IRA Calculator 2026

Use GlobalCalqulate’s free IRA Calculator (USA, 2026) to estimate how your retirement savings could grow in an IRA over time. Model Traditional IRA and Roth IRA scenarios, yearly contributions, expected returns, inflation-adjusted growth, and retirement value. Compare contribution strategies, see total contributions vs earnings, and plan alongside Social Security and 401(k) savings.

Last revised 6 September 2026

By Team GlobalCalqulate · About our editorial standards

IRA Investment Inputs

Current IRA Balance

Annual Contribution

Expected Annual Return

Years Until Retirement

IRA Type & Tax Treatment

IRA Type

Your Expected Tax Rate in Retirement

Your Marginal Tax Rate Today

Inflation Adjustment

Expected Inflation Rate

How this estimate was calculated

Roth contributions are made from income you have already paid tax on, so a qualified withdrawal after age 59½ (and five years from your first Roth contribution) is entirely tax-free. The balance shown is what you can spend.
Contributions are modelled as end-of-year deposits, which is slightly conservative against contributing in January. The return is applied as a constant annual rate; real markets are not constant.

Financial Disclaimer: This result is an educational estimate produced by applying published rates and thresholds to the figures you entered. It is not a tax determination: your actual liability depends on circumstances this calculator does not collect. Confirm your position with the relevant tax authority or a qualified accountant before acting on it. Full disclaimer.

Sources & methodology

Reference:: Internal Revenue Service
Rates for:: 2026
Figures verified:: August 2026 — checked against the primary source above
Scheduled re-verification:: December 2026

Calculation type: Projection from your assumptions. Uses 2026 rates and thresholds. Figures are taken from Internal Revenue Service — see sources below.

Reviewed by Team GlobalCalqulate — Verifies each figure against the issuing authority's published source · Checked 3 August 2026

Your entries stay on this device. This calculator runs entirely in your browser — the figures you type are not sent to us or to anyone else. The page itself uses cookies for analytics and advertising, described in the privacy policy.

Formula & methodology

Limitations

Contribution and catch-up limits are indexed and change; projections assume the limits shown persist across the whole period, which they will not.
Assumes a constant annual return. Real returns vary, and sequence of returns matters near retirement.
Traditional IRA deductibility phases out with income when you or a spouse have a workplace plan, and Roth eligibility phases out too. Those phase-outs are not applied to future years.
Required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA are not modelled in the accumulation projection.
Fees and fund expenses are not deducted.
Early-withdrawal penalties, the Roth five-year rule and conversion rules are not modelled.
A projection of one scenario, not advice on which account to use.

This page is educational. It projects a future value from assumptions you choose, and a projection is not a forecast: real returns vary year to year, and the rules, limits and rates used here can change before the period modelled ends. Treat the output as one scenario among many, not a prediction of what you will have.

Sources & references

Notice 2025-67 — 2026 amounts relating to retirement plans and IRAs — Internal Revenue Service
401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 — Internal Revenue Service
COLA increases for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions — Internal Revenue Service

Financial Disclaimer: This calculator projects Traditional IRA growth and tax impact using a fixed assumed return rate and current contribution limits; it does not account for income-based deduction phase-outs, market volatility, investment fees, or future changes to tax law. Actual results will vary based on market performance and your eligibility. This tool is for planning purposes only and is not financial or tax advice — consult a qualified financial advisor or tax professional. Full disclaimer.

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Understanding Traditional and Roth IRAs

Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA: Tax Treatment During Accumulation & Distribution

Traditional IRA: Contributions may be tax-deductible in the year made if income-eligible (single <$77K, married <$123K for 2026). All earnings grow tax-deferred. At withdrawal, entire amount (contributions + earnings) taxed as ordinary income. RMDs required at age 73. Roth IRA: Contributions made with after-tax dollars (no deduction), all growth is tax-free. Withdrawals of contributions & earnings are tax-free if qualified (59.5+ & 5-year holding). No RMDs during owner's lifetime. Decision: Use Traditional if (a) want tax deduction today, (b) expect lower tax bracket in retirement, (c) have high income now. Use Roth if (a) expect higher taxes later, (b) want tax-free withdrawals, (c) have decades of compounding ahead. Tax bracket analysis crucial: 24% today vs 32% expected retirement = Roth better.

