diff --git a/activesupport/lib/active_support.rb b/activesupport/lib/active_support.rb
index 2d6aeba85e..c7dab09b29 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/active_support.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/active_support.rb
@@ -111,15 +111,17 @@ def self.cache_format_version=(value)
   end
 
   def self.to_time_preserves_timezone
-    ActiveSupport.deprecator.warn(
-      "`config.active_support.to_time_preserves_timezone` has been deprecated and will be removed in Rails 7.3."
-    )
+    DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone
   end
 
   def self.to_time_preserves_timezone=(value)
-    ActiveSupport.deprecator.warn(
-      "`config.active_support.to_time_preserves_timezone` has been deprecated and will be removed in Rails 7.3."
-    )
+    unless value
+      ActiveSupport.deprecator.warn(
+        "Support for the pre-Ruby 2.4 behavior of to_time has been deprecated and will be removed in Rails 7.2."
+      )
+    end
+
+    DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone = value
   end
 
   def self.utc_to_local_returns_utc_offset_times
diff --git a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_and_time/compatibility.rb b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_and_time/compatibility.rb
index 0a55451dce..bc13cf96f4 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_and_time/compatibility.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_and_time/compatibility.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@
 
 module DateAndTime
   module Compatibility
+    # If true, +to_time+ preserves the timezone offset of receiver.
+    #
+    # NOTE: With Ruby 2.4+ the default for +to_time+ changed from
+    # converting to the local system time, to preserving the offset
+    # of the receiver. For backwards compatibility we're overriding
+    # this behavior, but new apps will have an initializer that sets
+    # this to true, because the new behavior is preferred.
+    mattr_accessor :preserve_timezone, instance_writer: false, default: false
+
     # Change the output of <tt>ActiveSupport::TimeZone.utc_to_local</tt>.
     #
     # When +true+, it returns local times with a UTC offset, with +false+ local
@@ -18,17 +27,5 @@ module Compatibility
     #   # With `utc_to_local_returns_utc_offset_times = true`, local time is returned with UTC offset:
     #   zone.utc_to_local(Time.utc(2000, 1)) # => 1999-12-31 19:00:00 -0500
     mattr_accessor :utc_to_local_returns_utc_offset_times, instance_writer: false, default: false
-
-    def self.preserve_timezone
-      ActiveSupport.deprecator.warn(
-        "`DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone` has been deprecated and will be removed in Rails 7.3."
-      )
-    end
-
-    def self.preserve_timezone=(value)
-      ActiveSupport.deprecator.warn(
-        "`DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone=` has been deprecated and will be removed in Rails 7.3."
-      )
-    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_time/compatibility.rb b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_time/compatibility.rb
index 3b8d82b794..7600a067cc 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_time/compatibility.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/date_time/compatibility.rb
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ class DateTime
 
   silence_redefinition_of_method :to_time
 
-  # Return an instance of +Time+ with the same UTC offset
-  # as +self+.
+  # Either return an instance of +Time+ with the same UTC offset
+  # as +self+ or an instance of +Time+ representing the same time
+  # in the local system timezone depending on the setting of
+  # on the setting of +ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone+.
   def to_time
-    getlocal(utc_offset)
+    preserve_timezone ? getlocal(utc_offset) : getlocal
   end
 end
diff --git a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/time/compatibility.rb b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/time/compatibility.rb
index 88c2e1c829..495e4f307b 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/time/compatibility.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/active_support/core_ext/time/compatibility.rb
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ class Time
 
   silence_redefinition_of_method :to_time
 
-  # Returns +self+.
+  # Either return +self+ or the time in the local system timezone depending
+  # on the setting of +ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone+.
   def to_time
-    self
+    preserve_timezone ? self : getlocal
   end
 end
diff --git a/activesupport/lib/active_support/time_with_zone.rb b/activesupport/lib/active_support/time_with_zone.rb
index 7d07abe2b2..f9b020ef4f 100644
--- a/activesupport/lib/active_support/time_with_zone.rb
+++ b/activesupport/lib/active_support/time_with_zone.rb
@@ -479,10 +479,15 @@ def to_datetime
       @to_datetime ||= utc.to_datetime.new_offset(Rational(utc_offset, 86_400))
     end
 
-    # Returns an instance of +Time+ with the same UTC offset
-    # as +self+.
+    # Returns an instance of +Time+, either with the same UTC offset
+    # as +self+ or in the local system timezone depending on the setting
+    # of +ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone+.
     def to_time
-      @to_time_with_instance_offset ||= getlocal(utc_offset)
+      if preserve_timezone
+        @to_time_with_instance_offset ||= getlocal(utc_offset)
+      else
+        @to_time_with_system_offset ||= getlocal
+      end
     end
 
