This calculator estimates the balances of Roth IRA savings and compares them with a regular taxable account. It is mainly intended for use by U.S. residents. For calculations or more information concerning other types of IRAs, please visit our IRA Calculator.
• Enter your Current balance, Annual contribution, expected annual Rate of return, and target Retirement age.
• Toggle Maximize contributions to automatically enforce statutory annual IRS caps with catch-up contributions ($7k under 50, $8k for age 50+).
• Specify your Marginal tax rate to contrast 100% tax-free Roth growth against annual investment earnings drag in a standard taxable brokerage account.
Model your current balance, contribution limits, timeline, and tax rate.
| Metric | Roth IRA | Taxable account |
|---|---|---|
| Balance at age 65 | $1,116,489 | $778,750 |
| Total principal | $292,500 | $292,500 |
| Total interest | $823,989 | $486,250 |
| Total tax | $0 | $162,083 |
Long-term comparative wealth growth trajectories by investor age.
Year-by-year starting balances, contributions, tax deductions, and ending totals.
| Age | Principal | Roth IRA | Taxable account | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | Start | End | Start | End | |
| 31 | $30,000 | $37,500 | $30,000 | $39,750 | $30,000 | $39,188 |
| 32 | $37,500 | $45,000 | $39,750 | $50,085 | $39,188 | $48,788 |
| 33 | $45,000 | $52,500 | $50,085 | $61,040 | $48,788 | $58,821 |
| 34 | $52,500 | $60,000 | $61,040 | $72,653 | $58,821 | $69,306 |
| 35 | $60,000 | $67,500 | $72,653 | $84,962 | $69,306 | $80,262 |
| 36 | $67,500 | $75,000 | $84,962 | $98,009 | $80,262 | $91,711 |
| 37 | $75,000 | $82,500 | $98,009 | $111,840 | $91,711 | $103,676 |
| 38 | $82,500 | $90,000 | $111,840 | $126,500 | $103,676 | $116,179 |
| 39 | $90,000 | $97,500 | $126,500 | $142,040 | $116,179 | $129,244 |
| 40 | $97,500 | $105,000 | $142,040 | $158,513 | $129,244 | $142,898 |
| 41 | $105,000 | $112,500 | $158,513 | $175,974 | $142,898 | $157,166 |
| 42 | $112,500 | $120,000 | $175,974 | $194,482 | $157,166 | $172,076 |
| 43 | $120,000 | $127,500 | $194,482 | $214,101 | $172,076 | $187,657 |
| 44 | $127,500 | $135,000 | $214,101 | $234,897 | $187,657 | $203,939 |
| 45 | $135,000 | $142,500 | $234,897 | $256,941 | $203,939 | $220,953 |
| 46 | $142,500 | $150,000 | $256,941 | $280,307 | $220,953 | $238,734 |
| 47 | $150,000 | $157,500 | $280,307 | $305,076 | $238,734 | $257,314 |
| 48 | $157,500 | $165,000 | $305,076 | $331,330 | $257,314 | $276,731 |
| 49 | $165,000 | $172,500 | $331,330 | $359,160 | $276,731 | $297,021 |
| 50 | $172,500 | $180,000 | $359,160 | $388,660 | $297,021 | $318,225 |
| 51 | $180,000 | $187,500 | $388,660 | $419,929 | $318,225 | $340,383 |
| 52 | $187,500 | $195,000 | $419,929 | $453,075 | $340,383 | $363,537 |
| 53 | $195,000 | $202,500 | $453,075 | $488,209 | $363,537 | $387,734 |
| 54 | $202,500 | $210,000 | $488,209 | $525,452 | $387,734 | $413,019 |
| 55 | $210,000 | $217,500 | $525,452 | $564,929 | $413,019 | $439,443 |
| 56 | $217,500 | $225,000 | $564,929 | $606,775 | $439,443 | $467,055 |
| 57 | $225,000 | $232,500 | $606,775 | $651,131 | $467,055 | $495,910 |
| 58 | $232,500 | $240,000 | $651,131 | $698,149 | $495,910 | $526,064 |
| 59 | $240,000 | $247,500 | $698,149 | $747,988 | $526,064 | $557,574 |
| 60 | $247,500 | $255,000 | $747,988 | $800,817 | $557,574 | $590,502 |
| 61 | $255,000 | $262,500 | $800,817 | $856,816 | $590,502 | $624,913 |
| 62 | $262,500 | $270,000 | $856,816 | $916,175 | $624,913 | $660,871 |
| 63 | $270,000 | $277,500 | $916,175 | $979,096 | $660,871 | $698,448 |
| 64 | $277,500 | $285,000 | $979,096 | $1,045,792 | $698,448 | $737,715 |
| 65 | $285,000 | $292,500 | $1,045,792 | $1,116,489 | $737,715 | $778,750 |
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account funded with after-tax dollars. Because you pay taxes upfront, all future capital gains, dividends, and interest compound completely tax-free and can be withdrawn 100% tax-free in retirement.
In a taxable account, taxes on dividends and capital gains drag down your annual compounding growth rate. In a Roth IRA, 100% of your earnings stay invested to generate further returns.
For 2024–2026, the annual statutory limit is $7,000 for individuals under age 50, and $8,000 for individuals age 50 and older (including the $1,000 catch-up contribution).
Unlike Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, Roth IRAs do not have Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) during the original owner's lifetime, allowing wealth to compound undisturbed.
Calculate traditional IRA growth and upfront tax deduction benefits.
Evaluate whether converting a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is financially beneficial.
Estimate future 401(k) nest eggs including employer matching and salary increases.