Roth IRA Calculator
See what your Roth IRA could be worth at retirement, how much of that is tax-free growth, and how it compares with investing in a taxable account.
Roth IRA at 65, all tax-free
$1,162,734
- Contributions
- $267,500
- Tax-free growth
- $895,234
- Same money, taxable account
- $913,919
- Traditional IRA, after 15% tax
- $988,324
You expect a lower rate later, which leans toward traditional. A traditional IRA also lets you invest the 22% tax saving now.
Roth vs taxable account
Explain my numbers
Get a plain-English reading of the result above: what drives it, what the trade-offs are and what to ask a lender or adviser. It is educational, not financial advice. Only these inputs and results are sent, and nothing is stored.
Assumptions
Contributions are made at the start of each year, capped at the 2026 limit for your age, and grow at your expected return. The taxable-account comparison assumes 15% of each year’s return is lost to tax, which roughly matches the long-term capital gains and qualified dividend rate most households pay. The traditional IRA comparison applies your retirement tax rate to the same balance. It ignores the upfront deduction, which is why the note above flags it.
Which tax rate to enter
Use your marginal rate, the rate on your last dollar of income, not your average rate. The Roth-or-traditional decision is really a bet on that marginal rate now versus later. It trips people up because only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate; a narrated walkthrough of how US tax brackets stack makes that click in a few minutes.
Income eligibility and the five-year rule are explained in IRS Publication 590-A and 590-B.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I put in a Roth IRA in 2026?
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you are 50 or older. The limit is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs, and you need at least that much earned income.
Are there income limits for a Roth IRA?
Yes. Direct Roth contributions phase out at higher modified adjusted gross incomes, with separate ranges for single and married filers that the IRS updates each year. Above the range, some people use a “backdoor” Roth conversion.
When can I withdraw from a Roth IRA tax-free?
Your own contributions can come out at any time, tax- and penalty-free. Earnings are tax-free once you are 59½ and the account has been open at least five years; otherwise they may be taxed and penalized.
Roth or traditional IRA: which is better?
If you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than now, Roth usually wins; if lower, traditional usually wins. With the same tax rate at both ends, they come out the same. Many people hold both for flexibility.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
No, not for the original owner. That lets the money keep growing tax-free for as long as you like, and makes Roth IRAs useful for leaving to heirs.