     # So that +self+ <tt>acts_like?(:time)</tt>.
diff --git a/activesupport/test/abstract_unit.rb b/activesupport/test/abstract_unit.rb
index 2cd06d45d1..d5de723cfb 100644
--- a/activesupport/test/abstract_unit.rb
+++ b/activesupport/test/abstract_unit.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@
 # Show backtraces for deprecated behavior for quicker cleanup.
 ActiveSupport.deprecator.debug = true
 
+# Default to Ruby 2.4+ to_time behavior but allow running tests with old behavior
+ActiveSupport.deprecator.silence do
+  ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = ENV.fetch("PRESERVE_TIMEZONES", "1") == "1"
+end
+
 ActiveSupport::Cache.format_version = 7.1
 
 # Disable available locale checks to avoid warnings running the test suite.
diff --git a/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_and_time_compatibility_test.rb b/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_and_time_compatibility_test.rb
index 639d7ec273..1b3ada7ca4 100644
--- a/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_and_time_compatibility_test.rb
+++ b/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_and_time_compatibility_test.rb
@@ -16,133 +16,280 @@ def setup
   end
 
   def test_time_to_time_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = Time.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, 3600)
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = Time.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, 3600)
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
-      assert_equal source.object_id, time.object_id
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_equal source.object_id, time.object_id
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_time_to_time_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = Time.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, 3600)
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_equal source.object_id, time.object_id
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_time_to_time_frozen_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = Time.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, 3600).freeze
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = Time.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, 3600).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
-      assert_equal source.object_id, time.object_id
-      assert_predicate time, :frozen?
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_equal source.object_id, time.object_id
+        assert_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_time_to_time_frozen_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = Time.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, 3600).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_equal source.object_id, time.object_id
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_datetime_to_time_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = DateTime.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, Rational(1, 24))
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = DateTime.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, Rational(1, 24))
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_datetime_to_time_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = DateTime.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, Rational(1, 24))
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_datetime_to_time_frozen_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = DateTime.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, Rational(1, 24)).freeze
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = DateTime.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, Rational(1, 24)).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
-      assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_datetime_to_time_frozen_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = DateTime.new(2016, 4, 23, 15, 11, 12, Rational(1, 24)).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_twz_to_time_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@utc_time, @zone)
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@utc_time, @zone)
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
 
-      source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@date_time, @zone)
-      time = source.to_time
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@date_time, @zone)
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @date_time, time.getutc
-      assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @date_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_twz_to_time_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@utc_time, @zone)
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@date_time, @zone)
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @date_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_twz_to_time_frozen_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@utc_time, @zone).freeze
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@utc_time, @zone).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
-      assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
 
-      source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@date_time, @zone).freeze
-      time = source.to_time
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@date_time, @zone).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @date_time, time.getutc
-      assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
-      assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @date_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_twz_to_time_frozen_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@utc_time, @zone).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+
+        source = ActiveSupport::TimeWithZone.new(@date_time, @zone).freeze
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @date_time, time.getutc
+        assert_instance_of Time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_string_to_time_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = "2016-04-23T15:11:12+01:00"
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = "2016-04-23T15:11:12+01:00"
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_string_to_time_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = "2016-04-23T15:11:12+01:00"
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_string_to_time_frozen_preserves_timezone
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      source = "2016-04-23T15:11:12+01:00"
-      time = source.to_time
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = "2016-04-23T15:11:12+01:00"
+        time = source.to_time
 
-      assert_instance_of Time, time
-      assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
-      assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
-      assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_string_to_time_frozen_does_not_preserve_time_zone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        source = "2016-04-23T15:11:12+01:00"
+        time = source.to_time
+
+        assert_instance_of Time, time
+        assert_equal @utc_time, time.getutc
+        assert_equal @system_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_not_predicate time, :frozen?
+      end
     end
   end
 
   def test_to_time_preserves_timezone_is_deprecated
-    assert_deprecated(ActiveSupport.deprecator) do
+    current_preserve_tz = ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone
+
+    assert_not_deprecated(ActiveSupport.deprecator) do
       ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone
     end
 
