When should I use the IRA Calculator?
Use it when you want to test the exact inputs on this page: Project traditional IRA growth from current balance and annual contributions. Test a 2026 limit-style IRA contribution scenario before checking IRS rules. The result is a check against your assumptions, not proof that a lender, tax app, broker, platform, or provider will use the same number.
What do the main IRA Calculator inputs mean?
Current balance means the IRA money already in the account before this projection starts. Annual contribution means the amount you want to add over one year. The calculator spreads it across 12 monthly deposits. Expected annual return means the yearly growth assumption entered as a percent, such as 6.5 for 6.5%. Years to grow means how many years the current balance and future deposits stay in the projection.
Does this check the 2026 IRA contribution limit?
No. The calculator lets you test any annual contribution. The IRS says total 2026 contributions across traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs are generally limited to $7,500, or $8,600 if age 50+ because of the $1,100 catch-up amount, or taxable compensation if that is smaller.
Does this tell me whether a traditional IRA contribution is deductible?
No. Traditional IRA deductibility can depend on filing status, MAGI, and whether you or your spouse are covered by a retirement plan at work. The calculator only projects growth from the numbers entered.
Can I use this for a Roth IRA?
You can use the math as a rough growth projection, but Roth IRA eligibility and tax treatment have separate rules. Use the Roth IRA Calculator when you want the page to keep Roth MAGI, phase-out, qualified-distribution, and 5-year-rule cautions closer to the result.
What does the 2026 limit-style example show?
$25,000 starting balance plus $7,500 per year is treated as $625 monthly deposits. At 6.5% for 20 years, that projects about $397,924.25, with $175,000 counted as total contributions and about $222,924.25 as estimated growth.
What is the IRA Calculator doing with my numbers?
In plain language: The calculator divides annual contribution into 12 monthly deposits, compounds the current IRA balance monthly, adds deposits at the end of each month, then separates total contributions from estimated growth. For the 2026 limit-style example, $25,000 current balance plus $7,500 per year is treated as $625 per month. At 6.5% for 20 years, the projection is about $397,924.25, with $175,000 counted as total contributions and about $222,924.25 as estimated growth.
How should I read the IRA Calculator answer?
Read projected IRA balance as the what-if ending balance, total contributions as current balance plus deposits, and estimated growth as the amount created by the expected annual return assumption.
What does this estimate leave out?
This is a projection, not tax advice. It does not verify taxable compensation, traditional IRA deduction limits, workplace retirement plan coverage, Roth IRA income limits, 2026 IRS contribution limits, required minimum distributions, penalties, taxes, fees, or market risk. Use IRS IRA contribution limits, IRS deduction-limit guidance, IRS annual COLA tables, Investor.gov IRA basics, and a tax professional when contribution eligibility, deductibility, or withdrawal tax treatment matters.
What should I double-check before copying the result?
Check taxable compensation, 2026 IRS contribution limits, traditional IRA deduction rules, workplace retirement plan coverage, Roth IRA phase-outs, RMD rules, tax treatment, penalties, fees, and market risk before acting.
Does the site save my finance inputs?
No. The calculator runs in your browser tab. Recent answers stay only on the page while you use it, and they are not sent to a server.
