☰

Roth vs. Traditional IRA Calculator

Compare estimated after-tax retirement values using editable contribution, return, and marginal-tax assumptions.

This simplified comparison assumes deductible traditional contributions and qualified Roth distributions. Actual eligibility and taxation depend on income, filing status, workplace coverage, state law, and other IRS rules.

Your inputs

22% is a planning default. Replace it with your bracket.
5% is a planning estimate. Look up your state's IRA treatment.
Default: 2026 federal IRA limit before age-based catch-up. Verify eligibility and the current tax-year limit.

Your result

Enter your information and select Calculate to see the result.

How to use the IRA comparison calculator

Enter the requested values, review the units, and select Calculate. The result updates only after every input passes validation.

Both accounts receive the same end-of-year contribution and growth assumption. The traditional balance is reduced by the entered retirement marginal rates; qualified Roth value is shown without that reduction. Current-rate inputs estimate only the traditional contribution's first-year tax savings.

Worked example

With a $7,500 annual contribution for 10 years and no growth, both accounts hold $75,000 before withdrawal taxes; a combined 27% retirement rate reduces the simplified traditional value to $54,750.

Limitations

Equal contributions do not represent equal take-home cost, and the model omits income phaseouts, nondeductible basis, credits, early withdrawals, required distributions, and law changes.

This calculator provides an educational estimate and does not replace advice from a qualified financial or tax professional.