Roth IRA Calculator
- Updated
- Formula shown
- Free, no sign-up
Results
Contributing $7,500 a year from 30 to 65 could grow to $885,906 in a Roth IRA, $159,033 more than $726,873 in a taxable account
- Roth IRA
- $885,906
- Taxable account
- $726,873
- Contributions
- $262,500
| Age at year end | Contribution | Roth IRA | Taxable account | Tax that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | $7,500 | $7,950 | $7,883 | $67.50 |
| 32 | $7,500 | $16,377 | $16,167 | $138 |
| 33 | $7,500 | $25,310 | $24,874 | $213 |
| 34 | $7,500 | $34,778 | $34,025 | $291 |
| 35 | $7,500 | $44,815 | $43,643 | $374 |
| 36 | $7,500 | $55,454 | $53,751 | $460 |
| 37 | $7,500 | $66,731 | $64,375 | $551 |
| 38 | $7,500 | $78,685 | $75,541 | $647 |
| 39 | $7,500 | $91,356 | $87,276 | $747 |
| 40 | $7,500 | $104,787 | $99,609 | $853 |
2026 Roth IRA income limit for single or head of household: the contribution allowed shrinks with modified AGI from $153,000 and reaches zero at $168,000 (IRS IR-2025-111).
Roth growth is tax-free on qualified withdrawals: generally after age 59½ and once the account is five years old. The return is an assumption, and the taxable account uses a simple yearly tax on growth.
How to use the Roth IRA calculator
- Enter your age, the age you plan to retire and any money already in your Roth IRA.
- Enter how much you will contribute each year. The calculator caps it at $7,500 ($8,600 from the year you turn 50), the 2026 limit shared by all your IRAs.
- Enter an assumed return and the tax rate you would pay each year on growth in a taxable brokerage account.
- Choose your filing status to see the 2026 income range in which your allowed contribution phases out.
Roth IRA growth formula
Taxableyear end = (Taxable + C) × (1 + R × (1 − t))
C = min(your contribution, IRA limit for your age)
C is the contribution made at the start of each year, R the assumed yearly return and t the tax rate on each year's growth in the taxable account. Roth contributions are made with money you have already paid tax on, so the fair comparison is the same after-tax dollars in a taxable account. Inside the Roth, nothing more is taxed if withdrawals are qualified. In the taxable account, part of every year's growth goes to tax and stops compounding. Real taxable accounts are often taxed less each year, because unrealized gains are taxed only when you sell, so treat t as an average drag.
2026 Roth IRA limits
| Filing status | Full contribution if MAGI is below | No contribution at or above |
|---|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $153,000 | $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 |
| Married filing separately (lived with spouse) | $0.00 | $10,000 |
The contribution limit is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you are 50 or older, and cannot exceed your taxable compensation. Between the two income figures the amount you may contribute shrinks gradually. Source: IRS News Release IR-2025-111, tax year 2026, checked October 19, 2026.
Worked example
You are 30 and contribute the full $7,500 at the start of every year until 65, at an assumed 6% return. You put in $262,500 in all.
- The Roth IRA grows to $885,906, all of it tax-free in retirement if the rules are met.
- The same money in a taxable account, with 15% tax on each year's growth, reaches $726,873, $159,033 less. The tax paid along the way is $81,948; the rest of the gap is the growth that tax money would have earned.
- Starting at 40 instead gives $436,173 in the Roth: ten fewer years cut the result by 51%.
Roth vs taxable by years of saving
$7,500 a year from age 25, 6% return, 15% tax on taxable growth.
| Years | Paid in | Roth IRA | Taxable account | Roth advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $75,000 | $104,787 | $99,609 | 5.2% |
| 20 | $150,000 | $292,445 | $263,414 | 11% |
| 30 | $225,000 | $628,513 | $532,787 | 18% |
| 40 | $300,000 | $1,230,358 | $975,764 | 26.1% |
The advantage grows with time, because tax-free compounding has longer to work.
Roth IRA tips
- Contributions can come out; earnings have rules. You can withdraw what you contributed at any time. Earnings are tax- and penalty-free once you are 59½ and the account is five years old, with some exceptions.
- No required minimum distributions. Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner's lifetime, unlike traditional IRAs.
- Roth or traditional? Roth tends to win if your tax rate in retirement will be the same or higher than now. Compare both in the IRA calculator.
- Fees still matter. The return here is after fund fees; the mutual fund calculator shows their long-run cost. For the full plan, use the retirement calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
Up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older by the end of the year (a $1,100 catch-up), but no more than your taxable compensation. The limit is shared with any traditional IRA, and it shrinks or disappears at higher incomes.
What are the 2026 Roth IRA income limits?
The allowed contribution phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified AGI for single filers and heads of household, and between $242,000 and $252,000 for married couples filing jointly. For married filing separately (living together) the range is $0 to $10,000.
How much will my Roth IRA be worth?
As an illustration, $7,500 at the start of each year from 30 to 65 at an assumed 6% return grows to about $885,906 from $262,500 of contributions. The same money in a taxable account, taxed at 15% on each year’s growth, would reach about $726,873.
Why compare a Roth IRA with a taxable account?
Both are funded with money you have already paid income tax on. The difference is what happens to the growth: in a Roth it is tax-free on qualified withdrawals, while in a taxable account dividends, interest and realized gains are taxed as you go, which slows compounding.
When can I withdraw from a Roth IRA tax-free?
Your contributions can be withdrawn at any time. Earnings are tax- and penalty-free in a qualified distribution, generally once you are 59½ and at least five years have passed since your first Roth IRA contribution, with exceptions such as disability.