IRA Contribution Limits, Income Phase-Outs & Catch-Up Contributions

IRA contribution limits for 2026: $7,500 under age 50, and $8,600 at age 50 or over once the $1,100 catch-up is added. That limit is shared across all your IRAs combined, not allowed per account, and it is also capped at your taxable compensation for the year. Deductibility of a TRADITIONAL IRA contribution phases out only if you are covered by a workplace retirement plan: single filers phase out between $81,000 and $91,000 of MAGI, and married filing jointly between $129,000 and $149,000. With no plan at work there is no phase-out at all. Roth IRA eligibility phases out separately, between $153,000 and $168,000 for single and head-of-household filers and between $242,000 and $252,000 for married filing jointly. Many couples split their saving: the higher earner maxes the 401(k) at $24,500, the other maxes an IRA at $7,500. Example: a 55-year-old can contribute $8,600 to an IRA plus $32,500 to a 401(k) (the $24,500 deferral plus the $8,000 catch-up) = $41,100 of tax-advantaged retirement saving in one year.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) & Tax Implications

Traditional IRAs and 401ks require RMDs starting at age 73 (formerly 72, changed by SECURE Act). RMD calculation: Account balance at end of prior year ÷ IRS life expectancy factor. Example: $800K IRA at age 75 ÷ 22.9 factor = $34,934 RMD. This is ORDINARY INCOME tax. RMDs must be taken by December 31 yearly (first RMD can be delayed to April 1 of following year, but only for age 73+). Roth IRAs have NO RMDs during owner's lifetime (huge advantage). Failure to take RMD = 25% penalty on amount not withdrawn (2024+, previously 50%). Strategy: Multiple IRAs can aggregate RMDs (i.e., take RMD from one; amount counts toward all). Can't use non-IRA accounts for RMD.

Conversion Strategies: Traditional IRA to Roth & Tax-Deferred to Roth

Converting Traditional IRA to Roth means rolling balance to Roth, paying ordinary income tax on amount converted. Why convert? Lock in current tax rates before higher future rates, eliminate RMDs, create tax-free growth, simplify estate (Roth tax-free for heirs). Example: $100K Traditional IRA converted in year with $50K income (22% bracket) = $22K tax owed, but $100K then grows tax-free. Pro-rata rule complicates conversions: Any existing Traditional/SEP/SIMPLE IRA balance counts toward taxable amount. If $100K Traditional + $20K non-deductible contributions, converting $50K = $40K taxable (80% ratio). High-income earners use backdoor Roth: contribute $7,500 to Traditional, immediately convert to Roth. Only fine if pro-rata balance exists (which it shouldn't). Mega backdoor Roth via 401k: Some employers allow large after-tax contributions ($69K limit 2026) with immediate Roth conversion.

IRA Investment Choices & Diversification Strategy

IRAs can invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate (via SDIRA), precious metals (within limits). Traditional brokerage IRAs offer unlimited diversification. Self-Directed IRAs (SDIRAs) allow real estate, private equity, notes, metals (with custodian fees $500-2K/year). Common mistake: Keeping IRAs in cash/money market earning 0.5% inflation-beating 3% inflation = losing 2.5% annually. Proper strategy: IRAs holding 30-40 years should be growth-focused (80-100% stocks) with rebalancing. IRAs for near-retirees (5-10 years to RMD) = balanced 60/40 stocks/bonds. Investment risk: If IRA crashes 50%, you've lost $500K tax-deferred growth not tax-deferred loss (losses don't reduce taxes; only for non-IRA accounts). Contribution limits mean every dollar is precious; invest wisely.

IRA Distributions Before 59.5: Exceptions & Penalties

IRA withdrawals before age 59.5 typically trigger 10% early withdrawal penalty + ordinary income tax (Traditional) or penalty on earnings (Roth—contributions always withdraw penalty-free). Exceptions to 10% penalty: (1) Disability / death, (2) Medical expenses >7.5% AGI, (3) Health insurance (if unemployed), (4) Substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP / Rule 72t), (5) First-time home buyer up to $10K lifetime, (6) Education expenses, (7) 529 plan rollovers $35K limit. SEPP is complex: Determines fixed withdrawal amount yearly until age 59.5 (minimum 5 years), violations trigger retroactive penalties. Example: 50-year-old with $500K IRA can take $14K/year via SEPP until 59.5 (9 years), funding early retirement. Roth advantage: Can withdraw contributions anytime penalty-free (not earnings). Backdoor Roth lets you build accessible pool of contributions for emergencies.

Help & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to common questions to help you use this calculator confidently.

How does GlobalCalqulate's IRA Calculator work?

Tap to view the answer

The calculator uses the information you enter, such as current balance, annual contribution, expected return, and years to retirement, to project growth. It applies standard compound growth calculations commonly used in the United States. Outputs are indicative and may vary from actual results.

Is Roth IRA better than Traditional IRA for most people?

