How this calculator works
The 2026 limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 at age 50 or older. Above the income phase-out range for your filing status the allowed contribution shrinks proportionally, to zero at the top. Your contribution then grows each year at your expected return until retirement.
Worked example
With the example values below: You can contribute, $7,500 (for 2026). Change any number above to run your own.
What you enter
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Current age | 35 |
| Retirement age | 65 |
| Filing status | Single / head of household |
| Modified AGI | $120,000 |
| Planned annual contribution | $7,500 |
| Current Roth balance | $15,000 |
| Annual return | 7% |
Why a Roth IRA is valuable
Roth IRA contributions are made with money you've already paid tax on, and qualified withdrawals in retirement, including all the growth, are tax-free. There are no required minimum distributions for the original owner, so the money can keep growing as long as you like and pass to heirs.
That makes a Roth especially attractive early in your career, when your tax rate is often lower than it will be later.
The backdoor Roth
If your income is above the limit, you can contribute to a traditional IRA without taking a deduction, then convert it to a Roth. Conversions have no income limit. The catch is the pro-rata rule: if you have other pre-tax IRA money, part of the conversion is taxable. Rolling pre-tax IRA balances into a 401(k) first can avoid that.
How much a Roth can grow
Contributing $7,500 a year from age 30 to 65 at 7% builds roughly $1 million, all tax-free in retirement. Starting at 40 gives about $500,000. Use the calculator with your own age, income and expected return.
Open one at any major brokerage, choose low-cost index funds or a target-date fund, and set up automatic contributions. Compare with the 401(k) calculator when deciding where your next dollar goes.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
$7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older. The limit shrinks once your modified AGI passes $153,000 for single filers ($242,000 married filing jointly) and reaches zero at $168,000 ($252,000 married filing jointly).
How does a Roth IRA work?
You contribute money you've already paid tax on, invest it, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, growth included. Withdrawals of earnings are qualified once you're 59½ and the account has been open at least five years.
Can I take money out of a Roth IRA early?
Your contributions can come out at any time, tax- and penalty-free. Earnings withdrawn before 59½, or before the five-year rule is met, are generally taxed and may carry a 10% penalty, with exceptions such as up to $10,000 for a first home.
Is a Roth IRA better than a traditional IRA?
A Roth tends to win if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than you pay now, since you pay tax up front and none later. A traditional IRA gives a deduction now and is taxed on withdrawal. Roth IRAs also have no required minimum distributions for the owner.
What is the deadline for Roth IRA contributions?
The tax filing deadline of the following year, usually April 15. You can contribute for 2026 until April 2027.
Grow what this calculator projects.
TruthSayer AI sends quantitative stock signals across valuations, earnings and dark-pool activity, each one traded in its own funded account first.
Estimates for planning only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Tax tools use 2026 federal figures (brackets, $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction, $19,000 gift exclusion, $15M lifetime exemption). Rates shown as defaults are examples; replace them with quotes you actually receive.