Taxable vs. Tax-Deferred vs. Tax-Free Investment Calculator

Start with the same pre-tax dollars and see what a taxable account, a traditional tax-deferred account and a Roth tax-free account each leave you after tax, as a lump sum or as yearly income. If you want to see how the figures change, the free income tax calculator gives you an instant result you can adjust as you go.

Same pre-tax dollars, three accounts

Enter amounts before tax. The traditional account gets all of it; the Roth and taxable accounts get what is left after tax at today's rate.

Pre-tax amount invested today

Pre-tax amount added each year

Added at the end of each year.

Years invested

yrs

Annual return

Tax rate now

Federal plus state. 2026 federal rates: 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35, 37%.

Tax rate on withdrawals

Your expected rate when the money comes out.

Tax rate on taxable-account earnings each year

A blend for interest, dividends and realized gains. Long-term gains and qualified dividends are taxed at 0, 15 or 20% federally; interest at your ordinary rate.

More options

Years of withdrawals

yrs

Used for the yearly income comparison.

Annual return while withdrawing

After-tax comparison

Most after tax

–

Tax-deferred (traditional)

–

Tax-free (Roth)

–

Taxable

–

After-tax value if everything is withdrawn at the end of the investing period.

Yearly after-tax income

Tax-deferred (traditional)–

Tax-free (Roth)–

Taxable–

Where the tax goes

Invested, traditional (pre-tax)–

Invested, Roth (after tax)–

Invested, taxable (after tax)–

Tax paid up front, Roth or taxable–

Traditional balance before tax–

Tax due on the traditional balance–

Roth balance–

Taxable balance (earnings taxed yearly)–

Year-by-year balances

The traditional account is shown before and after the tax due on withdrawal; Roth and taxable balances are already after tax.

Year	Traditional, before tax	Traditional, after tax	Roth	Taxable

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