Online Tool Store
Roth vs Traditional Calculator
Compare the after-tax future value of Roth and Traditional retirement account contributions based on your tax rates and expected return. Runs entirely in your browser.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Traditional (pre-tax)
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After-tax value at withdrawal
Roth (after-tax)
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Tax-free value at withdrawal
How it works
- Enter your annual contribution, years until withdrawal, and expected annual return.
- Enter your current tax rate and your expected tax rate in retirement.
- Compare the after-tax value each account type produces at withdrawal.
The formula
Future value of an annuity: FV = payment × ((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r
Traditional after-tax = FV(full contribution) × (1 − retirement tax rate)
Roth = FV(contribution × (1 − current tax rate)) — already tax-free
FAQ
What is the core difference between Roth and Traditional accounts?
Traditional accounts are funded with pre-tax dollars and taxed when you withdraw in retirement. Roth accounts are funded with after-tax dollars today and grow completely tax-free — you pay tax once, either now or later, not both.
Why does the math come out even when tax rates are the same?
If your tax rate today equals your tax rate at withdrawal, paying the tax now (Roth) or later (Traditional) produces mathematically the same after-tax result — the tax is a multiplier that can be applied at either end without changing the outcome.
So which one should I actually choose?
Roth tends to win if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than today (early career, or rates may rise); Traditional tends to win if you expect a lower rate later (peak earning years now, lower spending needs in retirement). This calculator shows the math for your own assumptions — it isn't personalized tax advice.
Is my financial data uploaded anywhere?
No — every calculation happens locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | Spreadsheet model | Retirement plan provider calculators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side-by-side after-tax comparison | ✓ | Build the formulas yourself | ✓ |
| No account or provider tie-in | ✓ | ✓ | Often pushes their own products |
For a quick, unbiased look at the math before talking to a financial advisor, this beats building a spreadsheet from scratch or reading through a provider's marketing page.