IRA Calculator

Compare Traditional and Roth IRA strategies under the same investment and tax assumptions.

Comparison depth

Quick comparison Compare both IRAs with transparent eligibility assumptions Detailed comparison Add income, filing status, workplace coverage, fees, and other IRA deposits

Retirement and tax assumptions

Current Age

Your age at the start of the projection. Age 50 or older qualifies for the current IRA catch-up contribution limit.

years

Retirement Age

The age at which the projection ends and the selected retirement tax rate is applied to the Traditional IRA scenario.

years

Annual IRA Contribution

The amount you want to contribute each year. Traditional and Roth IRA deposits share one combined annual limit, so contributions to other IRAs reduce the available room.

$ USD

The current shared IRA limit is applied automatically, including an age-based catch-up where eligible.

Expected Annual Return

The average annual return assumed for investments held inside the IRA, such as stocks, ETFs, bonds, or mutual funds. Returns are not guaranteed.

Current Marginal Tax Rate

The estimated federal marginal rate applied to a deductible Traditional IRA contribution today. State taxes are not included unless you incorporate them into this assumption.

Expected Retirement Tax Rate

The estimated rate applied to taxable Traditional IRA withdrawals in retirement. Roth results assume qualified withdrawals.

Quick comparison assumptions

Assumes full 2026 Roth eligibility, a fully deductible Traditional contribution, sufficient taxable compensation, no other IRA deposits, 0.5% annual fees, 2.5% inflation, and a 15% tax on gains in the side account where Traditional tax savings are reinvested.

—

Higher estimated after-tax strategy value

Traditional strategy after tax—

Roth strategy after tax—

Estimated difference—

Traditional IRA balance—

Traditional IRA after tax—

Reinvested tax savings after tax—

Roth IRA balance—

First-year Traditional deduction—

Maximum 2026 Roth contribution—

Winning value in today’s dollars—

Retirement tax-rate sensitivity

Selected rate −5 points—

Selected retirement tax rate—

Selected rate +5 points—

Enter your assumptions to compare eligibility, deductions, taxes, fees, and investment growth.

The comparison method and assumptions will appear here.

Year-by-year Traditional and Roth comparison

Both strategies use the same return and fee assumptions. Future contribution limits are estimates, not announced IRS limits.

Year / age	Traditional contribution	Estimated deduction	Tax savings invested	Traditional strategy after tax	Roth contribution	Roth after tax
Projection	—	—	—	—	—	Enter your details above

How stocks, ETFs, bonds, and funds work inside an IRA

An IRA is a tax-advantaged account, not an investment by itself. Depending on the provider, money inside a Traditional or Roth IRA can be invested in individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, bonds, certificates of deposit, or cash. The account determines the tax treatment; the investments determine return, volatility, diversification, and fees.

Use the expected-return field to model the long-term return of the portfolio you intend to hold. A stock or stock-ETF portfolio may have higher expected growth and larger losses than a bond-heavy portfolio. Expense ratios and advisory costs belong in the annual-fee field. The calculator does not predict markets or recommend a security.

How the Traditional vs. Roth IRA comparison works

The calculator projects both accounts with identical investment returns and fees. Traditional contributions may create a current-year deduction; that estimated tax saving is reinvested in a separate taxable account so the comparison does not ignore its value. Traditional withdrawals are then reduced by the selected retirement tax rate, while Roth results assume qualified tax-free withdrawals.

Detailed mode estimates 2026 contribution eligibility and deduction phase-outs from filing status, modified adjusted gross income, workplace-plan coverage, taxable compensation, and other IRA deposits. Traditional and Roth contributions share one combined IRA limit.

Review IRA contribution and deduction rules in IRS Publication 590-A.

Frequently Asked Questions

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA

A Traditional IRA contribution may be deductible today, while taxable withdrawals generally occur later. Roth IRA contributions are not deductible, but qualified withdrawals can be tax-free. Income, filing status, workplace-plan coverage, and future tax rates can change the comparison.

Which IRA Is Better?

There is no universal winner. Traditional can benefit from a current deduction, especially when that tax saving is reinvested. Roth can benefit when qualified withdrawals avoid a higher future tax rate. Eligibility, fees, investment returns, and uncertainty about future taxes also matter.

IRA Contribution Limits (2026)

Traditional and Roth IRA contributions share one IRS age-based annual limit. Direct Roth eligibility and the Traditional IRA deduction can phase out by filing status, modified adjusted gross income, and workplace-plan coverage.

Can an IRA hold stocks and ETFs?

Yes. An IRA is an account rather than an investment. Depending on the custodian, it can hold individual stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, or cash. The holdings determine return and risk, while the IRA type determines federal tax treatment.

Do Traditional and Roth IRAs have separate contribution limits?

No. The annual IRA limit is shared across your Traditional and Roth IRAs. A contribution to one reduces the room available for the other.