The IRA calculator can be used to evaluate and compare Traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, Roth IRAs, and regular taxable savings. For comparison purposes, Roth IRA and regular taxable savings will be converted to after-tax values. To calculate Roth IRA with after-tax inputs, please use our Roth IRA Calculator. This calculator is mainly intended for use by U.S. residents.
• Enter your pre-tax Current balance and Annual before-tax contribution.
• Provide your Current marginal tax rate and expected Tax rate in retirement to model tax deduction vs. withdrawal effects.
• Compare 4 vehicles simultaneously: Traditional Pre-Tax, Traditional After-Tax, Roth IRA, and Regular Taxable Savings.
Inputs represent pre-tax amounts; conversions to after-tax equivalents are performed automatically.
A Traditional, SIMPLE, or SEP IRA account can accumulate $111,649 more after-tax balance than a Roth IRA account at age 65.
A Roth IRA account can accumulate $253,304 more than a regular taxable savings account.
| Comparison Row | Traditional / SEP / SIMPLE | Roth IRA | Regular Taxable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at age 65 | $1,116,489 | $837,367 | $584,063 |
| Balance at age 65 (after tax) | $949,016 | $837,367 | $584,063 |
Visual comparison of nominal pre-tax vs. net after-tax growth trajectories.
Year-by-year multi-vehicle accumulation breakdown.
| Age | Traditional / SEP (Before Tax) | Traditional / SEP (After Tax) | Roth IRA (After Tax) | Regular Taxable (After Tax) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | Start | End | Start | End | Start | End | |
| 31 | $30,000 | $39,750 | $25,500 | $33,788 | $22,500 | $29,813 | $22,500 | $29,391 |
| 32 | $39,750 | $50,085 | $33,788 | $42,572 | $29,813 | $37,564 | $29,391 | $36,591 |
| 33 | $50,085 | $61,040 | $42,572 | $51,884 | $37,564 | $45,780 | $36,591 | $44,116 |
| 34 | $61,040 | $72,653 | $51,884 | $61,755 | $45,780 | $54,489 | $44,116 | $51,979 |
| 35 | $72,653 | $84,962 | $61,755 | $72,217 | $54,489 | $63,721 | $51,979 | $60,197 |
| 36 | $84,962 | $98,009 | $72,217 | $83,308 | $63,721 | $73,507 | $60,197 | $68,784 |
| 37 | $98,009 | $111,840 | $83,308 | $95,064 | $73,507 | $83,880 | $68,784 | $77,757 |
| 38 | $111,840 | $126,500 | $95,064 | $107,525 | $83,880 | $94,875 | $77,757 | $87,134 |
| 39 | $126,500 | $142,040 | $107,525 | $120,734 | $94,875 | $106,530 | $87,134 | $96,933 |
| 40 | $142,040 | $158,513 | $120,734 | $134,736 | $106,530 | $118,885 | $96,933 | $107,173 |
| 41 | $158,513 | $175,974 | $134,736 | $149,577 | $118,885 | $131,980 | $107,173 | $117,874 |
| 42 | $175,974 | $194,482 | $149,577 | $165,310 | $131,980 | $145,861 | $117,874 | $129,057 |
| 43 | $194,482 | $214,101 | $165,310 | $181,986 | $145,861 | $160,576 | $129,057 | $140,743 |
| 44 | $214,101 | $234,897 | $181,986 | $199,662 | $160,576 | $176,173 | $140,743 | $152,954 |
| 45 | $234,897 | $256,941 | $199,662 | $218,400 | $176,173 | $192,706 | $152,954 | $165,715 |
| 46 | $256,941 | $280,307 | $218,400 | $238,261 | $192,706 | $210,230 | $165,715 | $179,050 |
| 47 | $280,307 | $305,076 | $238,261 | $259,314 | $210,230 | $228,807 | $179,050 | $192,986 |
| 48 | $305,076 | $331,330 | $259,314 | $281,631 | $228,807 | $248,498 | $192,986 | $207,548 |
| 49 | $331,330 | $359,160 | $281,631 | $305,286 | $248,498 | $269,370 | $207,548 | $222,766 |
| 50 | $359,160 | $388,660 | $305,286 | $330,361 | $269,370 | $291,495 | $222,766 | $238,669 |
| 51 | $388,660 | $419,929 | $330,361 | $356,940 | $291,495 | $314,947 | $238,669 | $255,287 |
| 52 | $419,929 | $453,075 | $356,940 | $385,114 | $314,947 | $339,806 | $255,287 | $272,653 |
| 53 | $453,075 | $488,209 | $385,114 | $414,978 | $339,806 | $366,157 | $272,653 | $290,800 |
| 54 | $488,209 | $525,452 | $414,978 | $446,634 | $366,157 | $394,089 | $290,800 | $309,765 |
| 55 | $525,452 | $564,929 | $446,634 | $480,190 | $394,089 | $423,697 | $309,765 | $329,582 |
| 56 | $564,929 | $606,775 | $480,190 | $515,759 | $423,697 | $455,081 | $329,582 | $350,291 |
| 57 | $606,775 | $651,131 | $515,759 | $553,462 | $455,081 | $488,348 | $350,291 | $371,933 |
| 58 | $651,131 | $698,149 | $553,462 | $593,427 | $488,348 | $523,612 | $371,933 | $394,548 |
| 59 | $698,149 | $747,988 | $593,427 | $635,790 | $523,612 | $560,991 | $394,548 | $418,181 |
| 60 | $747,988 | $800,817 | $635,790 | $680,695 | $560,991 | $600,613 | $418,181 | $442,877 |
| 61 | $800,817 | $856,816 | $680,695 | $728,294 | $600,613 | $642,612 | $442,877 | $468,684 |
| 62 | $856,816 | $916,175 | $728,294 | $778,749 | $642,612 | $687,132 | $468,684 | $495,653 |
| 63 | $916,175 | $979,096 | $778,749 | $832,231 | $687,132 | $734,322 | $495,653 | $523,836 |
| 64 | $979,096 | $1,045,792 | $832,231 | $888,923 | $734,322 | $784,344 | $523,836 | $553,287 |
| 65 | $1,045,792 | $1,116,489 | $888,923 | $949,016 | $784,344 | $837,367 | $553,287 | $584,063 |
Choosing between pre-tax and post-tax retirement vehicles depends primarily on your current tax bracket compared to your expected tax bracket in retirement.
Contributions are pre-tax or tax-deductible, reducing your taxable income today. Assets grow tax-deferred, and distributions in retirement are taxed as ordinary income.
Funded with post-tax earnings. All capital growth, dividends, and retirement distributions are 100% tax-free, making Roth accounts optimal if your retirement tax rate will be equal to or higher than today.
No annual contribution limits or withdrawal restrictions, but returns face annual tax drag on dividends and realized capital gains, reducing total long-term wealth.
Model post-tax contributions and statutory IRS limits.
Project employer 401(k) nest eggs and company match benefits.
Estimate marginal and effective federal/state tax liabilities.
Convert hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual compensation.