Company Marketcap

Roth (After-Tax) or Pre-Tax Account Calculator

Your savings budget

2026 deferral limits

$/yr

What saving costs your paycheck after tax. The calculator splits it between your 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) and a taxable brokerage account three ways.

yrs
yrs
%

Marginal federal plus state rate.

%

Average rate on pre-tax withdrawals.

%

Same investments in every account.

Taxable account assumptions
%

Part of the return paid out and taxed each year.

%
%

2026 federal long-term rates are 0, 15 or 20%, plus 3.8% net investment income tax at high incomes and any state tax.

After tax at retirement

Most after tax

–

A. Roth deferral

–

B. Larger pre-tax deferral

–

C. Pre-tax + invest the tax saving

–

This year (2026)

A. Roth deferral–
B. Pre-tax deferral with the same take-home cost–
C. Pre-tax deferral, tax saving to brokerage–
Your plan limit–

Where the money ends up

A. Roth account / brokerage–
B. Pre-tax account / brokerage–
C. Pre-tax account / brokerage–
Roth beats option B above a retirement rate of–

Pre-tax balances are shown before tax; the totals above take off tax at your retirement rate. Brokerage balances are after the tax on unrealized gains. The limit counts dollars, not tax, so a Roth deferral shelters more once you reach it.

Year-by-year after-tax value

What each option would leave after tax if you cashed out at the end of that year. Limits use 2026 amounts every year.

AgeLimitRoth deferral (A)Pre-tax deferral (B)A after taxB after taxC after tax

Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice.

Set aside the same amount of take-home pay each year and compare a Roth deferral, a larger pre-tax deferral, and a pre-tax deferral with the tax saving invested in a taxable brokerage account. Pair this with the roth ira calculator for a fuller picture before you make a decision.