How it works
Calculate the growth of your Traditional IRA and estimate your after-tax retirement savings.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?currentAge=Current AgeNumber · Optional · Default: 30
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?retireAge=Retirement AgeNumber · Optional · Default: 65
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?balance=Current BalanceNumber · Optional · Default: 15,000
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?annualContribution=Annual ContributionNumber · Optional · Default: 7,500
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?returnRate=Expected Annual ReturnNumber · Optional · Default: 7
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?taxRateNow=Current Tax RateNumber · Optional · Default: 24
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?taxRateRetire=Retirement Tax RateNumber · Optional · Default: 22
Outputs
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resultResultText · Primary output
result contains the calculator’s complete rendered result area, including its visible result cards, tables, charts, and messages.
Estimate your pre-tax retirement balance and savings
Description
The Traditional IRA Calculator helps you project the growth of your retirement savings while considering the immediate tax benefits. Because Traditional IRA contributions are often tax-deductible, this tool also estimates your “Tax Deduction Savings” alongside the eventual “After-Tax Value” of your withdrawals.
Inputs
- Current Age / Retirement Age: Your current age and target retirement window.
- Current Balance: Your existing Traditional IRA balance ($).
- Annual Contribution: The amount you plan to deposit each year ($).
- Expected Annual Return: Your anticipated annual investment return (%).
- Current Tax Rate: Your current effective income tax bracket (%).
- Retirement Tax Rate: Your estimated income tax bracket during retirement (%).
Outputs
- Pre-Tax Balance at Retirement: The total value of your account before any taxes are paid.
- Est. After-Tax Value: The estimated amount remaining after you pay taxes on your retirement withdrawals.
- Tax Deduction Savings: The estimated total tax reduction you receive on your future contributions (based on your current tax rate).
Chart
- Growth Projection Chart: Compares the “Pre-Tax Balance” trajectory against the estimated “After-Tax Value.”
“Good to Know”
- Traditional IRAs provide an “upfront” tax break, as contributions are typically deducted from your taxable income in the year they are made.
- Because you didn’t pay taxes on the money when you put it in (or on the growth), the entire amount is taxed as regular income when you withdraw it in retirement.
- If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement than you are now, a Traditional IRA can be a very efficient strategy.
Examples
Example 1: High Earner Now, Lower Later
- Input:
- Balance: $15,000, Contrib: $7,000
- Tax Rate Now: 24%, Retire: 15%
- Output:
- Significant “Tax Deduction Savings” today, with a favorable after-tax value later.
Example 2: Conservative Strategy
- Input:
- Age: 30, Retire: 65
- Return: 6%, Contrib: $5,000
- Output:
- Demonstrates steady growth over 35 years.
Example 3: Equal Tax Brackets
- Input:
- Tax Rate Now: 22%, Retire: 22%
- Output:
- Shows that if your tax rate doesn’t change, the mathematical benefit is similar to a Roth IRA, though the “pre-tax” balance looks much higher.