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Not always. A Roth IRA can be better if you expect higher tax rates later or want tax-free withdrawals. A Traditional IRA can be better if you want a tax deduction today. Use this IRA calculator with multiple scenarios to compare outcomes.

Are IRA contribution limits included in the calculations?

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The calculator does not automatically enforce annual IRS contribution limits. Users should ensure their inputs align with current IRS rules for their age group. Results are meant for planning.

Can I max out both a 401(k) and an IRA?

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Yes, depending on income and eligibility, you may be able to contribute to both. Many retirement strategies combine 401(k) savings (especially employer match) with IRA contributions for long-term growth.

Can I use this IRA calculator for rollovers?

Tap to view the answer

Yes. If you rolled over an old 401(k) into an IRA, you can treat the rollover amount as your starting balance and project long-term growth using this tool.

Need more help? Contact support or email globalcalqulate@gmail.com

We typically reply within 24–48 hours.

How this IRA calculator works

This tool projects Traditional IRA growth using annual contribution limits, tax-deferred compounding, and estimated tax impact at withdrawal. It also compares Traditional versus Roth IRA outcomes based on current and expected future tax rates.

Apply 2026 IRA contribution limits: $7,500 (under 50) or $8,600 (50+, once the $1,100 catch-up is added) per year.
Traditional IRA contributions reduce taxable income now; withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
Compound the balance year by year at the expected annual return.
At the projected retirement date, apply a withdrawal tax rate to show after-tax value versus a Roth IRA's tax-free balance.

IRA income limits, deductibility rules and RMD requirements apply. Consult a financial adviser for personalised retirement planning.

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How to Use This Calculator

Pick the account type you are actually comparing

Roth and Traditional grow identically — the difference is entirely about when the tax is paid, so this choice changes the spendable answer, not the balance.

Enter your current balance and yearly contribution

The 2026 limit is $7,500 across all your IRAs combined, or $8,600 from age 50 with the catch-up. The calculator flags a contribution above that rather than silently projecting an illegal one.

Set an expected return and how long you have

Contributions are modelled as end-of-year deposits, so the projection is slightly conservative against contributing every January.

Enter the tax rate you expect in retirement

This is the field that separates the two accounts. A Traditional IRA is taxed on withdrawal at your ordinary income rate; a Roth is not taxed at all on a qualified withdrawal.

Read the after-tax figure, not the balance

A Traditional balance is pre-tax and overstates what you can spend. The headline result is what is left after the tax due on withdrawal.

Understanding Your Results

Qualified withdrawal
A Roth distribution taken after age 59½ from an account open at least five tax years. Only a qualified withdrawal is entirely tax-free; an unqualified one can be taxed and penalised on the earnings.
Modified AGI (MAGI)
Adjusted gross income with certain deductions added back. It is the figure the IRS uses to decide whether you may contribute to a Roth IRA and whether a Traditional contribution is deductible.
Catch-up contribution
An extra $1,100 (2026) you may contribute from the year you turn 50, on top of the $7,500 standard limit.
Required minimum distribution (RMD)
The minimum you must withdraw each year from a Traditional IRA from age 73. Roth IRAs have none during the owner's lifetime.
Marginal tax rate
The rate on your next dollar of income — the rate a deduction saves you today, and the one an IRA withdrawal will be taxed at later. It is higher than your average rate.
Backdoor Roth
A non-deductible Traditional contribution converted to a Roth, used by earners above the Roth phase-out. The pro-rata rule taxes the conversion across all your Traditional IRA balances, so it is rarely clean if you already hold pre-tax IRA money.

Key Tips

✓
Capture a full employer 401(k) match before funding an IRA: the match is an immediate return no IRA can offer.
✓
Contribute early in the tax year rather than at the deadline. Twelve extra months of growth, repeated over a career, is worth more than most fund-selection decisions.
✓
Compare the after-tax figures, not the balances. A Traditional IRA showing a larger number than a Roth may still leave you with less to spend.
✓
You have until the April tax-filing deadline to make a contribution for the previous year, so a missed year is not always lost.
✓
Fees compound against you exactly as returns compound for you, and this projection deducts none. Subtract your fund's expense ratio from the expected return to see the honest number.

Traditional vs Roth: what actually differs

The two accounts grow identically — only the tax timing differs

Put the same money in a Traditional and a Roth IRA, earn the same return for the same years, and both hold exactly the same balance at the end. Nothing about the investment differs. What differs is which side of that growth the IRS takes its share from. A Traditional contribution is generally deductible now, so you skip tax on the way in and pay ordinary income tax on every dollar you take out, contributions and growth alike. A Roth contribution comes out of income you have already paid tax on, and a qualified withdrawal is not taxed at all. That is why a Traditional balance and a Roth balance of the same size are not worth the same amount.

