How to use the Roth IRA calculator
- 1 Enter your current age and planned retirement age.
- 2 Enter your current Roth IRA balance, if any.
- 3 Enter how much you plan to contribute each year.
- 4 Enter your expected yearly return and read the tax-free balance at retirement.
Worked example
Age 30 with $5,000 already saved, contributing $7,500 a year until 65 at a 7% return. Over 35 years you contribute $262,500. With growth, the account could reach about $1,090,160, and the $822,660 of growth comes out tax-free in retirement.
Roth IRA rules in plain English
- Income limits for 2026: the contribution limit phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified AGI for single filers and between $242,000 and $252,000 for joint filers.
- Contributions can be taken out at any time, tax-free and penalty-free. Earnings are tax-free after age 59½ once the account has been open five years.
- Deadline: you can contribute for 2026 until the tax filing deadline in April 2027.
- No required withdrawals during the owner's lifetime.
Roth makes most sense when your tax rate now is lower than you expect in retirement. Start with the match in your 401(k), then add a Roth, and check the total with the Retirement Calculator.
Features
2026 limits applied
$7,500 a year, or $8,600 from age 50 with the $1,100 catch-up.
Tax-free growth shown
See how much of the final balance is growth you will never pay tax on.
Automatic catch-up
Contributions rise to the higher limit in the year you turn 50.
When to use it
Starting early
See the difference between starting at 25 and 35. Get your match first with the 401(k) Calculator.
Roth or traditional
Estimate the tax-free pot before choosing between a Roth and a traditional IRA. Check the whole plan with the Retirement Calculator.
Maxing out
Check what contributing the full limit every year could build. Have a traditional IRA? See the RMD Calculator.
Backdoor Roth
Plan yearly amounts if you use a backdoor Roth because of the income limits. See growth with the Compound Interest Calculator.
Related Savings and Investing tasks
Frequently asked questions
What is the Roth IRA limit for 2026?
$7,500 a year, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. The limit is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs.
Who can contribute to a Roth IRA?
You need earned income, and your modified AGI must be under the limits. For 2026 the contribution phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 for single filers and between $242,000 and $252,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Are withdrawals really tax-free?
Qualified withdrawals are tax-free once you are 59½ and the account has been open at least five years. Your own contributions can be taken out at any time without tax or penalty.
What return should I assume?
Long-term stock market returns have averaged roughly 7% a year after inflation in the past, but future returns are uncertain. Try 5% and 7% to see a range.
Can I contribute more than my earnings?
No. Your contribution cannot be more than your taxable compensation for the year, even if it is below the limit.
When is the deadline?
Contributions for 2026 can be made until the tax filing deadline in April 2027.
Does the limit rise each year?
It is indexed to inflation and rises in $500 steps, so the real limit in future years is likely to be higher than the $7,500 used here.
What if I earn too much for a Roth IRA?
Many high earners use a backdoor Roth: they make a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA and then convert it to a Roth. The pro-rata rule can make part of the conversion taxable if you hold other pre-tax IRA money.
Do Roth IRAs have required withdrawals?
No. Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions during the owner's lifetime, so the money can keep growing tax-free.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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