Roth vs Traditional IRA
Determine whether a Roth or Traditional IRA wins for your tax situation with a side-by-side after-tax comparison.
Roth vs Traditional IRA Calculator
Determine whether a Roth or Traditional IRA wins for your situation based on your current and expected future tax rates.
Roth IRA
$754,773
After-tax value at retirement
Gross account value: $754,773
Tax on withdrawal: $0
Annual after-tax contribution: $5,460
Traditional IRAWINNER ✓
$822,509
After-tax value at retirement
Gross account value: $967,658
Tax at withdrawal: $145,149
Annual tax saving now: $1,540
Traditional wins by $67,736 after 35 years. Your current tax rate (22%) makes the Traditional deduction more valuable. You save $53,900 in taxes over 35 years.
After-tax value comparison
| Year | Roth (after-tax) | Traditional (after-tax) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 10 | $75,438 | $82,208 | -$6,770 Trad |
| Year 20 | $223,835 | $243,923 | -$20,088 Trad |
| Year 30 | $515,756 | $562,042 | -$46,286 Trad |
| Year 35 | $754,773 | $822,509 | -$67,736 Trad |
Learn The Concept
Go beyond the answer
Use the calculator for the result, then read the guide if you want the underlying rule, worked examples, and common mistakes.
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