What is a Roth IRA vs. a traditional IRA?
A Roth IRA is a retirement account where contributions are made with after-tax dollars.
The investments grow tax-free and are withdrawn tax-free in retirement; however, there are limits on both your income and the annual contribution amount. There are no required minimum distributions (RMDs) in retirement, which may help preserve the principal.
A traditional IRA is also a tax-advantaged account, but you don’t pay tax on it until retirement.
Contributions help lower your taxable income now. There is no income limit, so no one is excluded from holding a traditional IRA. There are more penalties for withdrawals made before retirement than with a Roth IRA.
What are the key similarities and differences between Roth and traditional IRAs?
Roth and traditional IRAs are often defined by their differences, but there are a few similarities they share.
Similarities between Roth and traditional IRAs:
Both tax advantaged (but at different times)
Investments in each grow tax-free
Contribution limits are the same ($7,000, or $8,000 if you’re over 50, for the 2025 tax year)
Investment options are similar (ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, etc.)
Withdrawal rules for age are the same (must be 59 ½)
Differences between Roth and traditional IRAs:
The differences between the two types of accounts can help you decide which may be best for your retirement plan. These differences are outlined below:
| Traditional IRA | Roth IRA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax advantages | Contributions made to your retirement account come from your paycheck and are not taxed, effectively reducing your taxable income. | Contributions are made after you’ve already paid taxes, but the earnings and qualified withdrawals made in retirement are not taxed. |
| Contribution rules | $7,000 for the 2025 tax year ($8,000 if over age 50). | $7,000 for the 2025 tax year ($8,000 if over age 50). |
| Age limits | No age limit from 2020 on. | No age limits. |
| Income limits | No income limits for IRAs. | Less than $150,000 for single filers, less than $236,000 for married couples. |
| Withdrawal rules | Must be 59 ½ to avoid a penalty. | Must be 59 ½ to avoid a penalty. |
| Penalties for withdrawing before the age requirement | 10% penalty on both the contributions and earnings. | 10% penalty on withdrawal of earnings, none on the contributions. |
| RMDs | Must take first RMD by April 1 of the year you turn 73. | Roth IRAs have no RMDs. |
Tax advantages
With a traditional IRA, you don’t pay taxes on any money you contribute to your account, effectively reducing your taxable income.
For a Roth account, contributions are made after you’ve already paid taxes, but the earnings and qualified withdrawals made in retirement are not taxed.
Contribution rules
Contribution limits are the same for both IRAs and Roth IRAs, which for the 2025 tax year is $7,000 per year, or $8,000 if you’re older than 50.
For the 2026 tax year, this will rise to $7,500 and $8,600 respectively.
Age limits
IRA eligibility doesn’t have age limits for Roth or traditional IRAs after 2020.
Income limits
IRA eligibility also extends to income limits for Roth IRAs, but there are no income limits for traditional IRAs.
For 2025, the income limits are $150,000 for single filers and $236,000 for married couples.
Withdrawal rules
Both Roth and traditional IRAs require beneficiaries to reach age 59 ½ to avoid penalties (other exceptions do apply). Withdrawing money before that age has different penalties for Roth IRAs vs. traditional IRAs.
Penalties
Roth IRAs have the advantage when it comes to penalties.
Roth accounts don’t assess a penalty on contributions. If you contribute $100,000 and it has grown by $50,000, you aren’t fined a 10% penalty on the original $100,000. Traditional IRAs penalize early withdrawals on all the money in your account.
RMDs
Roth IRAs don’t have RMDs, while traditional IRAs do. If you have other sources of income or want to preserve the principal, this could be an important factor in your decision.
Traditional vs. Roth IRA: Which is better?
Deciding between a traditional and Roth IRA comes down to your individual financial situation and goals.
For example, if your income is too high for a Roth IRA, you’ll need to find another account type or work toward completing a backdoor Roth conversion.
Another situation relates to how much you pay in tax. If you believe taxes will be higher when you’re in retirement, you’ll want to contribute to a Roth account now to realize the benefits later in retirement.
There are many scenarios and reasons to choose one retirement account over the other.
Here are a few things to consider.
When you may want to choose a Roth IRA:
You want to save money on taxes in retirement.
You don’t want RMDs.
You want to be able to withdraw money without penalty (contributions are penalty-free).
If you’re a younger investor and want to benefit from tax-free earnings for a longer period of time.
When you may want to choose a traditional IRA
You want to save money on taxes now.
You’re in a higher tax bracket now and expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement.
You want to pay taxes on the withdrawals in retirement.
If your income is over $150,000 as a single filer, or $236,000 for married filers, for the 2025 tax year.
It is possible to have both account types, but you’ll still have the same contribution limit, and it must be divided between the two accounts.
For your unique situation, it’s essential to contact a financial advisor. There’s no substitute for professional advice using real numbers and scenarios to help you figure out what account could work best for you.
Bottom line
Professional advice is the best way to ensure your financial plan is adequate for your retirement.
An expert financial advisor is ready to help with every type of retirement question you have. Get matched with an advisor from Unbiased today.