Project your tax-free retirement balance, check 2025 contribution limits, and see how starting earlier dramatically changes your outcome.
| Age | Year | Annual Contribution | Total Contributed | Balance | Growth This Year |
|---|
Enter your current age, planned retirement age, and existing Roth IRA balance (if any). Then set your annual contribution amount — the calculator will automatically flag if you're over the 2025 limit and show your income eligibility status. Adjust the expected annual return to model different market scenarios, and watch the growth chart update in real time.
| Filing Status | Full Contribution | Phase-Out Range | No Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single / Head of Household | MAGI ≤ $150,000 | $150,000–$165,000 | MAGI > $165,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly | MAGI ≤ $236,000 | $236,000–$246,000 | MAGI > $246,000 |
| Married Filing Separately | MAGI = $0 | $0–$10,000 | MAGI > $10,000 |
The standard 2025 Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,000/year. If you're age 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution for a total of $8,000/year.
Each year, your Roth IRA balance grows by:
The key insight: because Roth IRA growth is completely tax-free, you never owe taxes on the gains — even if your account grows from $7,000 per year of contributions to $750,000+ over a career of saving.
The right choice depends primarily on whether your tax rate will be higher now or in retirement:
Pro Tip: Even if your income exceeds the Roth IRA limit, you may qualify for a "Backdoor Roth IRA" — making a non-deductible Traditional IRA contribution and then converting it to Roth. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.
For 2025, the Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,000/year. If you are 50 or older, you can add a $1,000 catch-up contribution for a total of $8,000/year. Contributions are also limited by your earned income — you can't contribute more than you earned that year.
Single filers with MAGI up to $150,000 can contribute the full amount. Between $150K–$165K, the limit phases out. Above $165K, you cannot contribute directly. Married filing jointly can contribute fully up to $236,000 MAGI, with phase-out through $246,000.
With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars and qualified withdrawals are 100% tax-free. With a Traditional IRA, contributions may be deductible now but withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. Roth IRAs also have no required minimum distributions (RMDs), making them powerful estate planning tools.
To take qualified tax-free withdrawals of earnings, you must be at least 59½ AND the account must have been open for at least 5 years (the 5-year rule). You can always withdraw your contributions (not earnings) at any time without tax or penalty, since you already paid tax on those dollars.