Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are the most accessible tax-advantaged retirement vehicle available to US workers — no employer required, no enrollment period, no matching contribution needed. The two main types are the Traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. They hold the same investments (stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds) and share the same annual contribution limit. What's different is the tax treatment: when you pay taxes, and whether qualified withdrawals are taxable.
The one question that determines which is right
Are your taxes lower now or in retirement?
That's the core question. If your tax rate is lower today than it will be when you withdraw, a Roth IRA wins — you pay taxes now at the lower rate and withdraw tax-free later. If your tax rate is higher today and you expect it to drop in retirement, a Traditional IRA wins — you defer taxes now and pay at the lower future rate.
Most people genuinely don't know their future tax rate. That's why tax diversification — contributing to both Roth and Traditional accounts over a career — is often the most defensible strategy. The goal is to have both pre-tax and after-tax retirement assets, so you can manage your taxable income in retirement based on what the tax code looks like then.
How Roth IRA contributions work
A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars — you get no deduction for your contribution. In exchange, the account grows tax-free, and qualified withdrawals (earnings and principal) in retirement are completely tax-free.
Qualified withdrawal rules: The account must be at least 5 years old AND you must be at least 59½. Both conditions must be met for earnings to come out tax-free and penalty-free.
Contributions can be withdrawn early: Only earnings face the 5-year / 59½ restriction. Your own Roth IRA contributions (the after-tax dollars you put in) can be withdrawn at any time, at any age, with no tax and no penalty — you already paid tax on them. This makes the Roth IRA more flexible than a Traditional IRA in a pinch.
No required minimum distributions (RMDs): Roth IRAs are exempt from the RMD rules during the owner's lifetime. A Traditional IRA requires minimum withdrawals starting at age 73 — taxable withdrawals that can push you into a higher bracket, increase Medicare premiums (IRMAA surcharges), and trigger greater Social Security taxation. The Roth sidesteps all of that.
2026 Roth IRA income phase-out limits (per IRS COLA announcement):
| Filing Status | Phase-out Begins | Phase-out Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Head of Household | $153,000 MAGI | $168,000 MAGI |
| Married Filing Jointly | $242,000 MAGI | $252,000 MAGI |
| Married Filing Separately | $0 | $10,000 MAGI |
Below the lower threshold: full contribution allowed. Above the upper threshold: no direct Roth IRA contribution. Between the thresholds: partial contribution (phased out proportionally).
How Traditional IRA contributions work
A Traditional IRA is typically funded with pre-tax dollars — the contribution is deductible from your current taxable income if your income and workplace-plan situation allow it. Growth is tax-deferred (no annual taxes on dividends, interest, or gains inside the account). Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
Deductibility depends on two factors: (1) whether you (or your spouse) are covered by a workplace retirement plan, and (2) your MAGI. If you have no workplace plan and no spouse with one, your Traditional IRA contribution is fully deductible at any income level. If a workplace plan is in the picture, deductibility phases out at 2026 MAGI thresholds (see below).
2026 Traditional IRA deduction phase-out limits for those covered by a workplace plan (per IRS COLA announcement):
| Filing Status | Full Deduction Below | No Deduction Above |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Head of Household | $81,000 MAGI | $91,000 MAGI |
| Married Filing Jointly (contributor covered) | $129,000 MAGI | $149,000 MAGI |
| Married Filing Jointly (only spouse covered) | $242,000 MAGI | $252,000 MAGI |
| Married Filing Separately (covered) | $0 | $10,000 MAGI |
Non-deductible contributions: If your income exceeds the deduction limit, you can still contribute to a Traditional IRA — the contribution just isn't deductible. The growth remains tax-deferred, but withdrawals of the non-deductible basis are tax-free (tracked via IRS Form 8606). Many high earners make non-deductible Traditional IRA contributions specifically to then convert them to a Roth (the Backdoor Roth strategy).
RMDs at age 73: Per the SECURE 2.0 Act (Pub. L. 117-328), required minimum distributions from Traditional IRAs begin at age 73. The amount each year is based on your account balance and IRS life expectancy tables. Failure to take the RMD results in a 25% excise tax on the amount not withdrawn (reduced to 10% if corrected within a two-year correction window). See IRS Publication 590-B for the distribution tables.
The 2026 contribution limit
Both IRA types share the same annual contribution limit for 2026: $7,500 per year (under age 50). If you are age 50 or older, the catch-up contribution adds an additional $1,100, for a total of $8,600 per year — per the IRS 2026 COLA announcement.
The $7,500 limit applies across all your IRAs combined — if you contribute $4,000 to a Roth IRA, you can contribute no more than $3,500 to a Traditional IRA in the same year. Earned income must equal or exceed your total IRA contributions (you can't contribute $7,500 if you only earned $5,000).
The Backdoor Roth IRA
If your income exceeds the Roth IRA limit ($168,000 for single filers, $252,000 for MFJ in 2026), you cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA. The Backdoor Roth is a legal workaround:
- Make a non-deductible contribution to a Traditional IRA (anyone can do this regardless of income).
- Convert the Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (Roth conversions have no income limit).
- Because the contribution was non-deductible, you paid tax on that money already — the conversion is tax-free on the contributed principal. Only earnings accumulated between contribution and conversion are taxable.
The pro-rata rule: If you have other pre-tax Traditional IRA funds (from prior deductible contributions or IRA rollovers), the IRS requires you to treat all Traditional IRA assets as a single pool for conversion purposes. The taxable portion of each conversion is proportional to the pre-tax balance relative to total Traditional IRA funds. This can make the Backdoor Roth less efficient — work with a CPA before executing if you have existing Traditional IRA assets.
How to choose: a decision framework
Choose Roth if:
- You're early in your career and currently in a low tax bracket
- You expect higher taxes in retirement (either your income will be higher, or you believe tax rates will rise generally)
- You want flexibility — no RMDs, access to contributions anytime
- You want to leave an efficient, tax-free inheritance to heirs
Choose Traditional if:
- You're in a high tax bracket now and expect lower rates in retirement
- Your Traditional IRA contribution is deductible (income below phase-out thresholds)
- Lowering your current taxable income has immediate value (reducing IRMAA surcharges, hitting a lower bracket, qualifying for certain deductions)
Choose both (tax diversification) if:
- You're uncertain about future tax rates
- You're in a mid-range bracket now and can't clearly predict retirement income
- You have decades to retirement and want optionality on which account to draw from
IRAs and employer plans
Having a 401(k) or similar workplace plan does not reduce your IRA contribution limit — you can contribute to both. The interaction is only on the deductibility of Traditional IRA contributions for those covered by workplace plans. A Roth IRA's eligibility is governed by its own income phase-out, separate from 401(k) participation.
For self-employed owners with no employer plan — SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or Solo 401(k) — the IRA layers on top. Those plans have much higher contribution ceilings ($72,000 combined in 2026 for a Solo 401(k)); the IRA adds the additional $7,500 in a different tax structure. See the companion guide: SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or Solo 401(k): Choosing the Right Plan.
Related guides
- SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or Solo 401(k): Choosing the Right Retirement Plan in 2026 — for self-employed owners with no employer plan
- How to Start Investing: A Beginners Framework for 2026 — account types, asset allocation, and where IRAs fit in the sequence
- 401(k) vs IRA — what's the difference? — the core employer-plan vs individual-account comparison
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. IRA rules, contribution limits, and income phase-out thresholds change annually. Verify current limits at irs.gov/retirement-plans. Consult a qualified CPA or financial advisor before making IRA contribution or conversion decisions based on your specific tax situation.
