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Roth IRA calculator

A Roth IRA is one of the most popular ways to save for retirement, and it offers some big tax advantages, including the ability to withdraw your money tax-free in retirement. Traditional IRAs offer a tax deduction in the present (if you qualify), while Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars. Use this Roth IRA calculator to see how much you could save using a Roth IRA.

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Roth IRA calculator definitions

Starting balance: The current balance of your Roth IRA.

Annual contributions: The amount you will contribute to a Roth IRA each year, whether that’s one account or more. This calculator assumes that you make your contribution at the beginning of each year. There are Roth IRA contribution and income limits that apply each year.

  • In 2026, you can contribute up to $7,500 ($8,600 if you're 50 or older).
  • In 2025, you can contribute up to $7,000 ($8,000 if you're 50 or older).

Some Roth IRA rules to keep in mind:

  • You must have earned income to contribute to a Roth IRA or traditional IRA.
  • You can't contribute more than your earned income; that is, the maximum annual contribution is the lower of your earned income or the contribution limits noted above.
  • If you contribute to both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA in the same year, your combined contributions can't exceed the above limits. 
  • People with higher incomes can’t contribute directly to a Roth IRA but may be able to use a backdoor Roth IRA

 

Age of retirement: Age you wish to retire. This calculator assumes that in the year you retire, you don't make any contributions to your IRA. For example, if you retire at age 65, your last contribution is assumed to have happened when you were 64.

Expected rate of return: The annual rate of return for your IRA. This calculator assumes that your return is compounded annually and your contributions are made at the beginning of each year. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. 

Marginal tax rate: The marginal tax rate you expect to pay on your taxable investments. Use our federal income tax rates and tax brackets page to find your marginal tax rate. (Note: The estimates above for taxable accounts assume that all investment returns are taxed as income or short-term capital gains, which are taxed at ordinary income tax rates.)

Maximize contributions: Check this box to contribute the maximum allowed to your account each year. This includes the additional catch-up contribution available when you're age 50 or over.