Roth IRA Calculator — Check Eligibility, Compare & Project Growth
Use this free Roth IRA Calculator to check your eligibility and contribution limits, compare a Roth vs. Traditional IRA, and project your account growth. Ad-free and entirely private — all calculations run in your browser.
Eligibility & Contribution Limit
Enter your details to find out the maximum you can contribute to a Roth IRA for the 2026 tax year.
You are eligible to contribute the full amount. Your maximum Roth IRA contribution is $7,500 for the 2026 tax year.
Educational purposes only. This tool is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. It provides projections based on the assumptions you enter and publicly available IRS contribution limits. Consult a licensed financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.
Methodology
How contribution limits work, how the Roth vs. Traditional comparison is calculated, and the assumptions behind this tool.
1 Contribution Limits & MAGI Phase-Outs
The IRS sets an annual limit on how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA. For the 2026 tax year, the base limit is $7,500. If you are age 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,100 catch-up, for a total of $8,600.
However, your ability to contribute phases out based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). The phase-out ranges for 2026 are:
| Filing Status | Phase-Out Begins | Phase-Out Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $154,000 | $169,500 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $242,500 | $253,000 |
| Married Filing Separately | $0 | $10,000 |
If your MAGI falls within the phase-out range, your maximum contribution is prorated. If it is at or above the top of the range, you cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA (though a backdoor Roth conversion may still be available).
Max Contribution = Max Limit × (Top of Range − MAGI) ÷ Range Size
2 Roth vs. Traditional: Tax Treatment
The fundamental difference between a Roth and a Traditional IRA is when you pay taxes:
- Roth IRA: You contribute after-tax dollars. The money grows tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free. No taxes on gains, ever.
- Traditional IRA: Contributions may be tax-deductible (reducing your current taxable income). The money grows tax-deferred, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income.
The tool projects the after-tax value at retirement for both options using your inputs. It assumes your current marginal tax rate applies to Traditional deductions, and your expected retirement tax rate applies to Traditional withdrawals.
3 Growth Projection
The growth projection uses annual compounding with recurring contributions — the same compound-growth formula used in the Compound Interest Calculator:
This is a simplified straight-line projection that assumes a constant annual return. It does not model volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, or varying contribution amounts. For a probabilistic view of investment growth, consider the Monte Carlo simulation in the FIRE Planner.
Sources & Last Updated
Contribution limits and MAGI phase-out ranges change annually. Each source is linked to its primary IRS publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Roth IRA eligibility, contribution limits, tax advantages, and how this calculator works.
What is a Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account that offers tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, meaning you pay taxes on the money before contributing. Unlike a Traditional IRA, qualified withdrawals—including all investment earnings—are completely tax-free, provided the account has been open for at least five years and you are age 59½ or older. This makes a Roth IRA one of the most powerful retirement savings tools available for long-term wealth building.
Who is eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA?
Anyone with earned income can contribute to a Roth IRA, provided their Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) falls below the IRS phase-out range for their filing status. For the 2026 tax year, single filers with MAGI under $154,000 can contribute the full amount. Married filing jointly filers with MAGI under $242,500 qualify for the full contribution. Contributions are phased out above these thresholds and fully eliminated once MAGI reaches the upper end of the range ($169,500 for single, $253,000 for MFJ).
What are the Roth IRA income limits?
The Roth IRA income limits, also known as MAGI phase-out ranges, determine how much you can contribute based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income. For 2026, single and head of household filers can contribute the full amount if their MAGI is under $154,000, with a phase-out range of $154,000 to $169,500. Married couples filing jointly have a full contribution limit under $242,500 MAGI, with phase-out up to $253,000. Married filing separately filers face a $0 to $10,000 phase-out range. Use this Roth IRA Calculator to check your eligibility based on your specific filing status and income.
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA?
For the 2026 tax year, the maximum Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500 for individuals under age 50. If you are age 50 or older, you can make an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution, bringing the total to $8,500. This limit applies across all of your IRAs combined. If you have both a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, your total contributions to both accounts cannot exceed the annual limit. Use the Roth IRA Contribution Calculator above to model your specific situation.
