Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA: What's The Difference? Which One Should I Choose? (2024)

FAQs

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA: What's The Difference? Which One Should I Choose? ›

With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars, your money grows tax-free, and you can generally make tax- and penalty-free withdrawals after age 59½. With a Traditional IRA, you contribute pre- or after-tax dollars, your money grows tax-deferred, and withdrawals are taxed as current income after age 59½.

For people who expect income in retirement to be as high or higher than their current level, others who expect their tax rate in retirement to be higher than today, or younger people who expect steady income growth over their careers, Roth IRA contributions may be the better choice.

Traditionally, tax professionals suggest withdrawing first from taxable accounts, then tax-deferred accounts, and finally Roth accounts where withdrawals are tax free. The goal is to allow tax-deferred assets the opportunity to grow over more time.

Traditional IRA benefits include a tax break right now

Traditional IRAs offer the key advantage of tax-deferred growth, meaning you won't pay taxes on your untaxed earning or contributions until you're required to start taking minimum distributions at age 73.

Unlike Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs (unless inherited) don't require you to take minimum distributions starting at age 73. And similar to a Traditional IRA, you can avoid the early withdrawal penalty for situations such as: Higher education expenses. First-time home purchases.

If you contribute 5,000 dollars per year to a Roth IRA and earn an average annual return of 10 percent, your account balance will be worth a figure in the region of 250,000 dollars after 20 years.

Overall, converting to a Roth IRA might give you greater flexibility in managing RMDs and potentially cut your tax bill in retirement, but be sure to consult a qualified tax advisor and financial planner before making the move, and work with a tax advisor each year if you choose to put into action a multiyear ...

One approach could involve contributing to a traditional IRA up to the point where your taxable income falls to a lower bracket. You could then divert the remaining amount to your Roth IRA. This tactic offers immediate tax savings while also securing future tax-free income.

If you have a Roth IRA, you can take out your contributions (but not earnings) at any time without paying taxes and penalties. Otherwise, if you remove money early from either a traditional or Roth IRA, you can expect to pay a 10% penalty plus taxes on the income (unless you qualify for an exception).

Earnings can't be withdrawn tax-free until age 59½ and the account is at least 5 years old. Diversification in retirement, so all of your accounts aren't tax-deferred. The maximum contribution is relatively low compared with a 401(k). You'll probably need other accounts to save enough for retirement.

What are the disadvantages of a traditional IRA? ›

To make an educated choice between traditional and Roth deferrals, you want to consider your current tax situation and your anticipated situation in retirement. In general, you want to choose traditional deferrals if you expect your tax rate to decrease in retirement and Roth deferrals if you expect it to increase.

The most important difference between the Roth and traditional IRA is their tax treatment. Traditional IRAs have an upfront tax advantage. You get a tax deduction for your contributions in the current year but will be taxed on your withdrawals during retirement. A Roth IRA works the exact opposite.

The tax argument for contributing to a Roth can easily turn upside down if you happen to be in your peak earning years. If you're now in one of the higher tax brackets, your tax rate in retirement may have nowhere to go but down.

A 401(k) plan is one of the best ways to save for retirement, and if you can get bonus “match” money from your employer, you can save even more quickly. A 401(k) plan is one of the best ways to save for retirement, and if you can get bonus “match” money from your employer, you can save even more quickly.

The primary benefit of a Roth IRA is that your contributions and the earnings on those contributions can grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free after age 59½, assuming the account has been open for at least five years.

Roth IRAs require after-tax contributions: You've already paid your taxes and then you make your Roth contribution. This allows you to benefit from tax- and penalty-free withdrawals in the future when you become eligible for distributions.

The IRS categorizes the IRA deduction as an above-the-line deduction, meaning you can take it regardless of whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction. This deduction reduces your taxable income for the year, which ultimately reduces the amount of income tax you pay.

It can be a surprisingly complicated choice, but many experts prefer the Roth 401(k) because you'll never pay taxes on qualified withdrawals. Contributions are made with pre-tax income, meaning you won't be taxed on that income in the current year.