Roth IRA Calculator
Calculate Roth IRA growth and check your 2026 contribution eligibility by income. See tax-free balance at retirement using the current $7,500 IRS limit.
Enter Your Details
Adjust values to see instant results
Additional Details
Tax-Free Balance at Retirement
Estimated • Based on your inputs
Tax-Free Growth
$867,807.00
Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
How This Calculator Works
Calculation methodology and assumptions
Projects Roth IRA growth using annual compounding of contributions (capped at the lesser of your input and your IRS-allowed maximum) at your expected return. Roth IRA contribution limits for 2026 are $7,500 ($8,600 if 50+), phased out entirely above the IRS income limit for your filing status. Because qualified Roth withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, no retirement tax rate is applied.
How to Use This Investment & Retirement Calculator
- 1
Fill in Current Age, Retirement Age and Current Roth IRA Balance
Current Age starts at 30; Retirement Age starts at 65; Current Roth IRA Balance starts at $15,000. Replace each one with your own figure.
- 2
Fill in Planned Annual Contribution, Expected Annual Return and Filing Status (1=Single/HoH, 2=Married Joint, 3=Married Separate)
Planned Annual Contribution starts at $7,000; Expected Annual Return starts at 7%; Filing Status (1=Single/HoH, 2=Married Joint, 3=Married Separate) starts at 1. Replace each one with your own figure.
- 3
Fill in Modified AGI (MAGI)
Modified AGI (MAGI) starts at $90,000. Replace it with your own figure.
- 4
Read the results
The calculator leads with Tax-Free Balance at Retirement and Tax-Free Growth, followed by 3 supporting figures.
Example Calculation
What the calculator above returns before you change anything: a single filer aged 30 with $90,000 of modified AGI, $15,000 already in the IRA, $7,000 added each year for 35 years at a 7% return.
At $90,000 the single filer is below the 2026 phase-out, which starts at $153,000, so the full $7,500 limit is open. Each year the balance grows 7% and then takes the contribution: $245,000 paid in becomes $1,127,807 at 65, so $867,807 is growth on top of the starting $15,000.
Result: Roth IRA at 65: $1,127,807. A qualified distribution from a Roth IRA is not taxed (26 U.S.C. 408A(d)(1)), so the balance is not reduced for tax.
What Affects Your Results
Rate of Return
Even small differences compound massively over time. 7% vs. 8% over 30 years on $100K means a difference of $200K+. Asset allocation drives your expected return.
Time Horizon
Compounding accelerates exponentially. Most of your wealth is generated in the final years — a 30-year investment earns more in its last 5 years than its first 15.
Contribution Consistency
Regular monthly investments (dollar-cost averaging) smooth out market volatility and ensure you're always buying — including during dips when prices are low.
Fees & Expenses
A 1% annual fee vs. 0.1% fee on a $500K portfolio costs you $4,500/year extra. Over 30 years, high fees can consume 25–30% of potential returns. Use low-cost index funds.
Tips & Best Practices
- Start early. Thanks to compounding, $200/month invested from age 25 to 65 at 8% returns grows to ~$700K. Waiting until 35 cuts that to ~$300K — a $400K penalty for the 10-year delay.
- Don't try to time the market. Research consistently shows that time in the market beats timing the market. Missing the 10 best trading days over 20 years can halve your returns.
- Consider tax-advantaged accounts first: 401(k) (especially with employer match), IRA, HSA. These reduce your tax drag — a 25% tax bracket investor keeps more in a tax-deferred account.
- Rebalance annually. If stocks outperform and grow from 80% to 90% of your portfolio, rebalancing back to 80% locks in gains and manages risk.
- Factor in your state's tax treatment of investment income. Some states exempt certain investment income or have lower rates on capital gains.
StateCalc Team
Editorial Team
The StateCalc team builds financial calculators using data from official government sources including the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, and state revenue departments. All formulas are validated by an automated test suite and cross-referenced against published data.
Our editorial standardsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2026?
The Roth IRA limit for 2026 is $7,500 (or $8,600 if you're 50 or older), same as the Traditional IRA limit — the two share a combined annual limit if you contribute to both.
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
For 2026, the ability to contribute directly to a Roth IRA phases out between $153,000-$168,000 of modified AGI for single filers and heads of household, and between $242,000-$252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Above the top of the range, direct contributions aren't allowed (a "backdoor Roth" conversion is a separate strategy).
Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA — which is better?
Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars but grow and withdraw completely tax-free in retirement — generally favorable if you expect to be in the same or a higher tax bracket later. Traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible now, but withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income — generally favorable if you expect a lower tax bracket in retirement. Use our Traditional IRA Calculator to compare.
People Also Calculate
Frequently used together with this calculator