What is the difference between a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA?
The key difference lies in when you receive the tax benefit. A Roth IRA accepts after-tax contributions, so you pay taxes now but all qualified withdrawals—including earnings—are tax-free. A Traditional IRA offers a tax deduction on contributions today, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. Roth IRAs have no Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) during the owners lifetime, while Traditional IRAs require RMDs starting at age 73. Use the Roth vs Traditional IRA Calculator to compare outcomes based on your tax situation.
Are Roth IRA withdrawals tax-free?
Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are completely tax-free. To qualify, you must meet two conditions: the account must have been open for at least five tax years, and you must be at least age 59½. You can withdraw your direct contributions (but not earnings) at any time, for any reason, without taxes or penalties since those funds were already taxed. Non-qualified withdrawals of earnings may be subject to both income taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. This tax-free growth feature makes the Roth IRA a powerful retirement savings vehicle.
Should I choose a Roth IRA or a Traditional IRA?
Your choice depends on your current tax rate versus your expected tax rate in retirement. A Roth IRA is advantageous if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you retire, as locking in today's lower rate saves you money. A Traditional IRA is better if you expect lower income in retirement and want the upfront tax deduction now. Other factors include whether you need the flexibility of penalty-free contribution withdrawals (Roth) or prefer the lower current taxable income (Traditional). Many investors use both to diversify their tax exposure in retirement.
What happens if I contribute too much to a Roth IRA?
Excess Roth IRA contributions are subject to a 6% excise tax for each year the excess remains in the account. If you overcontribute, you should withdraw the excess amount plus any attributable earnings before the tax filing deadline (including extensions) to avoid the penalty. The earnings portion of the withdrawal is treated as taxable income and may be subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Always verify your eligibility and contribution limits using a Roth IRA Calculator before making contributions to avoid costly mistakes.
Is my data stored or shared?
No. This Roth IRA Calculator runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. All calculations are performed locally — no data is sent to any server, stored, tracked, or shared with third parties. You can refresh the page or close your browser window, and all entered information is permanently cleared. Your financial data never leaves your device.
Is this calculator financial advice?
No. This Roth IRA Calculator is for educational and illustrative purposes only. It provides projections based on the assumptions you enter and publicly available IRS contribution limits and MAGI phase-out ranges. It is not financial advice, tax advice, or a guarantee of future outcomes. Always consult a licensed financial advisor, tax professional, or CPA for guidance specific to your financial situation, retirement goals, and tax planning needs.
What Is a Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account that offers tax-free growth and tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement. Unlike a Traditional IRA, contributions are made with after-tax dollars — you pay income tax on the money before it goes into the account. In exchange, all investment earnings grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals (including those earnings) are completely tax-free. Established by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and named after Senator William Roth, the Roth IRA has become one of the most popular retirement savings vehicles in the United States. Use this Roth IRA Growth Calculator to see how tax-free compounding can build your retirement nest egg.
Roth IRA Eligibility & Contribution Limits
Roth IRA eligibility depends on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and tax filing status. The IRS sets annual contribution limits and MAGI phase-out ranges that determine both how much you can contribute and whether you can contribute at all. For the 2026 tax year, the maximum Roth IRA contribution is $7,500 (or $8,500 for those age 50 and older with catch-up contributions). The Roth IRA income limits phase out contributions for single filers between $154,000 and $169,500 MAGI, and for married couples filing jointly between $242,500 and $253,000 MAGI. Use the Roth IRA Contribution Calculator above to check your exact limits based on your income and filing status. Sources: IRS IRA Contribution Limits and Investor.gov Roth IRAs.
Roth vs. Traditional IRA: Key Differences
The fundamental difference between a Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA is when you receive the tax benefit. A Traditional IRA provides an upfront tax deduction on contributions, reducing your taxable income today, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. A Roth IRA offers no upfront deduction, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are entirely tax-free — including decades of investment growth. Additional differences include Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): Traditional IRAs require you to start taking RMDs at age 73, while Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner's lifetime. Use the Roth vs Traditional IRA Calculator to compare outcomes side by side based on your current tax rate and expected retirement income. For those considering conversions, our Roth Conversion Calculator can help model multi-year conversion strategies.
