How to use this Roth IRA calculator
- Enter your age and retirement age. Use the age you reach by December 31, because the higher limit applies from the year you reach 50.
- Enter your yearly contribution and current balance. The amount stays the same each year. To model the most you can put in every year, including the catch-up from 50, enter any amount above the limit.
- Enter an expected return. The 7% default is an assumption, not a promise.
- Choose your filing status and enter your modified AGI (MAGI). The calculator shows the most you can contribute in 2026 and caps your contribution at that amount.
- Open "More options" if you earned less than the limit from work, also paid into a traditional IRA, or want to change the inflation or tax drag assumptions.
How the projection works
Contribution each year = the lesser of your amount or your limit at that age and incomeBalance = balance × (1 + m) + contribution ÷ 12m = (1 + return)1/12 − 1 · today's dollars = balance ÷ (1 + inflation)years Run every month · contributions go in at the end of each month · each row of the table is one calendar year
The projection keeps the 2026 limits and your MAGI the same every year, so the only change along the way is the catch-up when you reach 50. Growth in a Roth IRA is tax-free only if you take qualified distributions, which are explained below.
Worked example
You are 35, file as single, have a MAGI of $85,000 and already have $10,000 in a Roth IRA. You plan to put in $6,000 a year until 67 and assume a 7% return. Your income is below $153,000, so the full $7,500 limit applies and your $6,000 is allowed.
Over 32 years you contribute $192,000. Growth adds $567,419, and with your starting $10,000 you reach $769,419 at 67. At 2.5% inflation, that is $349,140 in today's dollars.
Contributing the most you can each year, including the catch-up from 50, would take you to about $974,985, which is $205,566 more. Returns are not guaranteed: at 5% instead of 7%, your $6,000 a year would reach $509,705.
2026 Roth IRA limits
| Your age at the end of 2026 | Contribution limit |
|---|---|
| Under 50 | $7,500 |
| 50 or older | $8,600 ($7,500 plus a $1,100 catch-up) |
The limit covers all your IRAs together, so money you put in a traditional IRA reduces what can go in a Roth. You also can't contribute more than your taxable compensation for the year. If you file jointly, you may be able to contribute for a spouse with little or no pay.
| Filing status | Full limit if MAGI is | Reduced limit if MAGI is | No contribution if MAGI is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single or head of household | Under $153,000 | $153,000 to under $168,000 | $168,000 or more |
| Married filing jointly, or qualifying surviving spouse | Under $242,000 | $242,000 to under $252,000 | $252,000 or more |
| Married filing separately, lived with spouse at any time in the year | $0 | Over $0 to under $10,000 | $10,000 or more |
| Married filing separately, lived apart all year | Under $153,000 | $153,000 to under $168,000 | $168,000 or more |
These amounts are from IRS Notice 2025-67. The $0 to $10,000 range is not adjusted for inflation. When this page was updated in October 2026, the IRS had not yet published the 2027 limits. Last year it announced them on November 13.
How the income phase-out is calculated
If your MAGI is inside a phase-out range, the calculator follows Worksheet 2-2 in IRS Publication 590-A.
Reduction = limit × (MAGI − start of range) ÷ width of rangeReduced limit = limit − reduction, rounded up to the next $10 The width is $15,000 for single filers and $10,000 for joint filers. If the result is above $0 but under $200, your limit is $200.
Worked example
You are 40, single, with a MAGI of $160,500.
- Your MAGI is $160,500 − $153,000 = $7,500 into the range.
- $7,500 ÷ $15,000 = 0.500 of the range.
- 0.500 × your $7,500 limit = a reduction of $3,750.
- $7,500 − $3,750 = $3,750, already a multiple of $10.
The most you can contribute for 2026 is $3,750. If you had already put money in a traditional IRA, your limit can be lower.
Here is what the formula gives at points along each range:
| MAGI, single or head of household | MAGI, married filing jointly | Most you can contribute, under 50 | Most you can contribute, 50 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $153,000 | Under $242,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 |
| $156,000 | $244,000 | $6,000 | $6,880 |
| $160,500 | $247,000 | $3,750 | $4,300 |
| $165,000 | $250,000 | $1,500 | $1,720 |
| $167,900 | $251,900 | $200 | $200 |
| $168,000 or more | $252,000 or more | $0 | $0 |
The worksheet says to round the division to at least three decimal places. The calculator keeps the full result. If you round to exactly three places by hand, your answer can differ by $10 at some incomes.
Why starting early matters
This table starts from a $0 balance, contributes the most allowed each year until 67, including the catch-up from 50, and assumes a 7% return.
| Starting age | Your contributions | Tax-free growth | Balance at 67 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $333,700 | $1,485,859 | $1,819,559 |
| 35 | $258,700 | $629,133 | $887,833 |
| 45 | $183,700 | $230,490 | $414,190 |
| 55 | $103,200 | $55,516 | $158,716 |
Starting at 25 instead of 35 means $75,000 more of your own money, but about $931,700 more at 67.
Roth IRA and a taxable account compared
A Roth IRA and a regular brokerage account both start with money you have already paid tax on. The difference is what happens next. In a taxable account, you generally owe tax along the way on things like dividends and realized gains.
The calculator shows this with one plain assumption: the taxable account earns your return minus a tax drag of 1 percentage point a year. That figure is our assumption, not an IRS number. Your real drag depends on your investments and your tax bracket. The comparison also ignores any tax due when you sell the taxable investments, which flatters the taxable account.
In the worked example, the same money at 6% instead of 7% reaches $624,712, about $144,700 less than the Roth IRA. With a tax drag of 0.5 points the gap is about $76,500, and at 1.5 points it is about $205,500. You can change the assumption under "More options", or set it to 0 to hide the comparison.
Roth IRA rules to know
- No deduction. You can't deduct Roth IRA contributions, unlike some traditional IRA contributions.
- No age limit. You can contribute at any age if you have taxable compensation and your income allows it.
- Deadline. You can contribute until your tax return's due date, not including extensions. For most people, 2026 contributions are due by April 15, 2027.
- No required withdrawals in your lifetime. You can leave the money in the account as long as you live. Beneficiaries do have minimum distribution rules.
- Excess contributions. A 6% excise tax applies to contributions above your limit, so check your MAGI before you contribute.
- Qualified distributions are tax-free. Generally you need to be at least 5 years past your first Roth IRA tax year and be 59½ or older.
Your MAGI is not the same as your salary. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions can lower it, as the paycheck calculator shows. If your employer offers a match, compare this page with the 401(k) calculator. To test whether your total savings could last, use the retirement calculator, and for a simple look at growth over time, try the compound interest calculator.
This page is for education and is not tax or investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2026?
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
How do I work out a reduced Roth IRA contribution?
What is the deadline for 2026 Roth IRA contributions?
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA and a 401(k) in the same year?
What if my income is too high for a Roth IRA?
When can I take money out of a Roth IRA tax-free?
Sources and further reading
Independent, official guidance on this topic. Rules differ by country, so check the regulator where you live.
- Notice 2025-67: 2026 amounts for retirement plans and IRAs · Internal Revenue Service
- Publication 590-A, Contributions to IRAs · Internal Revenue Service
- Publication 590-B, Distributions from IRAs · Internal Revenue Service
- Roth IRAs · Internal Revenue Service
This calculator gives estimates for education and planning. It is not financial advice, and your lender's figures may differ. See how we calculate.