A traditional IRA contribution may be deductible if the taxpayer qualifies, while a Roth IRA contribution is not deductible and qualified Roth IRA distributions are not included in income. For 2026, the IRS says combined traditional and Roth IRA contributions generally cannot exceed $7,500, or $8,600 for age 50 or older, subject to taxable compensation and Roth income limits.
What roth ira vs traditional ira means
A traditional IRA can offer a current deduction when eligibility rules are met; a Roth IRA uses after-tax contributions and has separate income eligibility rules. This compares personal IRAs; a Roth 401(k) is an employer-plan account with different plan access and limits.
| 2026 combined IRA limit | $7,500 |
|---|---|
| Age-50-or-older limit | $8,600 |
| Traditional contribution | $4,000 |
| Roth contribution | $3,500 |
| Combined contribution | $7,500 |
Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: deduction now or qualified withdrawals later?: worked numbers
A 35-year-old with $7,500 of taxable compensation allocates $4,000 to a traditional IRA and $3,500 to a Roth IRA. The combined contribution is $7,500, not $11,000. Whether the $4,000 traditional contribution is deductible depends on filing status, income, and workplace-plan participation; whether the Roth $3,500 is allowed depends on modified AGI.
How to calculate roth ira vs traditional ira
Add all traditional and Roth IRA contributions for the tax year, then compare the total with the year's IRS limit and taxable compensation. Check the current IRS worksheet for deduction and Roth phaseout rules before depositing.
Use related Calculatort tools when the inputs are known: retirement balance calculation; 401(k) contribution calculator; investment return scenario.
Check the roth ira vs traditional ira inputs before acting
roth ira vs traditional ira record 1. In record 1, keep 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500 beside Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600. At check 1, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated 2026 combined ira limit and age-50-or-older limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 2. In record 2, keep Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600 beside Traditional contribution at $4,000. At check 2, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated age-50-or-older limit and traditional contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 3. In record 3, keep Traditional contribution at $4,000 beside Roth contribution at $3,500. At check 3, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated traditional contribution and roth contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 4. In record 4, keep Roth contribution at $3,500 beside Combined contribution at $7,500. At check 4, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated roth contribution and combined contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 5. In record 5, keep Combined contribution at $7,500 beside 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500. At check 5, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated combined contribution and 2026 combined ira limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 6. In record 6, keep 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500 beside Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600. At check 6, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated 2026 combined ira limit and age-50-or-older limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 7. In record 7, keep Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600 beside Traditional contribution at $4,000. At check 7, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated age-50-or-older limit and traditional contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 8. In record 8, keep Traditional contribution at $4,000 beside Roth contribution at $3,500. At check 8, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated traditional contribution and roth contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 9. In record 9, keep Roth contribution at $3,500 beside Combined contribution at $7,500. At check 9, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated roth contribution and combined contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 10. In record 10, keep Combined contribution at $7,500 beside 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500. At check 10, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated combined contribution and 2026 combined ira limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 11. In record 11, keep 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500 beside Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600. At check 11, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated 2026 combined ira limit and age-50-or-older limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 12. In record 12, keep Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600 beside Traditional contribution at $4,000. At check 12, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated age-50-or-older limit and traditional contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 13. In record 13, keep Traditional contribution at $4,000 beside Roth contribution at $3,500. At check 13, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated traditional contribution and roth contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 14. In record 14, keep Roth contribution at $3,500 beside Combined contribution at $7,500. At check 14, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated roth contribution and combined contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 15. In record 15, keep Combined contribution at $7,500 beside 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500. At check 15, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated combined contribution and 2026 combined ira limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 16. In record 16, keep 2026 combined IRA limit at $7,500 beside Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600. At check 16, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated 2026 combined ira limit and age-50-or-older limit.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 17. In record 17, keep Age-50-or-older limit at $8,600 beside Traditional contribution at $4,000. At check 17, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated age-50-or-older limit and traditional contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 18. In record 18, keep Traditional contribution at $4,000 beside Roth contribution at $3,500. At check 18, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated traditional contribution and roth contribution.
roth ira vs traditional ira record 19. In record 19, keep Roth contribution at $3,500 beside Combined contribution at $7,500. At check 19, the worksheet tests this pair before changing another assumption, so the observed difference remains attributable to the stated roth contribution and combined contribution.
Common mistakes
Do not give each IRA its own full annual limit, assume a traditional contribution is always deductible, or use gross pay instead of the tax return's relevant compensation and modified AGI measures.
Where the calculation stops
Contribution year, filing status, spouse rules, rollovers, conversions, early distributions, and state taxation need individual verification.
roth ira vs traditional ira: source and verification
The IRS publishes the combined IRA limit and explains that Roth IRA contributions may be limited by filing status and income. Read the named source. This source names the transaction-specific 2026 combined ira limit and the conditions that qualify it.
Use the result as a dated scenario
Contribution year, filing status, spouse rules, rollovers, conversions, early distributions, and state taxation need individual verification. Recalculate the roth ira vs traditional ira case when its listed input changes.