Tax diversification is another key consideration. Holding both Traditional and Roth accounts gives you flexibility in retirement to manage your taxable income. By withdrawing from taxable Traditional accounts up to the top of a low tax bracket and using tax-free Roth withdrawals for the rest, you can optimize your effective tax rate in every year of retirement. This strategy is a cornerstone of sophisticated retirement planning and works well alongside tools like the FIRE Planner for comprehensive retirement projections. For more context on how Roth accounts fit into broader retirement strategies, resources from Fidelity and Vanguard offer detailed comparisons.
Tax Advantages & Retirement Benefits of a Roth IRA
The Roth IRA's tax advantages make it a powerful tool for long-term retirement planning. Contributions grow tax-free, and qualified distributions are not counted as taxable income — which means they won't push you into a higher tax bracket or increase your Medicare premiums. Roth IRAs also offer exceptional flexibility: contributions (but not earnings) can be withdrawn at any time for any reason, without taxes or penalties, making the account useful as an emergency fund backstop. Use our IRA Retirement Calculator to project how tax-free growth affects your retirement timeline. For comprehensive retirement projections that incorporate Social Security, pensions, and investment accounts, try the FIRE Planner. To understand how Roth savings complement employer-sponsored plans, see the 401(k) Planner for contribution optimization and employer match analysis.
Unlike Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, Roth IRAs have no Required Minimum Distributions during the owner's lifetime. This allows your investments to continue growing tax-free for as long as you live — an enormous advantage for retirees who don't need the income and want to preserve wealth for heirs. Beneficiaries who inherit a Roth IRA also receive favorable tax treatment compared to inherited Traditional accounts. The power of tax-free compounding is best visualized with a dedicated Roth IRA Investment Calculator that shows how decades of tax-free growth compound versus taxable alternatives. For modeling the growth of other savings vehicles, the Compound Interest Calculator and HSA Calculator offer additional projections for taxable and health savings accounts.
Common Roth IRA Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced investors make mistakes with Roth IRAs. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them using our Roth IRA Calculator Online:
- Exceeding income limits. If your MAGI exceeds the phase-out range for your filing status, you cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA. Always check the Roth IRA income limits using the Roth IRA Eligibility Calculator before contributing.
- Overcontributing. The annual contribution limit applies across all your IRAs — if you also have a Traditional IRA, the combined total cannot exceed $7,500 (or $8,500 with catch-up). Excess contributions incur a 6% excise tax each year they remain in the account.
- Withdrawing earnings early. While you can withdraw contributions anytime, withdrawing earnings before age 59½ and the 5-year holding period triggers both income taxes and a 10% penalty.
- Neglecting the backdoor Roth IRA. If your income exceeds direct contribution limits, a backdoor Roth IRA strategy — contributing to a Traditional IRA then converting — may still allow you to fund a Roth. Our Roth Conversion Calculator can help model this approach.
- Not maximizing early. The earlier you contribute, the more time your money has to grow tax-free. Even small early contributions can compound to significant amounts over decades. Track your overall financial picture with the Net Worth Tracker to see how your retirement accounts fit into your complete financial portfolio.
Schwab's Roth IRA guide and Fidelity's Roth IRA resources provide additional guidance on contribution rules and strategies.
How to Use This Roth IRA Calculator
This Roth IRA Calculator Online provides three core functions. First, the eligibility check compares your MAGI and filing status against current IRS phase-out ranges to confirm you can contribute. Second, the Roth vs. Traditional comparison models the future after-tax value of each account type based on your current and expected retirement tax rates. Third, the growth projection shows how your contributions compound over time with tax-free growth. All calculations use current IRS limits and MAGI phase-out thresholds for the 2026 tax year as published by the IRS. For comprehensive retirement modeling that incorporates your Roth IRA alongside other accounts, Social Security, and withdrawal strategies, explore the FIRE Planner and Withdrawal Rate Explorer.