Traditional IRA Calculator
Grow a traditional IRA tax-deferred and see the after-tax value once withdrawals are taxed.
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
A traditional IRA is funded with pre-tax dollars: contributions may be tax-deductible now and the balance grows tax-deferred, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. This traditional IRA calculator grows your starting balance and annual contributions to retirement, then applies your retirement tax rate to show the after-tax amount you actually keep alongside the headline pre-tax balance.
Each year it adds your contribution and grows the balance at your expected return, with no tax drag along the way. For example, 5,000 to start plus 7,000 a year at 7% until age 65 grows to about 1.02 million pre-tax; taxed at 22% on withdrawal, you keep roughly 796,000. The upfront deduction on each contribution is the trade for that later tax bill.
Use it to project a tax-deferred nest egg and to compare the after-tax result with a Roth IRA. A traditional IRA tends to win when your tax rate in retirement will be lower than it is today, since you take the deduction at a high rate now and pay tax at a lower rate later.
Frequently asked questions
How is a traditional IRA taxed?
Contributions are made pre-tax and the account grows tax-deferred, so you owe no tax along the way. When you withdraw in retirement, the full amount — contributions and growth — is taxed as ordinary income at your rate then.
What is the difference from a Roth IRA?
A traditional IRA gives the tax break now (a deduction) and taxes you later; a Roth is the reverse — no deduction now, but tax-free later. The right choice depends on whether your tax rate is higher today or in retirement.
Are traditional IRA contributions tax-deductible?
Often, but not always. The deduction can be limited or phased out if you (or a spouse) are covered by a workplace retirement plan and your income is above set thresholds. When deductible, contributing lowers your taxable income for that year.
What are required minimum distributions (RMDs)?
A traditional IRA requires you to start withdrawing a minimum amount each year once you reach the RMD age, and those withdrawals are taxed as income. This differs from a Roth IRA, which has no RMDs for the original owner, and the calculator does not model the RMD schedule.
How is a traditional IRA taxed when I withdraw?
The full withdrawal — original contributions plus all tax-deferred growth — is taxed as ordinary income at your rate in retirement. That is why the tool reports both the pre-tax balance and the smaller after-tax amount you can actually spend.
When does a traditional IRA beat a Roth?
When you expect a lower tax rate in retirement than today, because you deduct contributions at today’s higher rate and pay tax later at the lower one. Set a retirement tax rate below your current rate to see the traditional side pull ahead.
API — use this calculator from code
Call this calculator as a free JSON endpoint — no key required. Send the field values below as query parameters or JSON. Read the full API docs →
Endpoint
GET https://calculator.free/api/v1/ira/curl
curl "https://calculator.free/api/v1/ira/?current_age=30&retire_age=65&starting=5000&contribution=7000&return_rate=7"JavaScript fetch()
const r = await fetch(
"https://calculator.free/api/v1/ira/?" + new URLSearchParams({
"current_age": "30",
"retire_age": "65",
"starting": "5000",
"contribution": "7000",
"return_rate": "7"
}));
const data = await r.json();
console.log(data.results);Results are estimates for general guidance only, not financial, medical or tax advice.