IRA Calculator

Compare traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and taxable savings under explicit tax assumptions.

Compare after-tax retirement wealth under contribution and tax assumptions.

Result

Traditional IRA pre-tax balance$958,897.78

Traditional IRA after-tax value$747,940.27

Comparable taxable investment balance$556,053.54

Total contributions$224,000.00

Roth balance with equivalent after-tax contribution$747,940.27

Uses published 2026 IRA limits for all future years. Assumes eligible contributions and qualified Roth distributions; income phaseouts and deductibility eligibility are not inferred. Taxable positive returns are taxed annually at the entered marginal rate. In the Traditional/Roth/taxable comparison, initial balances and contributions are entered pre-tax and converted to an equivalent after-tax basis for Roth/taxable saving.

Calculation details

Scroll horizontally or vertically to see more. Download CSV for the complete schedule.

Age	Annual contribution	IRA balance	Taxable balance
36	7,000	60,000	46,285.20
37	7,000	70,600	53,911.35
38	7,000	81,836	61,894.40
39	7,000	93,746.16	70,251.06
40	7,000	106,370.93	78,998.81
41	7,000	119,753.19	88,155.95
42	7,000	133,938.38	97,741.65
43	7,000	148,974.68	107,775.96
44	7,000	164,913.16	118,279.87
45	7,000	181,807.95	129,275.37
46	7,000	199,716.43	140,785.46
47	7,000	218,699.41	152,834.22
48	7,000	238,821.38	165,446.86
49	7,000	260,150.66	178,649.77
50	7,000	282,759.70	192,470.58
51	7,000	306,725.28	206,938.20
52	7,000	332,128.80	222,082.91
53	7,000	359,056.53	237,936.39
54	7,000	387,599.92	254,531.82
55	7,000	417,855.91	271,903.90
56	7,000	449,927.27	290,089.01
57	7,000	483,922.90	309,125.17
58	7,000	519,958.28	329,052.23
59	7,000	558,155.77	349,911.87
60	7,000	598,645.12	371,747.75
61	7,000	641,563.83	394,605.55
62	7,000	687,057.66	418,533.08
63	7,000	735,281.12	443,580.43
64	7,000	786,397.98	469,800.00
65	7,000	840,581.86	497,246.64
66	7,000	898,016.77	525,977.78
67	7,000	958,897.78	556,053.54

How to use this calculator

Compare after-tax retirement wealth under contribution and tax assumptions. Enter amounts in the units shown, select the applicable options, and click Calculate. Use Reset to restore the starting values.

Calculation formula

Traditional after-tax balance = pre-tax account × (1 − retirement tax); Roth uses after-tax contributions.

Assumptions and accuracy

Review timing, rates, fees and result notes when comparing scenarios. Future returns and rates are assumptions rather than guaranteed outcomes. Monetary display follows the currency’s precision; intermediate calculations retain additional digits.

Year-specific parameters are documented in the calculation notes. Rule eligibility and individual circumstances can change the result.

Choose what to calculate

Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA calculator

Compare traditional IRA, Roth IRA and taxable savings on the documented after-tax basis. Income-based eligibility and deductibility are not automatically determined.

Open this calculation

Understanding this calculation

Compare traditional and Roth IRA accumulation under current and retirement tax assumptions. The traditional pre-tax balance should not be compared directly with an after-tax balance.

Worked examples

Apply an assumed retirement tax rate to an IRA balance

Illustrative inputs are specified in the steps below; the example link loads the complete settings. Unmentioned settings use the linked defaults.

Opening 1,000 plus one contribution of 1,000 gives 2,000 with no growth. Under a simplified 20% retirement tax assumption, 2,000 × 80% = 1,600.

Traditional IRA after-tax value: 1,600 USD.

Try these inputs

Common questions

Why is the traditional IRA after-tax balance smaller?

The model applies the selected retirement tax assumption to the traditional account. The pre-tax balance is a different quantity.

Does a larger IRA balance mean greater spendable retirement money?

Not necessarily. Tax treatment and the amount available for withdrawal can differ across account types.

Scope and assumptions

This simplified comparison does not establish deduction eligibility, conversion strategy or future tax rates. Contribution caps and individual restrictions need verification.

Sources

Calculation notes checked October 20, 2026. Examples are mathematical checks under the stated assumptions.

Calculation methods and formulas

Traditional, Roth, and Taxable