job. It is governed by Supreme Decree 001-97-TR.
Deposits follow a fixed calendar: the May deposit covers November 1 to April 30 and must be in your account by May 15; the November deposit covers May 1 to October 31 and is due by November 15. This calculator estimates either 2026 deposit using the legal base and proration.
How to use the calculator
- Pick the deposit you want to estimate (May or November 2026); the tool shows the accrual semester and the deadline.
- Enter your gross monthly salary and tick the box if you receive the family allowance (S/ 113.00 in 2026, for workers with children under 18, or up to 24 if they are in higher education).
- Enter the gratificación you received within the semester — the statutory bonus paid in July and December: the December one feeds the May deposit, the July one the November deposit. Enter 0 if you received none.
- If you earn commissions or overtime at least 3 months within the semester, add their monthly average.
- Set the full calendar months worked (up to 6) plus any extra days from a partial month.
2026 rules at a glance
| Item | 2026 rule |
|---|---|
| May deposit | Semester Nov 1 – Apr 30; due by May 15 |
| November deposit | Semester May 1 – Oct 31; due by November 15 |
| Computable base | Salary + family allowance (S/ 113.00) + one sixth of the gratificación received in the semester + average variable pay (if received 3+ months) |
| Formula | base × full months / 12 + base × days / 360 |
| Full semester | Equals half the computable base (base / 2) |
| Eligibility | At least 4 hours a day on average and at least 1 full calendar month in the semester |
| REMYPE regimes | Microenterprise: no CTS for workers hired after registration; small enterprise: 15 daily wages per year, capped at 90 |
| Withdrawals | 100% of deposits plus interest freely withdrawable until 12/31/2026 (Law 32322) |
Worked example
November 2026 deposit, full May–October semester, salary of S/ 2,500 with no family allowance, and a July gratificación of S/ 2,500:
- One sixth of the gratificación: 2,500 ÷ 6 = S/ 416.67.
- Computable base: 2,500 + 416.67 = S/ 2,916.67.
- CTS for the semester: 2,916.67 × 6 ÷ 12 = S/ 1,458.33 — exactly half the base, as expected for a full semester.
- The money must be deposited by 11/15/2026 and is 100% withdrawable until 12/31/2026.
For a partial semester: someone hired on 01/10/2026 earning S/ 1,800 with no gratificación in the window gets 3 full months plus 22 days of January in the May 2026 deposit: 1,800 × 3 ÷ 12 = 450.00, plus 1,800 × 22 ÷ 360 = 110.00, a total of S/ 560.00.
Frequently asked questions
Is CTS the same as the gratificación?
No. The gratificación is a bonus paid directly to you in July and December, while CTS goes into a bank account in your name as a severance fund. They interact: one sixth of the gratificación received within the semester is added to the CTS base.
Can I withdraw my CTS in 2026?
Yes. Law 32322 allows withdrawing 100% of deposited CTS plus interest until December 31, 2026 (permanently for workers with certified cancer or a terminal illness). After that date, unless a new law extends it, only partial withdrawals of up to 50% remain.
What if I did not work the whole semester?
The deposit is prorated: each full calendar month is worth 1/12 of the base and each remaining day, 1/360. You need at least one full calendar month in the semester to qualify; on termination any pending CTS is paid as CTS trunca.
Do all workers in Peru get CTS?
No. It applies to the general private-sector regime with at least 4 hours a day on average. Workers hired by a REMYPE microenterprise after its registration get no CTS, and small enterprises pay a reduced CTS (15 daily wages per year, capped at 90). Public and special regimes have their own rules.
This is an informational estimate under the 2026 rules — not legal or tax advice. The S/ 1,130 minimum wage could be revised in late 2026 and the 100% withdrawal window closes on 12/31/2026, so review the figures every year against official sources (MTPE, SUNAFIL, El Peruano).