IRA Calculator

Project how a traditional IRA grows tax-deferred, what is left after tax at withdrawal, and how that compares with investing the same pre-tax money in a taxable account.

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Traditional IRA after tax at retirement$568,035.56

Account type (sets the 2026 limit check)

Current balance

0 – 1000000000000

Annual contribution

$ / year

0 – 1000000000000

Current age

years

0 – 100

Retirement age

years

1 – 110

Expected annual return

% per year

-50 – 50

Current marginal tax rate

The deduction you get now; also the tax paid on money put into the taxable account.

Tax rate on withdrawals in retirement

0 – 99

Yearly tax rate on taxable-account returns

Blend of dividend, interest and realized-gain rates you expect to pay each year.

Traditional IRA after tax at retirement

$568,035.56

IRA balance before tax$668,277.13
Tax at withdrawal$100,241.57
Taxable account instead$438,422.99
Tax-deferral advantage$129,612.57
Total contributions$210,000.00
2026 contribution limit for your age$7,500.00

Year-end balances
Year	Age	Traditional IRA (pre-tax)	Taxable account (after tax)
1	36	$28,200.00	$21,855.60
2	37	$36,892.00	$28,430.24
3	38	$46,105.52	$35,340.18
4	39	$55,871.85	$42,602.53
5	40	$66,224.16	$50,235.26
6	41	$77,197.61	$58,257.25
7	42	$88,829.47	$66,688.37
8	43	$101,159.24	$75,549.48
9	44	$114,228.79	$84,862.50
10	45	$128,082.52	$94,650.49
11	46	$142,767.47	$104,937.67
12	47	$158,333.52	$115,749.49
13	48	$174,833.53	$127,112.71
14	49	$192,323.54	$139,055.46
15	50	$210,862.95	$151,607.29
16	51	$230,514.73	$164,799.26
17	52	$251,345.61	$178,664.02
18	53	$273,426.35	$193,235.89
19	54	$296,831.93	$208,550.92
20	55	$321,641.85	$224,647.01
21	56	$347,940.36	$241,564.01
22	57	$375,816.78	$259,343.78
23	58	$405,365.79	$278,030.31
24	59	$436,687.73	$297,669.86
25	60	$469,889.00	$318,311.02
26	61	$505,082.34	$340,004.88
27	62	$542,387.28	$362,805.13
28	63	$581,930.52	$386,768.19
29	64	$623,846.35	$411,953.37
30	65	$668,277.13	$438,422.99

2026 IRS limits: IRA $7,500 ($8,600 at 50+), capped at taxable compensation and shared with Roth IRAs; SEP the lesser of 25% of compensation or $72,000; SIMPLE deferrals $17,000 plus a $4,000 catch-up at 50+ ($5,250 at ages 60–63). Limits are indexed, so later years may differ. The deduction may be limited if you or a spouse has a workplace plan. Assumes a constant return, year-end contributions, a lump withdrawal taxed at one rate, and no early-withdrawal penalty or required minimum distributions. An estimate, not tax advice.

How this was calculated

IRA: FV = B(1 + r)^n + C × [(1 + r)^n − 1] ÷ r = 20,000 × 5.743491173 + 7,000 × 79.05818622 = 668,277.13 after 30 years.

After tax at withdrawal: 668,277.13 × (1 − 15%) = 568,035.56.

Taxable account: contributions after 22% tax = 5,460.00 a year, growing at 6% × (1 − 15%) = 5.1% → 438,422.99.

Advantage = 568,035.56 − 438,422.99 = 129,612.57.

How the projection works

The IRA balance grows as B(1 + r)^n + C × [(1 + r)^n − 1] ÷ r, with contribution C at the end of each year and return r. At retirement, the whole balance is taxed at the withdrawal rate you enter.

The taxable account gets the same contribution after today's income tax, C × (1 − current rate), and its returns are taxed every year, so it grows at r × (1 − tax rate on returns). The difference between the two after-tax totals is the value of tax deferral under your assumptions.

Worked example

Starting with 20,000 and adding 7,000 a year for 30 years at 6%, the IRA reaches 20,000 × 5.743491 + 7,000 × 79.058186 = 668,277.13. After 15% tax at withdrawal, 568,035.56 is left. Paying 22% tax first and 15% a year on returns, a taxable account reaches 438,422.99, so deferral is worth about 129,613 here.

2026 contribution limits

Limits are indexed each year and apply to the year shown. For 2026 the IRS lists:

2026 limits (IRS)
Account	Limit	Age-based extra
Traditional + Roth IRA (combined)	$7,500, or taxable compensation if less	+$1,100 at 50+ ($8,600)
SEP IRA (employer)	Lesser of 25% of compensation or $72,000	None
SIMPLE IRA (employee deferral)	$17,000	+$4,000 at 50+; +$5,250 at 60–63

How to use the IRA Calculator

Enter your balance, contribution and tax rates.

Choose the account type
Traditional, SEP or SIMPLE sets the 2026 limit check.
Enter balance and contributions
Current balance and what you add each year.
Set return and tax rates
Expected return, today's marginal rate, rate in retirement and the yearly rate on taxable returns.
Compare
Read the after-tax IRA value, the taxable alternative and the year-by-year table.

References

Retirement topics — IRA contribution limits — Internal Revenue Service
SEP contribution limits (including grandfathered SARSEPs) — Internal Revenue Service
Retirement topics — SIMPLE IRA contribution limits — Internal Revenue Service
Publication 590-A, Contributions to IRAs — Internal Revenue Service

Frequently asked questions

Is my traditional IRA contribution deductible?

Usually, but the deduction phases out at higher incomes if you or your spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan. See IRS Publication 590-A; this tool assumes the full contribution is deductible.

Should I pick a traditional or Roth IRA?

If you expect a lower tax rate in retirement than today, a traditional IRA tends to win; if higher, a Roth. Compare with the Roth IRA calculator using the same return.

Does this include required minimum distributions?

No. It values the account at retirement as if withdrawn and taxed at one rate. Use the RMD calculator for yearly required withdrawals.

Last updated September 25, 2026. Results are estimates for informational purposes only.