Roth IRA Calculator
Project your Roth IRA growth using the real Tax year 2026 contribution limit ($7,500, $8,600 if you're 50+) and income phase-out, compared side by side with a comparable taxable account — so you can see the tax-free advantage over time.
$7,500 max Roth IRA contribution/yr
Base limit $7,500.
At age 65: Roth balance (100% tax-free withdrawal) $1,090,159 vs. a comparable taxable account $864,718 — a $225,442 tax-free advantage.
Year-by-year projection
| Year | Age | Contributed to date | Roth balance | Taxable balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | $7,500 | $12,850 | $12,798 |
| 2 | 32 | $15,000 | $21,250 | $21,059 |
| 3 | 33 | $22,500 | $30,237 | $29,812 |
| 4 | 34 | $30,000 | $39,854 | $39,086 |
| 5 | 35 | $37,500 | $50,143 | $48,911 |
| 6 | 36 | $45,000 | $61,153 | $59,322 |
| 7 | 37 | $52,500 | $72,934 | $70,351 |
| 8 | 38 | $60,000 | $85,539 | $82,037 |
| 9 | 39 | $67,500 | $99,027 | $94,418 |
| 10 | 40 | $75,000 | $113,459 | $107,536 |
| 11 | 41 | $82,500 | $128,901 | $121,435 |
| 12 | 42 | $90,000 | $145,424 | $136,160 |
| 13 | 43 | $97,500 | $163,104 | $151,762 |
| 14 | 44 | $105,000 | $182,021 | $168,291 |
| 15 | 45 | $112,500 | $202,263 | $185,805 |
| 16 | 46 | $120,000 | $223,921 | $204,360 |
| 17 | 47 | $127,500 | $247,096 | $224,019 |
| 18 | 48 | $135,000 | $271,892 | $244,849 |
| 19 | 49 | $142,500 | $298,425 | $266,917 |
| 20 | 50 | $150,000 | $326,815 | $290,299 |
| 21 | 51 | $157,500 | $357,192 | $315,071 |
| 22 | 52 | $165,000 | $389,695 | $341,318 |
| 23 | 53 | $172,500 | $424,474 | $369,127 |
| 24 | 54 | $180,000 | $461,687 | $398,590 |
| 25 | 55 | $187,500 | $501,505 | $429,806 |
| 26 | 56 | $195,000 | $544,110 | $462,879 |
| 27 | 57 | $202,500 | $589,698 | $497,921 |
| 28 | 58 | $210,000 | $638,477 | $535,047 |
| 29 | 59 | $217,500 | $690,670 | $574,382 |
| 30 | 60 | $225,000 | $746,517 | $616,058 |
| 31 | 61 | $232,500 | $806,273 | $660,213 |
| 32 | 62 | $240,000 | $870,213 | $706,996 |
| 33 | 63 | $247,500 | $938,627 | $756,562 |
| 34 | 64 | $255,000 | $1,011,831 | $809,078 |
| 35 | 65 | $262,500 | $1,090,159 | $864,718 |
2026 IRA limits: $7,500 ($8,600 age 50+); Roth MAGI phase-out $153,000–$168,000 (single/HoH), $242,000–$252,000 (married filing jointly) — IRS, retrieved 2026-07-17. Taxable-account comparison applies a simplified annual tax drag to approximate real-world tax friction; it is not a full tax calculation. Educational estimate, not tax or investment advice. How we calculate →
2026 Roth IRA contribution limits
For Tax year 2026, the IRA contribution limit is $7,500 for those under 50, and $8,600 (base plus a $1,100 catch-up) for those 50 and older, per the IRS. This limit applies across all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined, not per account — the calculator automatically applies your age-based limit before running any growth projection.
Roth IRA income (MAGI) phase-out for 2026
Eligibility to contribute directly to a Roth IRA phases out at higher incomes. For 2026, the phase-out range is $153,000–$168,000 of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for single filers and heads of household, and $242,000–$252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Inside the range, your allowed contribution shrinks proportionally (rounded up to the nearest $10, with a $200 floor as long as any contribution is allowed); above the top of the range, direct Roth contributions aren't allowed at all that year. Married filing separately has a much narrower phase-out (essentially $0–$10,000 if you lived with your spouse during the year) since it isn't inflation-adjusted.
Why tax-free withdrawal is the whole point
Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars — you don't get a deduction going in — but qualified withdrawals in retirement (after age 59½ and the account being open 5+ years) are completely tax-free, including all the investment growth. A taxable brokerage account, by contrast, owes tax on dividends, interest and realized gains along the way, which quietly erodes compounding every year. The calculator models this with a simplified annual "tax drag" percentage applied to the taxable comparison account, so you can see the gap between the two side by side — it's an approximation of real-world tax friction, not a full tax return calculation.
How the growth projection works
Starting from your current balance, the calculator adds your allowed annual contribution at the end of each year and compounds both the Roth and the taxable comparison account at your expected return — with the taxable account's return reduced by the drag percentage you set. Over enough years, even a modest annual drag compounds into a large gap, which is exactly why tax-advantaged accounts like a Roth IRA typically outperform an equivalent taxable account holding the same investments.
What this calculator doesn't model
This is an educational estimate: it doesn't account for contribution limits changing in future years, required minimum distributions (Roth IRAs have none for the original owner), backdoor Roth conversions for high earners above the phase-out, state tax treatment, or the 5-year holding rule edge cases. It also doesn't replace a full tax projection — the taxable-account comparison uses a single simplified drag rate rather than your actual marginal tax bracket and asset mix. Talk to a qualified financial or tax advisor before making contribution decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2026?
$7,500 for those under 50, and $8,600 (including the $1,100 catch-up) for those 50 and older, per the IRS.
What are the 2026 Roth IRA income limits?
The MAGI phase-out is $153,000-$168,000 for single filers and heads of household, and $242,000-$252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Above the top of the range, you can't contribute directly to a Roth IRA that year.
Are Roth IRA withdrawals really tax-free?
Qualified withdrawals are — meaning you're at least 59½ and the account has been open at least 5 years. That includes all investment growth, not just your contributions, which is the core advantage over a taxable account.
What happens if my income is in the phase-out range?
Your allowed contribution is reduced proportionally between the lower and upper limits of the range (rounded up to the nearest $10, with a $200 floor). The calculator computes this automatically once you enter your MAGI and filing status.
How much more will a Roth IRA grow compared to a taxable account?
It depends on your return assumption and how much annual tax drag the taxable account experiences from dividends and realized gains — the calculator's growth chart shows both side by side using the numbers you enter, with the gap widening the longer the money compounds.
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA above the income limit?
Not directly — but many high earners use a "backdoor Roth" (contributing to a traditional IRA, then converting to Roth) instead. That has its own tax rules and isn't modeled by this calculator; consult a tax advisor.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →