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Roth IRA Calculator: Tax-Free Growth and 2026 Limits
See how much a Roth IRA could grow to by retirement, all of it tax-free, and check how much you are allowed to put in for 2026 based on your income.
Why a Roth IRA is so powerful
You put money into a Roth IRA after paying income tax on it. In return, everything the account earns, dividends, interest and growth, comes out completely tax-free in retirement. There are no required minimum withdrawals during your lifetime, and you can take your contributions back out at any time.
Example: $7,500 a year from 30 to 65
Contributing the 2026 maximum of $7,500 a year ($625 a month) for 35 years at a 7% return builds about $1.13 million. You contributed $262,500; the other $863,000 is growth you never pay tax on. In a regular taxable brokerage account, a 15% capital gains rate on that growth would cost about $129,000.
2026 contribution limits and income phase-out
| Filing status | Full contribution if MAGI under | No contribution at or above |
|---|---|---|
| Single, head of household | $153,000 | $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 |
Between those amounts your limit shrinks in proportion. For example, a single filer with a modified AGI of $160,000 is $8,000 below the top of the $15,000 range, so they can contribute $7,500 × 8,000 ÷ 15,000 = $4,000. The IRS rounds the result up to the next $10 and allows at least $200 if any amount is allowed. Source: IRS announcement of 2026 limits.
High earners above the range often use a "backdoor Roth": a non-deductible traditional IRA contribution converted to a Roth. It is legal but has tax traps if you hold other pre-tax IRA money, so check with a tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Roth IRA limit for 2026?
$7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. The limit is shared across all your IRAs, Roth and traditional, and you cannot contribute more than you earned from work that year.
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
The amount you can contribute starts shrinking at a modified AGI of $153,000 for single filers and $242,000 for married couples filing jointly, and reaches zero at $168,000 and $252,000.
When can I withdraw from a Roth IRA?
Your contributions can come out at any time, tax- and penalty-free. Earnings are tax-free once you are 59½ and the account has been open at least five years.
Roth IRA or traditional IRA?
Roth contributions are taxed now and come out tax-free; traditional contributions may be deductible now and are taxed later. Roth usually wins if you are early in your career or expect a higher tax rate in retirement.