Free traditional ira calculator
Project your pre-tax, tax-deferred Traditional IRA growth and see the 2025 deduction phase-outs and RMD rules — updated live, as you type.
On this page12 sections
Estimates only, based on a constant real return and steady saving. Not financial advice.
Results are estimates. Consult a professional.
What a Traditional IRA calculator shows — the upfront tax break
A Traditional IRA calculator projects how much your pre-tax, tax-deferred retirement account will grow before you owe tax on it. A traditional IRA's defining feature is the upfront deduction: a deductible contribution lowers your taxable income this year, the balance grows tax-deferred, and you pay ordinary income tax only when you withdraw in retirement. Enter your age, contribution, and expected return, and the projected balance updates live as you type — a pre-tax figure, because the tax bill comes later.
This is the mirror image of a Roth IRA: with a traditional IRA you get the tax break now and pay tax later; with a Roth you pay tax now and withdraw tax-free. Two rules shape the traditional IRA in particular — your deduction can be limited if a workplace plan covers you, and the IRS forces withdrawals starting at age 73.
2025 Traditional IRA deduction phase-outs
Anyone with earned income can contribute to a traditional IRA, but whether the contribution is deductible depends on your income and whether a workplace retirement plan covers you. If neither you nor your spouse is covered, your contribution is fully deductible at any income. If you are covered, the deduction phases out across these 2025 modified-AGI bands:
| 2025 situation | Full deduction below | Phase-out range | No deduction at/above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single / head of household, covered at work | $79,000 | $79,000 – $89,000 | $89,000 |
| Married filing jointly, you are covered | $126,000 | $126,000 – $146,000 | $146,000 |
| Married filing jointly, only your spouse is covered | $236,000 | $236,000 – $246,000 | $246,000 |
| Married filing separately, covered | $0 | $0 – $10,000 | $10,000 |
2025 traditional IRA deduction limits when covered by a workplace plan, by modified AGI. Source: IRS. Not covered by any workplace plan? The deduction is unlimited.
IRS — IRA deduction limits (2025 phase-outs: $79,000–$89,000 single covered; $126,000–$146,000 MFJ covered; $236,000–$246,000 spouse-only covered).How the Traditional IRA calculator projects growth
The projector compounds your balance month by month: it grows the running balance by one month of return, then adds your contribution. Because a traditional IRA is tax-deferred, the projected balance is pre-tax — you will owe ordinary income tax on it as you withdraw, so the spendable amount is lower than the headline figure.
A worked example: a tax-deferred Traditional IRA from 40 to 65
Lena is 40, has $20,000 in her traditional IRA, and contributes the full $583 a month (the 2025 $7,000 cap) at a 7% return until she retires at 65. Her contributions may be deductible today; the projection below is pre-tax.
Step 1 — Set the horizon
From 40 to 65 is 25 years — 300 monthly steps at a 0.583% monthly rate (7% ÷ 12).
Step 2 — Compound the pre-tax contributions
Lena adds $174,900 of contributions over the 25 years on top of her $20,000 starting balance, all growing tax-deferred.
Step 3 — Read the pre-tax result
Taxable withdrawals and RMDs at age 73
Because you deducted contributions and deferred tax, every dollar you withdraw from a traditional IRA is taxed as ordinary income (except any nondeductible basis you tracked). And the IRS does not let the deferral run forever: under the SECURE 2.0 Act, required minimum distributions begin at age 73, rising to 75 in 2033. You must withdraw at least the RMD each year or face a penalty on the shortfall.
- Withdrawals are ordinary income. They stack on top of your other income and are taxed at your marginal rate that year.
- RMDs start at 73. The annual amount is your prior year-end balance divided by an IRS life-expectancy divisor (about 26.5 at 73).
- Early withdrawals cost more. Take money out before 59½ and you generally add a 10% penalty on top of the income tax.
Wondering whether the upfront deduction beats tax-free Roth withdrawals for you? Run the numbers with the Roth vs. Traditional IRA calculator, or see the tax-free side on the Roth IRA page.
Who benefits most from a Traditional IRA
- Higher earners today who expect a lower tax rate in retirement — they deduct at a high rate now and withdraw at a lower one later.
- Savers who want to cut this year's tax bill, especially when a deductible contribution drops them into a lower bracket.
- People not covered by a workplace plan, who get an unlimited deduction regardless of income.
- Those close to retirement with a short horizon, where the upfront deduction often outweighs decades of tax-free Roth growth they will not get.
Traditional IRA mistakes and gotchas
- Assuming every contribution is deductible. If a workplace plan covers you and your income is over the phase-out, all or part of the deduction is lost — though you can still contribute nondeductibly.
- Treating the projected balance as spendable. It is pre-tax; ordinary income tax is due on withdrawal, so the real spendable amount is lower.
- Missing an RMD. Skipping or underpaying a required distribution from age 73 triggers an excise tax on the amount you failed to take.
- Forgetting Form 8606. If you make nondeductible contributions, file Form 8606 to record the basis — otherwise you risk being taxed twice on the same money.
- Early withdrawals. Taking money before 59½ generally adds a 10% penalty on top of the income tax.
How this calculator works and accuracy
This Traditional IRA calculator compounds your pre-tax contributions monthly at the rate you enter from your current age to retirement; the result is a pre-tax balance that will be taxed as ordinary income on withdrawal. It assumes a steady contribution and constant return; markets vary, so treat the output as a planning estimate, not a guarantee or financial advice. The 2025 deduction phase-outs and the age-73 RMD rule cited here come from the IRS.
IRS — IRA deduction limits (2025 deduction phase-outs when covered by a workplace plan).IRS — Retirement plan and IRA required minimum distributions FAQs (RMDs begin at age 73).Frequently asked questions about the free traditional ira calculator
About this Traditional IRA calculator
This Traditional IRA calculator projects how much your pre-tax, tax-deferred retirement account grows before tax is due, compounding your balance monthly at your expected return. Because a traditional IRA is taxed on withdrawal, the projected balance is a pre-tax figure. It also shows the 2025 deduction phase-out bands that apply when a workplace plan covers you, and the age-73 rule for required minimum distributions.
It is a planning estimate, not financial advice — returns vary and your deduction depends on income and plan coverage. See the rest of the retirement calculators, or browse every tool in the calculator directory.