Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA

An IRA can be an effective retirement tool. There are two basic types of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA): the Roth IRA and the Traditional IRA. Use this tool to determine which IRA may be right for you. Please note, that this calculator should not be used for Roth 401(k) comparisons.
By changing any value in the following form fields, calculated values are immediately provided for displayed output values. Click the view report button to see all of your results.



Financial Calculators from
Dinkytown.net

Financial Calculators ©1998-2020 KJE Computer Solutions, Inc.









KJEFontHeading KJETitleExtra
*indicates required.
Age, income and retirement information:
Total contributions:
0
Increase future contributions to the maximum allowed
**FIG_GRAPHTITLE** Column Graph: Please view the report to see detailed calculation results in tabular form.
Totals At Retirement
**FIG_GRAPHTITLE** Line Graph: Please view the report to see detailed calculation results in tabular form.

Definitions

Current age

This current age of the account owner must 72 or less for this calculator. Although it is possible to make contributions to an IRA at any age when you have eligible income, this calculator does not take Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) into account, which begin at age 72 (or 70 1/2 if you were born before 7/1/1949) and is not designed for individuals that are required to make these distributions.

Annual contribution

The amount you will contribute to an IRA each year. This calculator assumes that you make your contribution at the beginning of each year. For 2020 the maximum annual IRA contribution of $6,000 is an unchanged from 2019. It is important to note that this is the maximum total contributed to all of your IRA accounts. The contribution limit increases with inflation in $500 increments. An annual change to the contribution limit only occurs if the cumulative effect of inflation since the last adjustment is $500 or more.

If you are 50 or older you can make an additional 'catch-up' contribution of $1,000. The 'catch-up' contribution amount of $1,000 remains unchanged for 2020. In order to qualify for the 'catch-up' contribution, you must turn 50 by the end of the year in which you are making the contribution.

Roth IRA contributions are limited for higher incomes. If your income falls in a 'phase-out' range you are allowed only a prorated Roth IRA contribution. If your income exceeds the phase-out range, you do not qualify for any Roth IRA contribution. The table below summarizes the income 'phase-out' ranges for Roth IRAs.

Roth IRA 2020 Contribution Phaseout
Tax Filing StatusIncome Phase-Out Range
Married filing jointly or head of household$196,000 to $206,000
Single$124,000 - $139,000
Married filing separately$0 - $10,000

For the purposes of this calculator, we assume you are not "Married filing separately" and contributing to a Roth IRA.

Starting in 2010 high income individuals have the option to make non-deductible traditional IRA contributions and then immediately convert them to a Roth IRA. This can effectively eliminate the income phase-out for Roth IRA contributions. This option for Roth IRA contributions may or may not be available in later years depending on future changes to the IRA law. This calculator assumes that you will not be taking advantage of this option.

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. The Standard & Poor's 500® (S&P 500®) for the 10 years ending December 31st 2019, had an annual compounded rate of return of 13.2%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1, 1970 to December 31st 2019, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500®, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.7% (source: www.standardandpoors.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a financial institution may pay as little as 0.25% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.

It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return does not reflect sales charges and other fees that investment funds and/or investment companies may charge.

Age at retirement

Age you wish to retire. This calculator assumes that the year you retire, you do not make any contributions to your IRA. For example, if you retire at age 65, your last contribution occurs when you are actually 64.

Current tax rate

The current marginal income tax rate you expect to pay on your taxable investments.

Retirement tax rate

The marginal tax rate you expect to pay on your investments at retirement.

Adjusted gross income

Your adjusted gross income from your tax return. This is used to determine whether or not your annual contributions might be tax-deductible.

Married

Check the box if you are married. This is used to determine whether or not your annual contributions are tax-deductible.

For the purposes of this calculator, we assume you are not "Married filing separately".

Employer plan

Check the box if you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or pension. This is used to determine whether or not your annual contributions might be tax-deductible.

Maximize contributions

Check this box if you plan to contribute the maximum amount allowed to your account each year. This includes the additional catch-up contribution available when you are age 50 or over.

Total non-deductible contributions

The total of your traditional IRA contributions that were made without a tax deduction. Traditional IRA contributions are often tax-deductible. However, if you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan at work, such as a 401(k), your tax deduction is limited based on your income. This calculator automatically determines if your tax deduction is limited by your income.

2020 Traditional IRA Deduction Phase-Out Ranges
Tax Filing StatusIncome Phase-Out Range
Married filing jointly$104,000 - $124,000
Single, Head of Household or Married Filing Separately (and have not lived with spouse for last year)*$65,000 - $75,000
Married filing separately*$0 - $10,000
Married filing jointly (spouse has employer plan, IRA owner does not)**$196,000 - $206,000

*For the purposes of this calculator, we assume you are not "Married filing separately".

**This calculator does not account for the special situation where your spouse has an employer-sponsored retirement plan but you do not.

Total contributions

The total amount contributed to your IRA.

IRA total after taxes

For the Roth IRA, this is the total value of the account. For the traditional IRA, this is the sum of two parts: 1) The value of the account after you pay income taxes on all earnings and tax-deductible contributions and 2) additional earnings from the re-invested tax savings.

Please note that for distributions to include earnings that are tax free the Roth IRA must be opened for 5 tax years. Eligible tax-free distributions include those taken for death or disability, after age 59-1/2, or for a first-time home purchase.

Please consult with a tax professional regarding IRA eligibility, tax deductions and your specific situation.



Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.