-    assert_deprecated(ActiveSupport.deprecator) do
-      DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone
-    end
-
-    assert_deprecated(ActiveSupport.deprecator) do
+    assert_not_deprecated(ActiveSupport.deprecator) do
       ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = true
     end
 
     assert_deprecated(ActiveSupport.deprecator) do
-      DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone = false
+      ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = false
+    end
+  ensure
+    ActiveSupport.deprecator.silence do
+      ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = current_preserve_tz
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_time_ext_test.rb b/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_time_ext_test.rb
index ecdc278732..39efaa4667 100644
--- a/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_time_ext_test.rb
+++ b/activesupport/test/core_ext/date_time_ext_test.rb
@@ -77,8 +77,13 @@ def test_to_time
     with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
       assert_instance_of Time, DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time
 
-      assert_equal Time.local(2005, 2, 21, 5, 11, 12).getlocal(0), DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time
-      assert_equal Time.local(2005, 2, 21, 5, 11, 12).getlocal(0).utc_offset, DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time.utc_offset
+      if ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone
+        assert_equal Time.local(2005, 2, 21, 5, 11, 12).getlocal(0), DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time
+        assert_equal Time.local(2005, 2, 21, 5, 11, 12).getlocal(0).utc_offset, DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time.utc_offset
+      else
+        assert_equal Time.local(2005, 2, 21, 5, 11, 12), DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time
+        assert_equal Time.local(2005, 2, 21, 5, 11, 12).utc_offset, DateTime.new(2005, 2, 21, 10, 11, 12, 0).to_time.utc_offset
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/activesupport/test/core_ext/string_ext_test.rb b/activesupport/test/core_ext/string_ext_test.rb
index 4e2fc7f4e8..9fbda588b7 100644
--- a/activesupport/test/core_ext/string_ext_test.rb
+++ b/activesupport/test/core_ext/string_ext_test.rb
@@ -610,10 +610,17 @@ def test_timestamp_string_to_time
 
   def test_string_to_time_utc_offset
     with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      assert_equal 0, "2005-02-27 23:50".to_time(:utc).utc_offset
-      assert_equal(-18000, "2005-02-27 23:50".to_time.utc_offset)
-      assert_equal 0, "2005-02-27 22:50 -0100".to_time(:utc).utc_offset
-      assert_equal(-3600, "2005-02-27 22:50 -0100".to_time.utc_offset)
+      if ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone
+        assert_equal 0, "2005-02-27 23:50".to_time(:utc).utc_offset
+        assert_equal(-18000, "2005-02-27 23:50".to_time.utc_offset)
+        assert_equal 0, "2005-02-27 22:50 -0100".to_time(:utc).utc_offset
+        assert_equal(-3600, "2005-02-27 22:50 -0100".to_time.utc_offset)
+      else
+        assert_equal 0, "2005-02-27 23:50".to_time(:utc).utc_offset
+        assert_equal(-18000, "2005-02-27 23:50".to_time.utc_offset)
+        assert_equal 0, "2005-02-27 22:50 -0100".to_time(:utc).utc_offset
+        assert_equal(-18000, "2005-02-27 22:50 -0100".to_time.utc_offset)
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/activesupport/test/core_ext/time_with_zone_test.rb b/activesupport/test/core_ext/time_with_zone_test.rb
index f20091b98d..19fc500878 100644
--- a/activesupport/test/core_ext/time_with_zone_test.rb
+++ b/activesupport/test/core_ext/time_with_zone_test.rb
@@ -517,14 +517,29 @@ def test_time_at
     assert_equal time, Time.at(time)
   end
 
-  def test_to_time
-    with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
-      time = @twz.to_time
+  def test_to_time_with_preserve_timezone
+    with_preserve_timezone(true) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        time = @twz.to_time
 
-      assert_equal Time, time.class
-      assert_equal time.object_id, @twz.to_time.object_id
-      assert_equal Time.local(1999, 12, 31, 19), time
-      assert_equal Time.local(1999, 12, 31, 19).utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+        assert_equal Time, time.class
+        assert_equal time.object_id, @twz.to_time.object_id
+        assert_equal Time.local(1999, 12, 31, 19), time
+        assert_equal Time.local(1999, 12, 31, 19).utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_to_time_without_preserve_timezone
+    with_preserve_timezone(false) do
+      with_env_tz "US/Eastern" do
+        time = @twz.to_time
+
+        assert_equal Time, time.class
+        assert_equal time.object_id, @twz.to_time.object_id
+        assert_equal Time.local(1999, 12, 31, 19), time
+        assert_equal Time.local(1999, 12, 31, 19).utc_offset, time.utc_offset
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/activesupport/test/time_zone_test_helpers.rb b/activesupport/test/time_zone_test_helpers.rb
index 719f11b6bf..312d5a2c9a 100644
--- a/activesupport/test/time_zone_test_helpers.rb
+++ b/activesupport/test/time_zone_test_helpers.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ def with_env_tz(new_tz = "US/Eastern")
     old_tz ? ENV["TZ"] = old_tz : ENV.delete("TZ")
   end
 
