401(k), IRA & Roth
A traditional IRA calculator that shows the tax on both ends
A traditional IRA calculator: clients see the upfront tax saving, the tax-deferred growth and the after-tax value at withdrawal, so the deduction is weighed against the tax that comes later.
Included in Network. 14-day trial, cancel any time.
How does a traditional IRA save tax?
A deductible contribution reduces taxable income now, saving tax at today's marginal rate, and the account grows without annual tax. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income later. The benefit depends on the gap between today's rate and the rate at withdrawal. The 2026 contribution limit is $7,5002026 · IRS, or $8,6002026 · IRS at 50 and over.
Early April, before the filing deadline
IRA contributions for a tax year can be made until the filing deadline, which makes the IRA the one deduction a client can still create in April. Clients hear about it from their preparer or from an ad in March and want to know whether it is worth it before they write the check.
What the client types into a search box
“should I put money in an IRA before I file my taxes”
How a client works through it
Enter balance and contribution
Current IRA balance and the annual contribution.
Set growth assumptions
Years to grow and the annual return.
Enter tax rates
Today's marginal rate and the expected rate at withdrawal.
See both sides
Pre-tax balance, after-tax value, growth and the upfront tax saving.
What lands in your inbox
When a client asks your firm to review the result, the request arrives as a contact record with their inputs and results attached, by email and, on paid plans, by webhook to your CRM.
Received
Contribution amount, current and future tax rates and years to grow show how the client thinks about taxes now and later. A high current rate with a lower expected future rate makes the deduction attractive. If the client expects a higher rate later, a Roth conversation is warranted.
Pre-tax balance versus after-tax value
Pre-Tax Balance is the account value before withdrawal taxes. After-Tax Value is what remains after tax at the withdrawal rate, the figure to compare with other options. Upfront Tax Savings is the deduction's value at today's rate.
If today's rate and the withdrawal rate are the same, a deductible IRA and a Roth IRA end up equal. The gap between the rates decides the winner.
Results shown: Pre-Tax Balance · After-Tax Value · Total Contributed · Tax-Deferred Growth · Upfront Tax Savings.
Why do tax preparers love the IRA question?
Because it is actionable at the moment of filing: a contribution made before the deadline can change the return in front of you. A client who runs the calculator and sends the result has effectively asked you to check deductibility, which depends on workplace plan coverage and income.
Advisers use the same moment to open accounts and to discuss whether a Roth IRA would serve the client better.
Follow-ups this request opens
- Confirm deductibility given workplace plan coverage and income
- Make a prior-year contribution before the filing deadline
- Compare traditional and Roth IRA contributions
- Plan a backdoor Roth for clients over the income limits
What this calculator leaves out
- Contribution limits and deductibility rules are not enforced.
- Assumes contributions are fully deductible.
- Required minimum distributions are not modeled.
- Constant return.
Platform disclaimer shown under the calculator: Estimates only. Contributions grow tax-deferred and are taxed as ordinary income at withdrawal. Contribution limits, income/deductibility limits and tax law are not enforced. Consult a tax professional.
Compliance note for firms
Deductibility depends on workplace plan coverage and income, which the calculator doesn't check. Recommending a deductible contribution is written tax advice under Circular 230 §10.37. Advisers should present growth as hypothetical, with the client choosing the return.
Not legal advice. See our disclaimer and the guide to compliance for client calculators.
2026 figures this page relies on
| Figure | Value | Tax year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA contribution limit (all IRAs combined) | $7,500 | 2026 | IRS |
| IRA limit including age 50+ catch-up | $8,600 | 2026 | IRS |
| RMD starting age (SECURE 2.0) | 73 (born 1951–1959); 75 (born 1960 or later) | 2026 | IRS |
The same values drive the calculator. Full list on the 2026 figures page.
Terms your client sees in the calculator
These definitions appear in the calculator's collapsible Definitions block, so clients don't have to call to ask what a label means.
- Traditional IRA
- An individual retirement account where contributions may be tax-deductible, earnings grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. This calculator projects the balance, then applies your expected withdrawal tax rate to show what it would be worth after tax. Deductibility and income limits are not enforced here.
- IRA contribution limit
- The most you can contribute to all your IRAs combined in a year: $7,500 for 2026, or $8,600 if you are age 50 or older (IRS, 2026). The limit is shared between traditional and Roth IRAs and cannot exceed your earned income. The calculator does not cap your entry, so keep it within the limit.
- Deductible contribution
- A contribution you can subtract from taxable income in the year you make it. Whether a traditional IRA contribution is fully, partly or not deductible depends on your income and whether you or a spouse have a workplace retirement plan. The upfront tax savings shown here assume every contribution is fully deductible.
- Upfront tax savings
- The income tax you avoid by deducting contributions, estimated as total contributions times your current marginal tax rate. It is real money only if the contributions are deductible, and the benefit is a deferral: the same dollars are taxed later at withdrawal, at whatever rate applies then.
- Tax-deferred growth
- Investment earnings inside the IRA that are not taxed each year, so the full return keeps compounding until withdrawal. In the results it is the pre-tax balance minus your current balance and total contributions. It is deferred, not tax-free: it is taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn.
- Pre-tax balance
- The projected account value at the end of the period before any income tax on withdrawal: your current balance plus contributions plus growth, compounded monthly at your assumed return. It overstates what you can spend, because most or all of a traditional IRA is taxable when withdrawn.
In our glossary: Tax-deferred · Marginal tax rate
Traditional IRA calculator: questions from firms and clients
What is the IRA limit for 2026?
$7,5002026 · IRS across all IRAs, or $8,6002026 · IRS at 50 and over.
Is my contribution deductible?
It depends on whether you or a spouse are covered by a workplace plan and on income. The calculator assumes it is; the firm should confirm.
Can I contribute for last year in April?
Yes, contributions for a tax year can generally be made until that year's filing deadline, not including extensions.
When do I have to start withdrawals?
Required minimum distributions begin at 73 (born 1951–1959); 75 (born 1960 or later)2026 · IRS.
Traditional or Roth?
It depends on today's rate versus your expected rate in retirement. The Roth vs. traditional calculator compares them directly.
Are early withdrawals penalized?
Generally yes, before 59½, with exceptions. See the early withdrawal calculator.
Does it include nondeductible contributions?
No. Nondeductible contributions create basis, which the firm tracks on Form 8606.
Which plan includes it?
Network. See pricing.
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