IRA Calculator 2026 — Traditional vs. Roth (Side-by-Side Comparison)

Compare Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA side-by-side with 2026 IRS contribution limits ($7,000 base, $8,000 age 50+). Free, instant, and accurate.

✓ Formula verified: January 2026For informational purposes only

IRA Calculator

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Enter Values

Current Age*

years

Target Retirement Age*

years

Current IRA Balance (Total)Enter your combined Traditional + Roth IRA balance, or 0 if starting fresh.

Annual Contribution (2026 Limit: $7,000, +$1,000 if 50+)*2026 IRS combined limit: $7,000 (under 50), $8,000 (age 50+). Applies to Traditional + Roth combined.

Expected Annual Return*Historical S&P 500 average: ~10% nominal, ~7% after inflation.

Current Marginal Tax Rate*Your highest federal tax bracket. Used to calculate the Traditional IRA upfront tax deduction.

Expected Effective Tax Rate in RetirementThe effective tax rate you expect to pay on Traditional IRA withdrawals in retirement. This is the key variable in the Roth vs. Traditional decision.

Roth IRA — Tax-Free Balance

$1.22M

Traditional IRA — After 12% Withdrawal Tax

$1.08M

Recommended: Roth

▲ Roth wins by $146,785

Traditional IRA — Gross Balance (Before Tax)

$1.22M

Roth IRA — Tax-Free Investment Growth

▲ $963,207

Breakeven Retirement Tax Rate

0.0%

Total Contributions (Current + Annual × Years)

$260,000

What if your current age changes? 27 years → $1.53M · 30 years → $1.22M · 33 years → $973,226

Scenario Comparison

Conservative (5%)

$16,470.09

$6,470.09 interest

Your scenario (7%)

$20,096.61

$10,096.61 interest

Aggressive (10%)

$27,070.41

$17,070.41 interest

High-risk (14%)

$40,224.71

$30,224.71 interest

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Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA — Side-by-Side

Roth IRA (After-Tax)

$1.22M

100% tax-free withdrawal

Traditional IRA (After-Tax)

$1.08M

After 12% withdrawal tax

Roth Wins By

$146,785

Tax-free growth advantage

Breakeven Retirement Tax Rate

12.0%

If your retirement rate is below this → Traditional wins

Balance Growth Over Time

Roth IRA (Tax-Free)

Traditional IRA (After 12% Tax)

Decision Insight

Your current marginal tax rate is 10% and you estimate 12% in retirement. Since you are in a lower bracket now than in retirement, a Roth IRA likely makes sense — pay 10% now, withdraw tax-free at 12%.

If your effective retirement tax rate is below 12.0%, Traditional wins. Above that, Roth wins. Estimate your retirement rate based on how much you plan to withdraw annually.

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