Free Traditional IRA Calculator
Estimate your traditional IRA balance at retirement and its after-tax value once withdrawals are taxed as income. Free. No signup required.
Projected pre-tax balance growth to retirement — remember 22% of whatever's left goes to taxes on the way out.
- After-Tax Value$951,717.59
Traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible now, but withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income in retirement.
About the Free Traditional IRA Calculator
The pre-tax balance a traditional IRA projects is not the number you'll actually get to spend — every withdrawal in retirement is taxed as ordinary income, so the real comparison against other savings isn't the balance itself but what's left after your withdrawal-year tax bill. This calculator shows both figures side by side instead of leaving you to do that subtraction yourself.
It's for the same decision the Roth calculator handles from the other side: whether to put new contributions into a traditional account (tax break now, taxed withdrawals later) or a Roth (no break now, tax-free later) — and for checking what an old traditional 401(k) or IRA balance is actually worth once withdrawal-year taxes are factored in.
Everything you enter runs locally in your browser — your balance, your contribution rate, your assumed tax rate at withdrawal never leave your device, since none of that needs to touch a server just to run a projection.
How it’s calculated
The pre-tax balance compounds the same way any IRA projection does: your current balance grows at the expected return for the years remaining, and annual contributions compound as their own annuity on top of that.
The after-tax figure then applies your entered withdrawal tax rate directly to that pre-tax balance, treating the whole thing as if withdrawn and taxed in one lump — a simplification, since real retirees usually withdraw gradually across tax brackets, but it's a useful stand-in for comparing account types on equal footing.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a traditional IRA's future value shown pre-tax?
Because contributions (and growth) haven't been taxed yet — the IRS collects income tax when you actually withdraw the money in retirement, not when it goes in or grows. The pre-tax balance is what your statement will show, but it isn't spendable money until tax is applied.
Is a traditional IRA contribution always tax-deductible?
Not always — if you (or your spouse) are covered by a workplace retirement plan, the deduction phases out above certain income levels, though you can generally still contribute on a non-deductible basis. Check your specific eligibility before assuming the full contribution reduces this year's taxable income.
What tax rate should I use for the 'tax rate at withdrawal' field?
Your marginal tax rate in retirement, which depends on your total retirement income and the tax brackets at that time — neither of which is fully knowable today. A reasonable approach is to run this at a couple of different rates (your current bracket and a lower one) to see the range of outcomes rather than betting on one number.
Should I choose a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA?
The traditional account tends to win if you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement than you are now (common if your working-years income is high); the Roth tends to win in the opposite case. Running both calculators with the same contribution numbers is the most direct way to compare them for your own situation.
Do traditional IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Yes — unlike a Roth, the IRS requires you to start withdrawing (and paying tax on) a minimum amount each year once you reach the RMD age, whether or not you actually need the money. The RMD calculator linked below works out that required amount from your balance.
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