Roth IRA Calculator
Check your income-based contribution limit, then compare projected Roth growth with a taxable investment account using the same contributions.
The 2026 IRA limit is $7,500 before catch-up contributions and income restrictions. For a single filer, direct Roth contributions phase out from $153,000 to $168,000 of modified adjusted gross income. A single 35-year-old earning $120,000 can contribute the full $7,500; doing that every year from an empty account until 65 at 7% projects $762,482, assuming qualified tax-free withdrawals.
What you can contribute at each income, 2026
| Modified AGI | Single, under 50 | Single, 50+ | Joint, under 50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $133,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 | $7,500 |
| $153,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 | $7,500 |
| $160,500 | $3,750 | $4,300 | $7,500 |
| $167,999 | $200 | $200 | $7,500 |
| $168,000 | $0 | $0 | $7,500 |
Check eligibility before projecting growth
Use modified adjusted gross income for Roth IRA purposes, not salary or taxable income. Married filing separately has special rules; this tool offers only single and joint estimates.
Your contribution must fit two limits: your income-based Roth limit and the annual IRA allowance left after other IRA contributions. Use the smaller amount; do not subtract those other contributions again from the income-based limit. Eligible compensation can also limit what you contribute.
The taxable account pays modeled dividend tax along the way and capital gains tax at sale. Compare the assumptions with what you hold: an investment with little taxable income can produce a different gap.