IRA Calculator
Compare a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA and a taxable account at retirement, before and after tax.
Change the values and press Calculate to work out your own figures.
Enter your balance, yearly contribution, return and tax rates.
| Age | Traditional | Traditional after tax | Roth | Taxable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $39,300.00 | $33,405.00 | $29,475.00 | $29,137.50 |
| 31 | $49,158.00 | $41,784.30 | $36,868.50 | $36,073.69 |
| 32 | $59,607.48 | $50,666.36 | $44,705.61 | $43,322.00 |
| 33 | $70,683.93 | $60,081.34 | $53,012.95 | $50,896.49 |
| 34 | $82,424.96 | $70,061.22 | $61,818.72 | $58,811.84 |
| 35 | $94,870.46 | $80,639.89 | $71,152.85 | $67,083.37 |
| 36 | $108,062.69 | $91,853.29 | $81,047.02 | $75,727.12 |
| 37 | $122,046.45 | $103,739.48 | $91,534.84 | $84,759.84 |
| 38 | $136,869.24 | $116,338.85 | $102,651.93 | $94,199.03 |
| 39 | $152,581.39 | $129,694.18 | $114,436.04 | $104,062.99 |
| 40 | $169,236.28 | $143,850.84 | $126,927.21 | $114,370.82 |
| 41 | $186,890.45 | $158,856.89 | $140,167.84 | $125,142.51 |
| 42 | $205,603.88 | $174,763.30 | $154,202.91 | $136,398.92 |
| 43 | $225,440.11 | $191,624.10 | $169,080.08 | $148,161.88 |
| 44 | $246,466.52 | $209,496.54 | $184,849.89 | $160,454.16 |
| 45 | $268,754.51 | $228,441.33 | $201,565.88 | $173,299.60 |
| 46 | $292,379.78 | $248,522.81 | $219,284.84 | $186,723.08 |
| 47 | $317,422.57 | $269,809.18 | $238,066.93 | $200,750.62 |
| 48 | $343,967.92 | $292,372.73 | $257,975.94 | $215,409.40 |
| 49 | $372,106.00 | $316,290.10 | $279,079.50 | $230,727.82 |
| 50 | $401,932.36 | $341,642.50 | $301,449.27 | $246,735.57 |
| 51 | $433,548.30 | $368,516.05 | $325,161.22 | $263,463.67 |
| 52 | $467,061.20 | $397,002.02 | $350,295.90 | $280,944.54 |
| 53 | $502,584.87 | $427,197.14 | $376,938.65 | $299,212.04 |
| 54 | $540,239.96 | $459,203.97 | $405,179.97 | $318,301.58 |
| 55 | $580,154.36 | $493,131.21 | $435,115.77 | $338,250.15 |
| 56 | $622,463.62 | $529,094.08 | $466,847.72 | $359,096.41 |
| 57 | $667,311.44 | $567,214.72 | $500,483.58 | $380,880.75 |
| 58 | $714,850.12 | $607,622.61 | $536,137.59 | $403,645.38 |
| 59 | $765,241.13 | $650,454.96 | $573,930.85 | $427,434.42 |
| 60 | $818,655.60 | $695,857.26 | $613,991.70 | $452,293.97 |
| 61 | $875,274.94 | $743,983.70 | $656,456.20 | $478,272.20 |
| 62 | $935,291.43 | $794,997.72 | $701,468.57 | $505,419.45 |
| 63 | $998,908.92 | $849,072.58 | $749,181.69 | $533,788.33 |
| 64 | $1,066,343.45 | $906,391.93 | $799,757.59 | $563,433.80 |
Show the working
- traditional = balance × (1 + r) + contribution; taxed at withdrawal
- Roth = balance × (1 + r) + contribution × (1 − tax now)
- taxable = balance × (1 + r(1 − tax now)) + contribution × (1 − tax now)
How to use it
Enter your balance, yearly contribution, return and tax rates.
Enter amounts without commas or with them; rates are percentages (5 for 5%). Negative amounts are allowed where a sign means money paid out.
Key facts
traditional = balance × (1 + r) + contribution; after tax × (1 − rate later) Roth = balance × (1 + r) + contribution × (1 − rate now) taxable = balance × (1 + r × (1 − rate now)) + contribution × (1 − rate now)
Which wins
A traditional IRA comes out ahead when your tax rate in retirement is lower than now; a Roth when it is higher.
Questions
Is a Roth or traditional IRA better?
It depends on your tax rate now versus in retirement.
Formulas
traditional = balance × (1 + r) + contribution; after tax × (1 − rate later) Roth = balance × (1 + r) + contribution × (1 − rate now) taxable = balance × (1 + r × (1 − rate now)) + contribution × (1 − rate now)
Sources
Limitations
- Results are estimates for planning, not offers or financial advice; lenders and banks may round, count days or time payments differently.
- Rates are nominal annual rates compounded as you choose; payments at a different frequency use the equivalent periodic rate.