The rule of thumb, and where it breaks

If your tax rate in retirement will be lower than it is today, the Traditional deduction is worth more than the Roth exemption, and vice versa. That comparison assumes you actually invest the Traditional deduction rather than spending it — if the refund funds a holiday, the Roth wins by default. It also assumes you can predict your retirement bracket decades out, which nobody can. Holding some of each is the common response to that uncertainty, and it gives you something to draw on tax-free in a year when an extra taxable withdrawal would push you into a higher bracket.

Contribution limits are per person, not per account

For 2026 you may contribute $7,500 across all of your IRAs combined, plus a $1,100 catch-up from the year you turn 50. Opening a second IRA does not give you a second limit. Contributions are also capped at your taxable compensation for the year, so you cannot contribute more than you earned. A spouse with little or no income can still be funded through a spousal IRA against the working partner's earnings.

Eligibility phases out, and the two accounts phase out differently

Roth contributions phase out entirely above a modified AGI threshold. The Traditional deduction phases out too, but only if you or your spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan — without that coverage the deduction survives at any income. A high earner shut out of a direct Roth contribution can often still make a non-deductible Traditional contribution. These phase-outs are not modelled in the projection above; check your own MAGI before assuming the deduction this calculator values is one you can claim.

Withdrawal rules you are planning around

Both accounts charge a 10% penalty on top of ordinary tax for withdrawals before age 59½, with a short list of exceptions. A Roth adds a five-year rule: the account must have been open five tax years before the earnings come out tax-free, which is why opening one early has value even with a token contribution. A Traditional IRA forces required minimum distributions from age 73, so the government eventually collects whether you need the money or not. A Roth IRA has no RMDs during the owner's lifetime, which is the reason it is often left untouched as the last account to be drawn.

What the inflation-adjusted line is telling you

A seven-figure balance thirty years out is not seven figures of today's purchasing power. The calculator deflates the after-tax figure by your assumed inflation rate so you can see the result in money you can price things in. Deflating the pre-tax balance instead would flatter a Traditional IRA twice over — once by ignoring the tax and once by ignoring inflation.

Formula & methodology

Limitations

Contribution and catch-up limits are indexed and change; projections assume the limits shown persist across the whole period, which they will not.
Assumes a constant annual return. Real returns vary, and sequence of returns matters near retirement.
Traditional IRA deductibility phases out with income when you or a spouse have a workplace plan, and Roth eligibility phases out too. Those phase-outs are not applied to future years.
Required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA are not modelled in the accumulation projection.
Fees and fund expenses are not deducted.
Early-withdrawal penalties, the Roth five-year rule and conversion rules are not modelled.
A projection of one scenario, not advice on which account to use.

Calculator inputs

IRA Investment Inputs

IRA Type & Tax Treatment

Inflation Adjustment

Your results

Sources & methodology

Formula & methodology

Limitations

Sources & references

Understanding Traditional and Roth IRAs

Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA: Tax Treatment During Accumulation & Distribution

IRA Contribution Limits, Income Phase-Outs & Catch-Up Contributions

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) & Tax Implications

Conversion Strategies: Traditional IRA to Roth & Tax-Deferred to Roth

IRA Investment Choices & Diversification Strategy

IRA Distributions Before 59.5: Exceptions & Penalties

How does GlobalCalqulate's IRA Calculator work?

Is Roth IRA better than Traditional IRA for most people?

Are IRA contribution limits included in the calculations?

Can I max out both a 401(k) and an IRA?

Can I use this IRA calculator for rollovers?

How this IRA calculator works

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More United States calculators

Popular US Calculators

Calculator inputs

IRA Investment Inputs

IRA Type & Tax Treatment

Inflation Adjustment

Your results

Sources & methodology

How to Use This Calculator

Same money, two accounts: a 30-year comparison

Understanding Your Results

Key Tips

Traditional vs Roth: what actually differs

The two accounts grow identically — only the tax timing differs

The rule of thumb, and where it breaks

Contribution limits are per person, not per account

Eligibility phases out, and the two accounts phase out differently

Withdrawal rules you are planning around

What the inflation-adjusted line is telling you

Formula & methodology

Limitations

Sources & references

How to Use This Calculator

Same money, two accounts: a 30-year comparison

Understanding Your Results

Key Tips

Traditional vs Roth: what actually differs

The two accounts grow identically — only the tax timing differs

The rule of thumb, and where it breaks

Contribution limits are per person, not per account

Eligibility phases out, and the two accounts phase out differently

Withdrawal rules you are planning around

What the inflation-adjusted line is telling you