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Enter your tax rate now and expected tax rate in retirement. We'll show you which account puts more money in your pocket — backed by the actual math.
2026 IRA limit: $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+)
This is the key variable. Use your marginal bracket now and expected effective rate in retirement.
Most people underestimate retirement tax rate due to RMDs and Social Security taxation.
Enter your details and click Compare IRAs to see the side-by-side math
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Disclaimer: Results are estimates for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment, mortgage, or major financial decisions.
The calculator compares after-tax retirement balances for both account types. For a Traditional IRA: contributions reduce your taxable income now (saving taxes at your current marginal rate), the balance grows tax-deferred, and withdrawals are taxed at your retirement tax rate. For a Roth IRA: you contribute after-tax dollars, the balance grows completely tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The math hinges on one question: will your tax rate be higher now or in retirement?
Roth vs Traditional: The Key Math
Roth wins when
Tax rate higher in retirement
pay lower rate now
Traditional wins when
Tax rate lower in retirement
pay lower rate later
Equal outcome if
Same tax rate both periods
choose Roth for flexibility
Beyond tax math, Roth IRAs have two significant advantages: no Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) during your lifetime, and contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn anytime tax and penalty-free. These make Roth accounts more flexible for estate planning and early retirement. When in doubt, tax diversification — contributing to both — hedges against future tax law changes.
It depends on your current vs. future tax rate. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, Roth wins. If your tax rate will be lower in retirement, Traditional wins. When rates are equal, the outcome is mathematically identical.
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,000 per year ($8,000 if age 50 or older). This limit applies to the total across all your IRAs — you cannot contribute $7,000 to both a Roth and a Traditional IRA.
Yes, you can contribute to both — but the combined annual contribution cannot exceed the $7,000 limit. Having both provides tax diversification, letting you draw from each account strategically in retirement to minimize your tax rate.
In 2026, Roth IRA contributions phase out for single filers between $150,000–$165,000 and for married couples between $236,000–$246,000. Above these limits, use the backdoor Roth strategy.
Traditional IRA contributions are tax-deductible if you (or your spouse) do not have a workplace retirement plan, or if your income is below certain thresholds. In 2026, deductibility phases out for single filers with workplace plans between $79,000–$89,000.
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