+  def with_preserve_timezone(value)
+    old_preserve_tz = ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone
+
+    ActiveSupport.deprecator.silence do
+      ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = value
+    end
+
+    yield
+  ensure
+    ActiveSupport.deprecator.silence do
+      ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = old_preserve_tz
+    end
+  end
+
   def with_tz_mappings(mappings)
     old_mappings = ActiveSupport::TimeZone::MAPPING.dup
     ActiveSupport::TimeZone.clear
diff --git a/guides/source/7_2_release_notes.md b/guides/source/7_2_release_notes.md
index c1df823c75..4aee241d35 100644
--- a/guides/source/7_2_release_notes.md
+++ b/guides/source/7_2_release_notes.md
@@ -546,14 +546,8 @@ Please refer to the [Changelog][active-support] for detailed changes.
 
 *   Remove deprecated support to passing `Dalli::Client` instances to `MemCacheStore`.
 
-*   Remove deprecated support for the pre-Ruby 2.4 behavior of `to_time` returning a `Time` object with local timezone.
-
 ### Deprecations
 
-*   Deprecate `config.active_support.to_time_preserves_timezone`.
-
-*   Deprecate `DateAndTime::Compatibility.preserve_timezone`.
-
 ### Notable changes
 
 Active Job
diff --git a/guides/source/configuring.md b/guides/source/configuring.md
index 7995d83522..168e7b313b 100644
--- a/guides/source/configuring.md
+++ b/guides/source/configuring.md
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ Below are the default values associated with each target version. In cases of co
 
 #### Default Values for Target Version 5.0
 
+- [`ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone`](#activesupport-to-time-preserves-timezone): `true`
 - [`config.action_controller.forgery_protection_origin_check`](#config-action-controller-forgery-protection-origin-check): `true`
 - [`config.action_controller.per_form_csrf_tokens`](#config-action-controller-per-form-csrf-tokens): `true`
 - [`config.active_record.belongs_to_required_by_default`](#config-active-record-belongs-to-required-by-default): `true`
@@ -2695,6 +2696,17 @@ Is set to `false` to disable the ability to silence logging in a block. The defa
 
 Specifies the logger to use within cache store operations.
 
+#### `ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone`
+
+Specifies whether `to_time` methods preserve the UTC offset of their receivers. If `false`, `to_time` methods will convert to the local system UTC offset instead.
+
+The default value depends on the `config.load_defaults` target version:
+
+| Starting with version | The default value is |
+| --------------------- | -------------------- |
+| (original)            | `false`              |
+| 5.0                   | `true`               |
+
 #### `ActiveSupport.utc_to_local_returns_utc_offset_times`
 
 Configures `ActiveSupport::TimeZone.utc_to_local` to return a time with a UTC
diff --git a/railties/lib/rails/application/configuration.rb b/railties/lib/rails/application/configuration.rb
index fe98cb834b..cbe19f1d3a 100644
--- a/railties/lib/rails/application/configuration.rb
+++ b/railties/lib/rails/application/configuration.rb
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ def load_defaults(target_version)
             action_controller.forgery_protection_origin_check = true
           end
 
+          ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = true
+
           if respond_to?(:active_record)
             active_record.belongs_to_required_by_default = true
           end
diff --git a/tools/rail_inspector/test/rail_inspector/visitor/framework_default_test.rb b/tools/rail_inspector/test/rail_inspector/visitor/framework_default_test.rb
index a22cb4f83a..f38b7ca3b1 100644
--- a/tools/rail_inspector/test/rail_inspector/visitor/framework_default_test.rb
+++ b/tools/rail_inspector/test/rail_inspector/visitor/framework_default_test.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ def test_smoke
     config = config_for_defaults <<~RUBY
       case target_version.to_s
       when "5.0"
-        ActiveSupport.cache_format_version = 7.0
+        ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone = true
 
         if respond_to?(:active_record)
           active_record.belongs_to_required_by_default = true
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def test_smoke
 
     ["5.0", "5.1"].each { |k| assert_includes(config, k) }
 
-    assert_equal("7.0", config["5.0"]["ActiveSupport.cache_format_version"])
+    assert_equal("true", config["5.0"]["ActiveSupport.to_time_preserves_timezone"])
     assert_equal("true", config["5.0"]["active_record.belongs_to_required_by_default"])
     assert_equal("{ hsts: { subdomains: true } }", config["5.0"]["self.ssl_options"])
     assert_equal("false", config["5.1"]["assets.unknown_asset_fallback"])